Australian Golf Passport

A quick catch-up before Matt's departure for the US to attend the Masters and play some all-world golf courses.

We answer some listener questions, several with a Masters theme, go through some four-word course reviews of Aussie courses by American golf course architect Jaeger Kovich following his recent trip to the Sandbelt and chat a bit about what makes the Masters so special.

Links below to the Fried Egg Golf podcast episodes with Geoff Ogilvy discussing the golf course and tournament:

Matt and Scott take a leaf out of the NoLayingUp playbook and map out some personal goals for the year ahead. Golf, health, personal development – all bases covered. And some golf chat thrown in there amongst all the good intentions.  We hope this inspires listeners to reflect on the last year, and perhaps set some targets for the coming twelve months. 

Australian Golf Passport podcast is brought to you by Angus And Grace Go Golfing and Burnley Brewing. 

Matt has been rocking the AAGGG shorts in what is peak summer golf weather – one look at these and you’ll need to own a pair of these shorts too. They’re super fashionable, and fit beautifully. They come in a great range of colours, and pair brilliantly with the three button pocket polo. Visit the Angus and Grace Go Golfing website, Instagram page, or bricks and mortar store (Sydney), and get your hands on some of the best golf apparel in the world, before it all sells out.

The biggest week in the country for professional golf is upon us, and Scott & Matt take a look at the event, and the host courses – The Lakes and The Australian.  The holes of note, the format of the event, players to watch, the all-important weather forecast for the week and more.  Even some possible changes to The Lakes are discussed, before a wide range of additional material fills the episode.  The malaise around pro golf, and the possible antidote (The Sandbelt Invitational) as well as Aussies in the OWGR top 100, golf goals, near misses and more. As well as Blockie, who ushers in the episode, and concludes things in his typical style. Who else would be centre stage in Australian Open week?

Australian Golf Passport podcast is brought to you by Angus And Grace Go Golfing and Burnley Brewing.  Matt and his team at AAGGG have seriously stepped it up for the coming season, with a superb range of ultra-stylish garments, comprising the fantastic colours and luxe fabrics you’ve come to expect.  Hit their insta feed, website, or bricks and mortar store, and get your hands on some of the best golf apparel in the world, before its sold out.

Likewise, as the festive season fast approaches, hit up Burnley Brewing, on insta, online at www.burnleybrewing.com.au or IRL at 648 Bridge Road Richmond. Our proud supporter has a ripping range of locally brewed beers – with something for everyone’s taste.  Pale, Lager, Wheat Beer, Selzer and more are all there for the choosing. Thanks for supporting those who support us!

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Is it the best course in the world? Who can say. Royal Melbourne’s famed Composite layout has its moment in the Australian Golf Passport podcast spotlight this episode. We discus the origins of the concept for a course combining holes from East and West, and why it originated. The holes that make up Composite, and the sequence in which they’re been played for many different events in over time is also a topic for this episode.  We round out the episode mulling over a host of listener questions, while also reminiscing about Presidents Cups of years gone by.

We hope this neatly puts a bow on our talks about Royal Melbourne, and that you find it a timely chat, with the imminent staging of the Asia Pacific Amateur championship over the Composite course later this month.  We trust you will enjoy listening to this discussion about one of the world’s finest golf courses.

Those who wish to visit Royal Melbourne can commence enquiries via this link -

With a flurry of activity on the local golf scene, and one great question accidentally omitted from the recent mailbag episode, we call an emergency pod, and spend longer than we thought we would discussing the events of the week.
First up is the topic that has been running hot on the local rumor mill - the alleged misappropriation of funds and assets from a prominent Victorian golf club.  Scott reached out to Victoria Police and the Australian PGA, and legal issues permitting, we share what we are able on this front.

The impending tweaks to three of the back nine holes on Port Fairy are discussed, pursuant to a recent Victorian state government finding regarding the Club’s boundary.

The National’s insta poll on their ‘Dream 18’ is fodder for Scott, who comes in off the long run over the selection of Old’s 3rd hole above those from Gunnamatta and Moonah.  This leads into a broader discussion of Old and the other selections on the fantasy layout.

