Championship courses and a unique leisure resort
The magnificent Open course at Moonah Links on the Mornington Peninsula.
THE five-time winner of The Open Championship, the late Peter Thomson, also had a stellar golf-course design career alongside partners Ross Perrett and the late Mike Wolveridge.
They built the Open course at Moonah Links in the belief that it would become the regular home of our national championship.
Thomson always regarded Moonah as his best work among close to the 100 he designed around the world. “It is my magnum opus,” he once told me not long after the course was complete.
Thomo loved watching the game’s best players grapple with the nuances of the Open Course on the Mornington Peninsula.
The Australian Golf Union (now the merged Golf Australia) had grand plans for Moonah – it hosted the 2003 and 2005 Australian Open – which for a plethora of reasons did not reach fruition.
But that did not stop it becoming possibly the best golf destination on the Mornington Peninsula. Both courses – the Open and the 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 other thing I love about Moonah is the manner in which it pays homage to Thomson – there is a statue of him as you head for the first tee on the Open Course – and the game of golf in general by still hosting tournaments. From December 4-8 this year it will again welcome the time-honoured 72-hole Victorian PGA Championship, something it has done since 2021.
Assistant General Manager, Bronwyn Robbins, is very proud of the role the course plays not only hosting this event but also embracing the community. An example of this was evident on Mothers’ Day this year when Moonah opened its doors to the Mothers’ Day Charity Walk to raise funds to help in the fight against the scourge of breast cancer.
“We thought it was a great idea because it is always quiet here on Mothers’ Day. We could not believe how successful it was,” Robbins said.
“We had 800 people walk the Open Course. The atmosphere was great and there was a real community feel around the place. 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.
“It’s something we will look to do again next year and in following years for such a great cause,” Robbins said.
Another great aspect to Moonah is the fact that there is plenty to entertain the whole family off the golf course. The accommodation, wine and food offerings are exceptional.
Fine dining, great wines, spectacular views at the Peppers Moonah Links Resort.
Moonah certainly lives up to its self-promotion as “a unique leisure resort.”
Not only does It boast two 18-hole championship golf courses, but it also has an a la carte restaurant and luxury accommodation.
The golf courses feature panoramic views from raised tees, shared greens and a host of other unique features, making both layouts ‘must play’ for all golfers.
As well, Moonah Links is conveniently located on the picturesque Mornington Peninsula in offering easy access to some of Victoria’s most popular award-winning attractions, including the Peninsula Hot Springs and neighboring Cups Estate Winery and St Andrews Beach Brewery. Visitors need not venture too far from the resort to experience the very best that the Mornington Peninsula has to offer.
THE OPEN COURSE
Thomson said of this course around the time it was built: “It measures 6783 metres, so 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.
“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 arranged that no particular direction is especially helpful, it is always a factor.
“The leviathan of a course is a new experience for Australian golf. Visitors will get a whiff of what top championship play is really like.”
We cannot even attempt to add to the great man’s assessment of his own creation.
THE LEGENDS COURSE
The ‘younger sibling’ of the Open Course, the Legends Course, was opened for play in 2003 after the Australian Open and was greeted with rave reviews. The work of Ross Perrett, the Legends Course has consistently ranked highly in all course reviews.
While it is easier than the Open Course, it is certainly no pushover. The Legends is shorter, at 6,315 metres off the black tees, but blessed with the better piece of land, with more natural trees and bushes through which the holes wander and bunkers that would not look out of place in Melbourne’s fabled sandbelt.
Perrett also has added a bit of fun by naming each hole after a famous golfer; most are great Australians, though Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus are in there too as international giants who have triumphed in Australia.
ABOUT THE RESORT AND THE AREA
The resort is located upon an undulating landscape on the Mornington Peninsula, less than a 90-minute drive from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne. The region has long been favoured as a seaside holiday destination and is recognised as an exciting wine growing region.
The resort’s Events and Marketing Manager, Giorgia Drake, proudly pointed out the luxury on hand in each of the Peppers Resort’s 70 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 of its kind in Australia integrating luxury accommodation with two 18-hole championship golf courses,” Drake said
Each room features natural materials, clean lines and earthy Australian tones with stylish furnishings and fittings. The natural harmony of the outdoors has been brought indoors with the architecturally designed rooms echoing the surrounding landscape. Rooms also feature LCD flat screen televisions with premium Foxtel, iPad docks and luxury branded Appelles guest amenities. The onsite a la carte restaurant, Pebbles, highlights the very best of Mornington Peninsula produce, with an exquisite menu drawing inspiration from seasonal and sustainable produce, including freshly picked herbs and vegetables from Moonah Links Kitchen Garden.
The wine list is extensive and sure to impress any discerning grape lover with the best Mornington Peninsula wineries represented; craft beer, cider, cocktails, aperitifs, spirits and plenty of non-alcoholic options are also available for all to enjoy.
For a more casual dining option or to enjoy a pre-dinner drink or nightcap, there’s the Spike Bar which opens out onto a sun-drenched terrace featuring spectacular sunset views over the Open Course.
Guests and visitors don’t need to 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 or volleyball or kick a soccer ball around the lush recreation lawn. Other facilities include an on-site gymnasium, practice putting green and driving range.
WEDDINGS AND CONFERENCES
Peppers Moonah Links Resort is a great setting for a wedding and caters for small and intimate celebrations through to lavish receptions.
It has an abundance of picturesque ceremony and reception venues set among rolling sand dunes and the local Moonah trees. It also has Executive Lodges which feature a stylish contemporary atmosphere with a large sun deck offering a romantic backdrop. The Executive Lodges are suitable for weddings of up to 60 guests seated or 100 guests cocktail or banquet style,
The resort can also arrange accommodation packages for the bridal party and their guests. Accommodation comprises 70 stylish guest rooms and suites, each with stunning course-side positions looking out to natural undulating landscape views.
But it is not only weddings that are the resort’s specialty. It can accommodate all types of functions, with conferences high on its priority list. It offers modern accommodation, award-winning championship golf courses, on-site dining options, and is in close proximity to everything the Mornington Peninsula has to offer. Peppers Moonah Links Resort prides itself on being the gateway to an exciting and exceptional region of Victoria.
