Melbourne Sand Belt
The world-famous Sand Belt — Australia's greatest cluster of inland courses, all within a 30-minute radius south-east of Melbourne CBD.
The Melbourne Sand Belt is widely regarded as the greatest collection of inland courses in the Southern
Hemisphere and one of the top golf destinations on Earth. The sandy soil left by the receding ocean millions
of years ago gave Alister MacKenzie, Alex Russell, and their contemporaries a canvas for bold bunkering,
firm turf, and strategic design that has defined Australian championship golf for nearly a century.
Seven clubs form the traditional Sand Belt: Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Commonwealth,
Metropolitan, Yarra Yarra, and Huntingdale. Most are private but arrangements exist for visiting
international players. Playing three or four over a weekend is the classic Sand Belt pilgrimage.
Trip Tips
- •Base in Black Rock, Mentone, or Cheltenham for minimum drive times.
- •January–March offers firmest conditions but summer heat. April–May and September–October are ideal.
- •Most clubs are walking-only — book a caddie if you're not confident carrying 18 holes.
- •Metropolitan, Victoria, and Commonwealth are often most accessible for visiting golfers with letters of introduction.
Courses in the Melbourne Sand Belt
Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Melbourne, Australia
Kingston Heath Golf Club
Melbourne, Australia
Victoria Golf Club
Melbourne, Australia
Commonwealth Golf Club
Melbourne, Australia
Metropolitan Golf Club
Melbourne, Australia
Yarra Yarra Golf Club
Melbourne, Australia
Huntingdale Golf Club
Melbourne, Australia
Plan Your Melbourne Sand Belt Trip
Before you tee off, know where you're actually losing strokes. The Grand Plan's free assessment gives you a personalised pre-round playbook for any course.