Lastly – we spend a good chunk of time addressing Shane Derby’s question on the best short 3s, short 4s and short 5s in Australia.  Sure to provoke some strong listener reaction, Scot & Matt make their nominations, and hopefully haven’t made any glaring omissions!

Reminder about Lloyd Cole’s upcoming performances in Australia –

The second half of the recent batch of listener questions submitted a little while ago are all covered in this fun episode.  Loads of really interesting and thought-provoking topics to cover including a hypothetical re-routing of a Sydney public course, and state of origin battle of the best of Victoria versus the best of the rest of Australia.  Golf on the northern beaches of Sydney, courses high on the aesthetics, conditioning and eye candy score, as well as stone walls and internal OOB.  Those playing the AGPP drinking game will spot the mentions of Doak, NSWGC, Port Fairy and Clayts soon enough! :) A great question about low-cost weekend getaways is particularly relevant for many listeners too. Thanks again everyone who submitted a question and apologies if we forgot anyone!

The link to Lloyd Cole’s article on golf in Australia.

Our guest for this episode grew up in Melbourne, and played golf in his youth, but his love of the game blossomed in early adulthood. His rise from playing at Rosanna, to working in turf at the club, followed by a season at St Andrews, to then working at Cabot and finally joining the esteemed Gil Hanse has been a steady and successful climb into the upper echelons of the golf architecture and construction business.

In this episode, Ben shares his insights and experiences working in golf design and construction.  We touch on prior jobs, colleagues, and the upcoming works at Royal Sydney Golf Club.  Ben also talks about Ohoopee Match club, Gil and his staff, and concludes on some topics related to golf back home.

Link to the Hanse Golf Design website page dedicated to the Royal Sydney renovation project -

Hot on the heels of a tremendous time with Tron Carter we dive into a perennial favourite - listener questions. Thanks so much to so many of you for sending in a fantastic set of topics to discuss. We’ve divided theese into two episodes, and have covered the first 50% here. Links courses, regional courses, Sandbelt bunkering, an all-time Aussie foursome, dog leg par 3s, par events, Huntingdale, and much more fill a seventy minute chat we hope you enjoy.  Mt Lawley’s Aussie green, and the new GA logo both come in for a roasting at the top of the episode, and we put a bow on Tron’s appearance, with some Insta surveys on topics he raised during his time with us.

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Angus And Grace Go Golfing now have No Laying Up merch in store – a stylish collaboration which imbues the NLU brand with a touch of high quality Australian style.  Local fans of Soly, Tron, DJ & co no longer have to wear the cost of overseas freight – they can simply wear more NLU! Towels, caps, tees, head covers and more all available in store and online. Follow AAGGG on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) and if you’re in Sydney, go visit Matt at 39 William Street Paddington. Thanks so much to Angus And Grace Go Golfing for their support of the podcast.

A distinct privilege to spend some time talking with No Laying Up’s Tron Carter.  A lover of all things Australian golf, Tron’s passion and knowledge shine through as he reflects on his previous trips to Australia, the courses he played and the places he visited.

Our discussion covers the Sandbelt, as well as the Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas.  Tron shares his observations on Aussie golf culture, the current landscape of professional golf, and all the headline courses you’d expect to feature in such a discussion. Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Metropolitan, Peninsula Kingswood, The National, St Andrews Beach, Barnbougle and many more.  There’s architectural discussion and TC’s reminiscences of past visits.  Given the time of recording (during the first round of the 2023 Open Championship), we have Tron going down the leaderboard near the conclusion of the recording, which is truly a podcasting highlight for your humble hosts.  We thank Tron so much for his time and hope he manages another visit Down Under.

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

Exciting times at Angus And Grace Go Golfing. A collab with No Laying Up will be on the shelves soon – which is sure to be a knockout range.  There’s a sale on bamboo polos, and Matt has also recently taken delivery of a batch of Dimple & Divot brushes. The range of 7 Mile Beach branded apparel is proving popular too. Follow AAGGG on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) and if you’re in Sydney, do yourself a favour and go visit Matt at 39 William Street Paddington. Thanks so much to Angus And Grace Go Golfing for their support of the podcast.

