Research Trip: Great Ocean Road

We had heard so much yet seen so little of Port Fairy Golf Links. A little over a 3-hour drive from the city of Melbourne, it isn’t exactly around the corner. Oh, how we wish this place were in our backyard. A slice of Scotland.

As Melbourne creeps towards winter, we were worried the day could be impacted by bad weather. I wouldn’t say we are fair-weather golfers; however, a place as beautiful as Port Fairy deserves a clear day. And that is exactly what we got.

The sun rose picturesquely as the early morning fog drifted across the dunes. The road taken towards the course reminded me of the drive to Barnbougle. Surrounded by acres of farmland, green grass and flags slowly reveal themselves amongst the dunes, and the anticipation rises.

The clubhouse reminded me of a local cricket club - slightly outdated, yet a homely feel to the place. A balcony overlooks the 18th green and the first fairway, making it the perfect spot to reflect on the round and watch players finishing their day or just getting started.

A bit of a, ‘left is right, right is shite’, as you step onto the first tee, with the double fairways of 1 and 18 side by side. A gentle handshake as you start below the dunes. Whilst out of sight, the sound of waves crashed against the shoreline in the distance. The third tee box gave us a glimpse of what was to come.

I am not one to rank a course on its views. Great views do not mean a great golf course. Yet Port Fairy seems to do what many seaside Australian links courses do not; match the breathtaking views with an outstanding layout. The holes are so perfectly crafted across the top and between sand dunes, using the ocean to its advantage.

The stretch from 12-16 is one of the best in Australia. I made the mistake of not making the most of the inland holes before reaching this stretch. Highly exposed to winds, the Par 5 12th is the first stretch of holes that run across the furthest point of the dune. Out of bounds loomed large down the right-hand side, which I promptly found.

The Par 4 14th may be up there as one of the best and hardest golf holes I have ever played. Sitting at 445 yards and bunkerless, it plays tougher than the par suggests. Frequently straight into the wind, out of bounds to the right, shrub left. I was told to hug the out-of-bounds, the quickest yet most dangerous way home. I opted for the left shrub. Stepping atop the hill, looking down towards the green with the ocean as a backdrop, was just one of those moments. We sat there for a while just taking it all in.

Places like Port Fairy are why I fell in love with golf - a sense of discovery, journey, and friendship. The game takes you to places you never think of going. To the corners of the world you had never thought of. And, after an almost 4-hour drive out of Melbourne, we have found Australia’s true links.