Portsea Golf Club

As I remarked to the pro, it had been 20 years since playing Portsea Golf Club. Since that time the Mercure built a hotel in the middle of the property and the course did some re-routing.

I only recognised 2-3 of the old holes, but it was refreshing to play something new but familiar. Portsea GC on this perfect sunny day was in great condition and a real pleasure to play. Smooth greens and great fairways which are typical of the Mornington Peninsula courses.

While not an overly long course, it does demand accuracy off the tee, and there are plenty of elevation changes to challenge the golfer. Take hole 7, appropriately named "Deceptions". Ideally the golfer will tee off and use the large slope to end up in a deep valley with a steep shot up to a green protected by bunkers left and right. Don't be short. Similarly on hole 9 the golfer will face a steep up hill approach. Don't be long OR short here, steep up and down awaits.

The short par 4s are also fun here - the 10th could tempt the golfer to fire a driver at the green. A drop off right and heavy bunkering left are the penalties. Under the shadow of the hotel, 15 is also reachable, but perhaps iron wedge is the more prudent play.

The par 5s offer genuine birdie chances for the long accurate driver. And finally the 18th is a lovely hole back into the clubhouse. A driver over the hill with an approach to a deceptive (high lip bunker to put you off) left to right sloped green.

The fairways are not quite as wide as it's other Peninsula counterparts such as the Dunes and St Andrews Beach.

Mornington Peninsula golf at it's best.