Ran Morrissett, the doyen of the online golf architecture community and founder of golfclubatlas.com is our special guest for this really enjoyable episode. Ran lived in Australia for several years and is one of golf’s most knowledgeable and passionate architectural minds.  He serves as architectural editor of golf.com, and also heads up their World Top 100 ranking panel.  Ran is also a contributor to Tom Doak’s five volume series of The Confidential Guide.

In this episode, Ran talks about his seven year stretch of living in Australia, and also shares his views on what makes Australian golf and our golf culture special.  He discusses which courses he most enjoys down under, and we also consider value for money golf, which Australian golf possesses in spades. The escalating cost of golf in the USA comes in for some thought too. Discussion then ranges from Lofoten Links in Norway, to Cape Wickham, to Rodeo Dunes in Denver and all points in between. 7 Mile Beach, Rustic Canyon, New South Wales and more…

We thank Ran for his time and the enlightening discussion. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

The Lofoten Links episode of NoLayingUp’s Scandinavian season of Tourist Sauce as mentioned by Scott in the first half of this chat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRA1BQcWRIg

The link to green fees at Barnbougle Dunes - https://barnbougle.com.au/play/fees-services/

The link to booking a tee time at The Coast - https://www.coastgolf.com.au/cms/public-bookings/

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners / creators.

As the temperature here in Australia continues to fall and winter takes hold, the racks of Angus and Grace Go Golfing contain some beautiful layering pieces and outerwear for freezing days of the middle of the year. Pants have been re-stocked too.  And make sure that you visit to check their latest range of 7 Mile Beach branded apparel. Follow AAGGG on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) and if you’re in Sydney, be sure to pop in and visit Matt at 39 William Street Paddington. Thanks so much to Angus And Grace Go Golfing for their support of our podcast.

One of Sydney’s finest courses and clubs has the spotlight for this edition of the pod, but there’s plenty of additional discussion in a spritely, slightly shorter session than usual. News of the week includes details on Golf in Marvel Stadium at the Docklands in September, which will be similar to the Callaway Golf take-over at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. Those interested can secure tickets here - https://marvelstadium.com.au/event/stadium-golf/

A mixed bag for episode 23, with a whole range of topics covered including upcoming events in several states, a new golf outlet in Melbourne, and thoughts following recent rounds at a variety of courses from Scott & Matt. A three-day trip to the Sunshine State including rounds at Royal Queensland, The Glades and Brookwater forms much of the meat of this episode, with Scott sharing his thoughts and experiences from those courses.  Matt was lucky enough to recently play Victoria GC and briefly chats on this Sandbelt gem. 

Upcoming events at Port Fairy and Newcastle are promoted, with the “Holes That Aren’t Holes” event at Port Fairy promising to be a cracker. Contact PFGC ( https://www.portfairygolf.com.au/cms/contact/ ) for more information, and registration details.  In other news, Henry Cussell and Ross Baker have opened a golf outlet in the heart of the sand belt, adding to the landscape of boutique / artisan retail golf destinations in Melbourne. An absolute must visit for hickory enthusiasts especially!

A real treat for this episode of the podcast – a chat with famed Australian golf course architect Bob Harrison.  His design portfolio spans decades, and includes many of Australia’s most significant courses.  He has also worked on several notable projects overseas, in Asia, the US, and the UK.

We talk with Bob about his early years in golf, his time at university, ambidextrous golf and golfers, Bob’s engineering pedigree and the undergraduate project that saw him move into the field of golf architecture.  Discussion then moves to Sanctuary Lakes, The Glades, and Bob’s love of designing short par fours. We move to Ellerston, and experiences with Kerry Packer, as well as Bob’s take on trees in the fairway. Newcastle comes in for some chat, with one or two possible shortcomings, and the proposed changes, which will hold interest for many of our regular listeners. We move on to the topic of a little cultural cringe apparent within the upper echelons of Australian golf clubs when it comes to engaging local architectural firms, before devoting time to some of Bob’s favourite holes among the many he’s designed.  The episode draws to a close with talk on National Moonah, New South Wales, and topics dear to Bob’s heart – Barossa Shiraz and Machrie Golf Links.  Thanks to Bob and his design firm colleague Scott Champion, for their time and assistance in preparing this edition of AGP Podcast – we really appreciate it.

