PUT aside for a minute, the two great golf courses at Moonah Links Resort on the Mornington Peninsula.
The whole place has a great vibe to it. So many of these superb golf facilities lack soul. Their pristine clubhouses and courses can be a trifle stultifying for visitors, especially those with families.
Moonah Links, though, has a real community buzz about it. There’s a fair bit to do without playing golf and staff always seem glad to see you even if you are just calling in for a drink to listen to the music on Friday nights.
There’s been a genuine attempt by the resort to encourage people – golfers and non-golfers alike – to come and enjoy the facilities.
Two things that come to mind which illustrated this: the first is the hosting since 2021 of the Victorian PGA championship which continually draws good galleries. The second is the recent Mother’s Day Classic (MDC) for a third year they had over 1000 participants, where a sea of families dressed in pink walked the course to raise money for breast and ovarian cancer. The MDW is an event growing every year.
“With Mothers’ Day it’s about a sense of community for a great cause. It is great to see the sea of pink out on the course. So many people had never set foot on the Open Course and it was a great experience for them, as it was for us for us to have them here,” says Moonah’s Assistant GM, Bronwyn Robbins.
“With the PGA, which has gone from strength to strength, it is about doing our part giving back to the game, investing in the future and developing young players.”
Moonah wants more people to play golf and these two events give the venue exposure to people who otherwise would never set foot on the property.
Another attractive option now being offered by Moonah are five- and 14-hole playing options on the Open Course, as well as a full 18-hole round.
Five holes in a cart for $50 is a great way to get a taste of the Peter Thomson designed leviathan, originally built to be the permanent home of the Australian Open.
Robbins says the five-hole option gives, “new golfers wanting to give the Open Course a go an opportunity to experience it.
“It gives you a taste of the Open Course without being overwhelmed by it.”
As part of the alternative playing options, Moonah returned the Open Course to the order of play Thomson originally planned it.
Admittedly there was a commercial bent to the decision, too.
But Robbins also says the reverting to the original layout of the Open Course, is about “honouring Thomson’s legacy.”
“This allows the layout to be played as a true links course,” she adds.
The Moonah Open Course
The Open Course at Moonah Links is the only 18 holes built in Australia and prepared specifically to be the regular home of the Australian Open.
When completed, it was one of the longest courses in Australia and measured 6783 metres.
Thomson always regarded the – Moonah Open Course as his magnum opus among the 100 plus course built around the world by him and his business partners, Mike Wolveridge and Ross Perrett.
When it opened, Thomson said: “It offers more than a casual stroll in the outdoors. It is a mighty and ferocious test of golfing ability, the likes of which even the top pros only occasionally experience. In terms of difficulty. I estimate a club-handicapped player would merit an extra eight strokes assistance to return a net par score, yet the course has great flexibility. It can be played at many different lengths depending on tees selected,” Thomson said.
“Indeed, it is expected that the total length will only seldom be used for the real championship occasion.
“In addition to its conducive natural contours, the site is blessed with ever-present wind of some direction and strength, and this enhances its attributes. Planning has been arranged that no particular direction is especially helpful, it is always a factor,” Thomson said.
“The Leviathan of a course is a new experience for Australian golf…a whiff of what top championship play is really like.”
It is enough to scare even the best players yet it has not stopped Moonah possibly becoming perhaps the best golf destination on the Mornington Peninsula. Both courses – the OPEN and the Ross Perrett designed LEGENDS – are tough off the ‘tiger’ tees, especially when the wind howls off Bass Strait. But options abound off the forward markers.
The golf courses feature panoramic views from raised tees, shared greens and a host of other unique features which make both of them ‘must play’ for all golfers.
All just 90 Minutes from Melbourne
Moonah also offers plenty to entertain the whole family away from the course, boasting accommodation, wine and food offerings that are exceptional, in living up to its self-promotion that it is “a unique leisure resort.”
And the resort is located upon an undulating landscape on the Mornington Peninsula, less than an hour and a half’s drive from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne. The region has long been a seaside holiday destination and is an exciting wine growing region.
The resort’s Events and Marketing Manager, Giorgia Drake, proudly points out the luxury on hand in each of the Peppers Resort’s 65 deluxe rooms and suites, all with private balconies or terraces overlooking the stunning golf courses.
“Peppers Moonah Links Resort is one of the most unique resorts of its kind in Australia, integrating luxury accommodation with two 18-hole championship golf courses,” Drake says.
Onsite a la carte restaurant, Pebbles, highlights the very best of Mornington Peninsula produce, with an exquisite menu designed to share. The menu draws inspiration from seasonal and sustainable produce, including freshly picked herbs and vegetables from Moonah Links own Kitchen Garden, while the resort features an a la carte restaurant and bar, both with panoramic views over the Open Course.
And you don’t need venture far to experience the very best that the Mornington Peninsula has to offer with Peppers Moonah Links Resort conveniently located amid many popular attractions and destinations. Neighboring the resort are the award winning Peninsula Hot Springs, the very popular St Andrews Beach Brewery and the Cups Estate Winery.
Further down the road you will find Gunnamatta Surf Beach, Gunnamatta Trail Rides, Boneo Maze and The Arthurs Seat Eagle. The Mornington Peninsula is a renowned grape growing region, with many of the region’s best wineries just a short drive from the Resort.
Off the golf course you can enjoy the outdoor heated swimming pool or a mountain bike ride to explore the local area. Or you can get the family together for a light-hearted game of badminton, volleyball or kick a soccer ball around the lush recreation lawn. Other facilities include on-site gymnasium, practice putting green and driving range, while they have also built an indoor simulator which has a planned opening date of July 1.
Weddings and Conferences
Peppers Moonah Links Resort provides an exceptional setting for weddings and events. Nestled among rolling sand dunes and native Moonah trees, the resort boasts a variety of stunning ceremony and reception spaces that offer a naturally beautiful backdrop. The Alkira Marquee can host celebrations of up to 150 guests, while our Executive Lodges are more suited to intimate gatherings of 60 or fewer. Both spaces deliver a modern, elegant atmosphere with spacious sun decks and picturesque golf course views.
Beyond weddings, Peppers Moonah Links Resort is also a premier venue for conferences and special events. With versatile facilities and expert service, the resort is well-equipped to cater to for corporate conferences and socials occasions. Peppers Moonah Links Resort features 65 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, each with a private balcony or terrace overlooking the championship golf courses, central putting green, or stunning natural surrounds, ideal for hosting your guests in comfort.
Positioned as the perfect gateway to the Mornington Peninsula, it invites guests to relax, connect, and explore everything this remarkable region has to offer.
– Story prepared by Inside Golf for Peppers Moonah Links Resort
