The National Golf Club – Old Course

Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

About

Course Architect: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Number of Holes: 18
Par: 72
Distances: 6,904 Yards / 6,313 Metres
Course Type: Parkland
Club Type: Golf Club
Address: The Cups Dr., Cape Schanck VIC 3939
Contact Us: [email protected]

Location

Start Planning Your Journey Today

Discover

The National Golf Club is one of the World’s best-golfing facilities, with access to 72 holes of golf, 3 courses on-site and 1 course a 30-minute drive away, it doesn’t get any better. The National Golf Club is a private members club that allows guests through invites by current members, external group play on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and reciprocal rights with select clubs, so playing there is easy enough to do with any degree of forward-thinking. The Golf Club’s three onsite courses were designed by the greats: The Old Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr, the Moonah Course by Greg Norman, and what was the old Ocean Course was designed by Peter Thomson & Mike Wolveridge, although it has been refurbished and redesigned by Tom Doak in 2019, now named The Gunnamatta Course. The offsite Long Island Golf Course was designed in 1938 by Oliver Gordon. The extensive onsite facilities at The National Golf Club are available to use if you have a green fee on the day. The National Golf Club features on our Mornington Peninsula Golf Package. Various images supplied by Gary Lisbon.

Golf Course Information

The Old Course provides a serious challenge in every aspect of the game. It is dramatic, exhilarating, and a testament to Robert Trent Jones Jnr’s will, who is rumoured to have moved more than one million tonnes of earth to complete the project. Whilst it can be difficult, the scenery should be award-winning with kangaroos and wildlife in abundance amongst tea-tree and Moonah tree foliage that comprises most of the golf course’s boundary. Being set on the side of a hill that is Cape Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula, the Old Course commands views over Bass Strait and southern end of the Peninsula, with a direct line of sight down the famous Gunnamatta surf beach. If there is one word to describe the Old Course at The National Golf Club, it is ‘dramatic.’

Playing off the back tees is a real challenge due to the high amounts of elevation changes, so the club has used a range of tee options to suit all golfers, although walking the course if you’re above 60 can be a real test, so plan ahead with renting motorised buggies or electric trolleys. There are a few ravines to hit over, like the par-three 7th hole which plays down to a peninsula-green over a ravine with unbeatable views over Bass Strait. If the prevailing south-westerly wind is blowing, you will probably need +3 club from your usual iron to land the green. The greens are equally as tricky, and with steep undulations and almost unseeable sleights in the surface, playing to your handicap is no easy feat. Those wishing to simply enjoy the round are encouraged to ride in carts, bring lots of golf balls, and make full use of the beverage cart, but those who are serious about their scorecards are advised to get a good night’s sleep beforehand.

Venue Information

Practice Facilities

The National Golf Club’s practice facilities are enormous and available to anyone playing golf that day. It comes with a 300-metre driving range with 10 covered bays and 15 open bays, utilising artificial grass mid-week and real turf every weekend. There are two short-game pitching areas with numerous practice bunkers, as well as two very large putting greens to practice on. There are also two nets to practice your swing before your round. There are also golf tuition programs that run on the practice facilities for either individuals or groups, with golf academies for juniors often running year-round. The golf pros at The National offer the full range of lessons and can accommodate any need.

Clubhouse

The Clubhouse at The National Golf Club is extremely large with coffee-to-go and a range of take-away meals before your round, as well as a restaurant that is open every day of the week serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The clubhouse also houses the pro shop which offers all the latest brands in golf accessories, shoes, outerwear, equipment and The National’s own-branded attire.

Rental Equipment

You can rent motorised buggies as well as electric trolleys, but manual pull-trolley’s are complimentary for your round as the complex is large and lots of walking is involved. Standard and premium sets of rental clubs are also available to rent from the Pro Shop. The National Golf Club is a world-class facility and the standards of their rental equipment meet the high calibre of their reputation.