For those thinking of making the trip to the Isle of Jura – check Ardfin out here – https://www.ardfin.com/

For even more detail on his work, visit Bob Harrison Design’s website here – https://harrisongolf.com.au/index.php

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners (often Gary Lisbon and Will Watt of contours golf travel – thanks guys!).

As the temperature here in Australia drops, and winter approaches, the shelves of Angus and Grace Go Golfing contain more cool weather styles.  Quarter zips and essential winter layers for golf on chilly days.  Follow them on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) and if you’re in Sydney, visit Matt in their store at 39 William Street Paddington. Thanks so much to AAGGG for their support of our podcast.

In this episode we drive two hours north of Sydney – to the memorable and enjoyable Newcastle golf club. A wide-ranging discussion addresses the character of the course, the seaside location, and the topography on which Newcastle sits. The design prowess of Eric Apperly is also noted, as well as the similarity between parts of the course at Stockton, and Apperly’s work at New South Wales GC. The possible changes to Newcastle are also discussed, and these are fleshed out further in the next episode of Australian Golf Passport – an interview with Bob Harrison.

Later in this episode, Scott provides a thorough guide to golf in the region surrounding Newcastle, giving his views on golf in the Hunter Valley and elsewhere.  Some of the attractions of the region are covered too. The merits of the course at Newcastle, especially in relation to metropolitan Sydney courses, are also considered. Newcastle is a course unlike any other – possessing a uniquely Australian charm, an understated elegance, and oodles of design quality and practicality.

Those wanting to visit Newcastle for a game can start the ball rolling by clicking here - https://www.newcastlegolfclub.com.au/cms/play/public-bookings/  

Background on the course from Ran Morrissett of golfclubatlas fame is provided here - https://golfclubatlas.com/countries/newcastle000110/

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners (often Gary Lisbon – thanks Gary!).

Do yourself a favor and go browse the current range from our supporters, the one and only Angus and Grace Go Golfing (angusandgracegogolfing.com). Follow them on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) and if you’re in Sydney, visit Matt in their store at 39 William Street Paddington. Thanks so much to AAGGG for their support of our podcast.

On the eve of The Masters and the Easter holidays, we publish our longest episode yet. Over 100 minutes of discussion devoted to answering two dozen or so listener questions.  We start by briefly addressing news of the week – the Aus PGA Tour event over the Moonah course at The National, then move to ponder Australia’s answer to Augusta National.

Listener questions touch on a range of topics including access to private courses, best renovation work and greenfield site work in Australia in the last 20 years, and a few esoteric ones too! This was great fun to record and we hope you indulge us with the long and unedited episode. Perhaps suited to a long session mowing the lawn, or a long drive over the Easter weekend… Thanks to all who submitted a question and apologies to any we missed.

Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and have individually attributed to their owners. There’s the usual supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport). While online, go browse the current range from Angus and Grace Go Golfing (angusandgracegogolfing.com) and follow them on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) . If you’re in Sydney, visit their store at 39 William Street Paddington. Thanks to AAGGG for their support of the podcast. Periodic thank you to Nick Mills of @sandbuilt studios for our logo too. Nick is a genius.

Hot off a stellar hit and run mission to Victoria where Scott played 72 holes in a two day visit, we devote this episode to Lonsdale Links. Spoken of very positively in our previous episode with Todd and Joe from the USA, this reworked seaside layout has quickly established a reputation as a must-see course on the Bellarine peninsula, owing to its memorable, fun, quirky yet manageable layout.

The first few minutes of the episode are devoted to the upcoming pro tournament at The National’s Moonah Course, and some potential design work on the Sunshine Coast. Scott’s trip to Melbourne is covered, and we touch on Royal Melbourne’s two courses,  13th Beach and Curlewis, before moving onto Lonsdale Links. The course is discussed in detail, along with the concept of template holes, and their origins with CB Macdonald more than a century ago. Favourite holes, what we like and didn’t like, and what we think doesn’t work. Later, discussion pans out to look at the Bellarine peninsula more broadly, supplementing discussion from a prior episode.  The various attractions of the region are covered, making it clear the trip there is definitely worthwhile!  We close the pod with a brief diversion into some of golf’s great outfits, which should probably be a podcast episode in itself, for someone down the road. Or perhaps a poll for us and our listeners…

On the topic of template holes, this page by Andy Johnson of The Fried Egg is a great template resource - https://thefriedegg.com/category/architecture/the-templates/

Images discussed in the podcast can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and have largely been supplied by Will Watt of Contours Golf Travel (@contours.golf.travel on Insta). There’s the usual supporting chat on Twitter too (@ausgolfpassport).

While on your phone or laptop, go browse the current range from Angus and Grace Go Golfing (angusandgracegogolfing.com) and follow them on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) . If you’re in Sydney, visit their store at 39 William Street Paddington. Thanks to AAGGG for their support of the podcast. We love ya!

We spend an hour chatting with Todd Ogborn and Joseph Kass, two golf professionals who visited Australia earlier in the year. Travelling to our shores from the north east of the USA, the guys made sure to hit every spot they could on their journey Down Under, and they didn’t miss a beat! Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Bellarine Peninsula, King Island and Barnbougle – they played it. And they also managed to fit in a little side trip to New Zealand! It was so insightful to listen to their perspective on the local golf scene, our courses and Australian golf culture. Their recall for holes and courses is stellar and what they discuss is a solid backbone of any bucket list golf trip to Australia. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed chatting!

Images discussed in the podcast can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport). While on your phone or laptop, go browse the current range from Angus and Grace Go Golfing (angusandgracegogolfing.com) and follow them on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) . If you’re in Sydney, visit their store at 39 William Street Paddington. Thanks to AAGGG for their support of the podcast.

On the back of Scott’s recent trip to Tasmania for a friend’s 40th birthday, we devote this episode to golf in and around Hobart, focusing on five main courses. Scott’s sojourn to the Apple Isle began with a mid-construction walk around the site of 7 Mile Beach, the chat about which forms the early portion of this podcast. He was fortunate to play Royal Hobart, Tasmania GG, Elderslie, and Ratho while down in Tassie – and chats about each course. A few brief diversions from the script see discussion about Lord Howe Island and the four Australian golf courses at the extreme reaches of the cardinal compass points. We touch on Dover GC and another three Scott wishes he saw while in Hobart – Huon Valley, Kingston Beach and Llanherne.  Scott compares and contrasts Royal Hobart and Tasmania, and also speaks of the refreshing fun playing more understated golf during the trip. The boys will venture back to their usual fare in upcoming episodes, focusing on one of the more keenly anticipated courses to be discussed next!

Images discussed in the podcast can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport). While on your phone or laptop, go browse the current range from Angus and Grace Go Golfing (angusandgracegogolfing.com) and follow them on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) . If you’re in Sydney, visit their store at 39 William Street Paddington. You’ll love it – we guarantee. We thank AAGGG for their support of the podcast.

Links for the courses discussed in this podcast episode -

Elderslie – https://www.eldersliegolfclub.com.au/

LLanherne GC - https://www.llanhernegolfclub.org.au/

Ratho Farm - https://www.rathofarm.com/

Royal Hobart GC - https://www.rhgc.com.au/cms/

Tasmania GC - https://www.tasmaniagolfclub.com.au/

Huon Valley GC - https://hvgolfclub.com.au/our-course/

7 Mile Beach Merch – https://7-mile-beach.myshopify.com/

Bicheno - https://www.bichenogolfclub.com.au/

This seemed like as good a time as any to hit a wide range of little topics that have been on the agenda over the last few months. This latest episode also gave the chance to discuss a host of newer, smaller news items on the local golf scene too. After some chat about a hole in one for Matt, the focus shifts to the new short course at Kingston Heath. The nine hole par three layout is starting to get a small amount of play prior to an official opening. Initial impressions are extremely positive, which should parlay into all club members and guests enjoying a fun additional facility. OCM have done a great job with a narrow flat parcel of land. Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent, their work at Mt Lawley GC is discussed briefly.  Scott then discusses the recent member information session presented at New South Wales GC by newly engaged consultant architects Mackenzie and Ebert. A recent site visit at The National by Tom Doak, Brian Scheider and Clyde Johnson has seen fast action to remedy a safety issue involving the 18th tee on the Gunnamatta course. Scott and Matt discuss the specifics and answer a listener question around that curly problem. The episode continues with Scott talking about two impending trips – one to Melbourne, and a more immediate flight to Hobart that is going to allow a site visit to 7 Mile Beach. Listeners get to weigh in on whether it is madness to drive from Hobart to Barnbougle and back again in the same day, all for 18 holes of golf… We close with a few listener questions, including a query on Melbourne city’s best public 9 hole course.

Images discussed in the podcast can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport). While online, go spend a minute or two checking out the current range from Angus and Grace Go Golfing (angusandgracegogolfing.com) and follow them on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) . If you’re in Sydney, call in to the store at 39 William Street Paddington. You’ll love it – we guarantee. We thank AAGGG for their support of the podcast. We couldn’t hope for a better partner.

The fiercely private and highly ranked course is a veritable white whale for local golfers and many who venture to Australia for a once in a lifetime golf trip. The course forms a tiny part of what is a sizeable station at Ellerston, sitting within a glorious parcel of Australian country in the Upper Hunter Valley. The property is several hours drive north of Sydney, with a National Park nearby and Pages Creek meandering through the station and the golf course itself. From the origins of the layout and the difficulty of the course, to the standout holes, grasses, terrain, and scarcity of invitations to play. All of it is covered.

Few will ever get to play Ellerston, and those who are lucky enough to visit no doubt have memories to last a lifetime. The experience of visiting the property is a one of a kind, as was Kerry Packer - the Australian billionaire, media colossus and owner of the Ellerston estate. A larger than life figure who enjoys legendary status in Australia, his course is one of a kind, and in several ways a reflection of Kerry Packer himself. Unashamedly tough, with a dramatic flare here and there, and possessing a distinctive Australian charm. The course designed by Bob Harrison and Greg Norman is dramatic, and as one would expect, immaculately conditioned.  It is unique in Australian golf, as we hope our discussion shows.

A somewhat unheralded course in Sydney gets the spotlight this episode. A darling of our hosts, Bonnie Doon is the result of years of toil by respected Australian golf architects.

This episode delves into why Scott & Matt feel Bonnie Doon is so good, and why it warrants a visit from those who have time for more than 18 holes in Sydney. The multi-phase, multi-year redevelopment of the course is addressed, as is the surprisingly small size of the parcel on which Bonnie Doon (and other suburban Sydney golf courses) sit.

The importance of firm conditioning and the interplay between mowing lines and green construction is discussed, leading both guys into focusing on their favourite holes across the layout. Special mention to the run of holes in the middle of the back nine!

The episode is rounded out by a brief look at public golf in the vicinity, including Eastlake, Randwick, The Coast and the scenic Bondi Diggers course.

As usual, images discussed in the podcast can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport). This episode includes some great before and after images, obtained on the ground during construction. Thanks to Gary Lisbon for several of these photographs too.

We kick off the new year with a bang, chatting to Mat Goggin, the man behind arguably the most hotly anticipated golf course opening of 2023. Designed and built by Clayton DeVries & Pont on a glorious coastal site in the Tasmanian capital of Hobart, 7 Mile Beach promises to be a must-see course for passionate golfers. It has been a while in the making, and will hopefully see play within the coming twelve months. We talk with Mat a little about his professional golf career, living in the USA, the site at 7 Mile Beach and most importantly the new course, as well as the impending development of a second course next door at 5 Mile Beach. Hobart, tourism, project management, course design and other topics round out a fascinating discussion spanning more than an hour. We thank Mat so much for his time – it was a genuine pleasure chatting with him. We hope you enjoy the discussion as much as we did.

Keep up with latest developments with the course via at https://7milegolf.com.au/updates/

The social media handle (Insta and Twitter) for 7 Mile Beach is - @7MileGolf

Follow course designers Clayton DeVries & Pont on Twitter (@CDPgolf1) and Instagram(@ClaytonDeVriesPont)

As usual, images discussed in the podcast can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport).

A favourite among those who know it well, this gem of course on the south west coast of Victoria is given due recognition in our final episode for 2022. From the car trip down to Port Fairy and the attractions along the way, to the charm of the town and other courses worth checking out nearby – we cover all the details needed to plan a visit. The course itself, one of the most authentic link experiences in the nation, is discussed in detail.  Its understated and natural beauty, as well as the high quality string of holes along the coastline in the latter part of the round are all covered. We briefly discuss Port Fairy and course rankings before signing off for the year.

Book a round at Port Fairy via the Club’s website - https://www.portfairygolf.com.au/cms/

Details here for the 2023 Port Fairy Folk Festival – scheduled for March 10-13 – https://portfairyfolkfestival.com/

Moyneyana Festival details here - https://www.moyneyanafestival.com.au/

Tourism details galore for the Shipwreck Coast region here - https://greatoceanroadtourism.org.au/

As usual, images of the holes discussed can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and supporting chat on Twitter (@ausgolfpassport).

Loads of questions from listeners around the globe on all manner of Aussie golf topics are covered in this episode. Discussion includes golf in NSW and WA, Kangaroo Island, TV coverage of the recently staged Australian Open, the design and build of the course at Cape Wickham, Adelaide’s “must-see” course(s), unheralded golf regions, destinations for weekend golf trips, the sand belt, Northbridge and lots more. Royal Melbourne’s fairway grass, Victorians accessing sand belt courses as non-members – heaps of different topics covered. Shoeys, mosquito spray, eye candy bunkers, packets of sausages, the King Island cheese shop, playing tee shots over a jail yard, wallabies on King Island and a few other topics we didn’t think we’d address. Thanks so much to everybody who asked questions – we loved answering them.

On the eve of the 2022 Australian Open, co-hosted by Victoria, we focus on this storied course and Club with two of their finest members. Lillie has played golf at Victoria for almost two decades, and shares her experiences on the course and Club as well as her perspective on the game. Matt is an Order of Merit winner and multiple tournament winner on both the PGA Tour of Australasia and the OneAsia Tour. He provides a view into how accomplished professional players will approach the course under tournament conditions. We thank both Lillie and Matt for their time and insights.

A quick news of the day segment gives way to in-depth discussion of the layout at Victoria firstly with Lillie and later with Matt. Holes of note, the scope of the renovation undertaken in 2019, and discussion of the qualities of Victoria and favourite holes are all covered. We chat briefly on William Meader – the founder of Victoria Golf Club, and founder of the Victorian PGA, as well as co-designer (with then VGC captain Oscar Damman) of the course. The virtues of the play and stay package at Victoria are considered, which takes us into a broader discussion on accommodation while visiting the Sandbelt. After hearing from Matt Griffin, we finish with a short musical treat, as discussed in Episode Nine devoted to Kingston Heath.

One of the nation’s golfing treasures is the focus for this episode. Kingston Heath is sharing host duties of the 2022 Australian Open with Victoria GC, which we will feature in Episode 10.

After briefly covering news of the day, we dive right into Kingston Heath’s tournament history, and the sequence of holes we will see on TV next month. The Club’s history and architectural merits of the course are also discussed at length. The site on which the course sits, with one ridge of significance which features on so many holes is also covered, along with segments on the extra hole, the set of par 5s and several other standout attributes of the course.

Prior to the 2016 World Cup, the Golf Society of Australia and Golf Australia prepared several hole by hole commentaries, narrated by 11 time Kingston Heath club champion Richard Macafee. Links to these are below – the video and Rich’s commentary supports the chat during our podcast episode. Here’s his thoughts on the famous short par 4 third hole, as well as the eleventh and fifteenth holes

This edition starts off with another brief look at headlines of the day, including news of a sister course alongside 7 Mile Beach in Tasmania, the 2023 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne, and the 2028 Presidents Cup which looks set to be held at Kingston Heath.

Discussion quickly moves on to another Melbourne sandbelt star – Metropolitan Golf Club. We touch on the Club’s history including changes to the layout in the late 1950s, as well as the hallmarks by which Metro is universally recognised – immaculate fairway grass presentation and striking greenside bunkering. The strengths of the additional par 3 hole nestled between the fifth and sixth are discussed, as well as the Warren blueprint for a reworking of the 12-13-14 stretch. The Doak Scale score for Metro is also briefly mentioned – visit our twitter feed (@ausgolfpassport) for a current tweet on the Doak Scale.  Lukas Michel joins us in the second half of the episode to offer his expert views on the course and Club. Lukas is a highly decorated amateur who has won the Metropolitan GC Club championship several times, in addition to the 2021 Master of the Amateurs, as well as the 2019 US Mid-Amateur, which earned him stars in the 2020 US Open and 2020 US Masters. Read more about Lukas via the following links –

Australian golfing royalty makes a guest appearance this episode, with Mike Clayton sharing his views and experiences of golf on the Mornington Peninsula. A longer podcast than normal, and a wide-ranging discussion that includes Mike’s early recollections of the golfing landscape in this part of the world, and his answers to listener questions on the topic of Mornington peninsula golf. Discussion branches off to include vegetation management, a sparsely played course in Morocco, various elements of course architecture, the progress at 7 Mile Beach, agronomy, forward tees, and Clayts’ ten round split across the three courses at The National. Attention shifts to St Andrews Beach, Rosebud Country Club, Portsea, The Dunes, and other courses on the peninsula. 

As usual, images of some of the topic and holes discussed can be found in our Twitter feed (@AusGolfPassport) and on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport). We hope you enjoy the chat!

Links below to a range of courses and lodging options on the Mornington peninsula.

Episode Six – Mornington Peninsula Part 1

This edition starts off with another brief news of the week segment which ranges from Australian history, to a whisper of new developments at Barnbougle, and a brief chat on specifics of the Kingswood golf course land sale.

This is the first of two episodes devoted to the Mornington Peninsula, and we focus largely on one of the treasures of Australian golf – The National and their three courses at Cape Schanck, on the southern segment of the Mornington peninsula, a little over an hour’s car trip south of the Melbourne CBD. From the bold design of the Club’s first course (by Robert Trent Jones Jnr) to the Moonah course produced by Greg Norman Golf Course Design, and the Gunnamatta course by Tom Doak and Renaissance Golf Design. The history and characteristics of each of the layouts, as well as some design specifics are covered.  As usual, images of the holes discussed can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) . We hope they add to the discussion and aid your enjoyment of the topic.

A labour of love for Scott, as we cover loads of detail about one of the most iconic and dramatic courses in Australia – that of the New South Wales Golf Club. We discuss the site on which the holes sit and the origins of the course, from MacKenzie’s initial design to Apperly’s revisionist work on the layout, and subsequent redesign efforts undertaken by others in the last few decades.  Scott shares his initial experiences of the course, and some of the lessons he’s learned in many subsequent laps. Several holes come in for particular focus, and we briefly touch on possibilities with the imminent work by Mackenzie & Ebert. A few of listener questions round out the hour.

Pushing through cold symptoms during recording, Scott’s flu game is strong. He & Matt devote this episode to the crown jewels of the Apple Isle – Barnbougle Dunes, Lost Farm and their new sibling, the 14 hole Bougle Run. The origins of the two World Top 100 courses, the architectural highlights of each layout and some comparisons are all covered, as well as points on accommodation and on-site post-round activities. The pros and cons of commercial domestic flights to Launceston and direct charters on smaller aircraft, along with some attractions around Launceston round out the episode.

The boys kick things off with a brief review of some news and tidbits on the local golf scene, as well as answers to some listener questions following the previous episode. Discussion then moves on to the best course in the southern hemisphere. Lots and lots of stuff you wanted to know about RM West, and some things you didn’t know you needed to know! How to organize a game whether you’re a local, interstate or overseas unaccompanied visitor, and much more. The history of the course, grasses, architectural merits of the holes, and the joys of wandering around the clubhouse during a visit. A series of images and overheads of some holes are up on the Australian Golf Passport Podcast Instagram feed, to flesh out the discussion and bring the descriptions to life for those yet to play the course. You’re sure to agree - a round at Royal Melbourne is really the lynch pin of a golfing visit to Australia.