Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula is regarded as one of the Australia’s most treasured and exciting locations for golfers. The variety and quality of the many golfing “gems” in the area is unmatched in our country, and at only a one-hour drive from Melbourne, it’s no wonder why many golfers (including the Inside Golf team) consider it to be a must-visit destination for amazing golf.
One of these sparkling gems is Rosebud Country Club. A favourite of the Inside Golf team, Rosebud Country Club offers a complete package for the visiting golfer or group: 36 holes of challenging golf, on-course accommodation, top-quality food and beverages, and a leading-edge practice and teaching facility.
There have been some big changes recently at Rosebud, with a new Superintendent (Ian Todd, formerly of Victoria GC), and a new Operations Manager (Matt Lang, formerly of The National) joining the team. These additions have seen an impressive transformation of the club, with Todd successfully helping the club to rebound from a challenging year which had seen course conditions affected near the end of the previous summer. Todd’s help has seen the course recover faster than expected and it is now back to the fantastic condition for which Rosebud has long been known.
The addition of Lang, too, is sure help the club thrive in the long run, and achieve their goal to be a top public access facility, according to Rosebud’s General Manager Danny McGrath.
“Matt brings us fresh ideas as well as a very professional approach to all aspects of the business which will expedite our goal to be regarded as one of the best public access golf facilities on the Mornington Peninsula,” McGrath said.
In a very competitive golf market on the Peninsula, the club recorded membership growth of 13% in 2016, welcoming 168 new members. Indeed, membership is thriving at Rosebud, with a large number of ladies joining (an impressive 30% of golf members are ladies – a percentage which would be the envy of most clubs). This is due, in part, to the strong decisions made by the forward-thinking, progressive Board. In addition, the club provides great value for money, and aims to be a true “community club”.
The club’s practice facilities have also really improved over the last 12 months, with a new ball washer, ball machine and mats installed. There are also grass tees now open to members on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The 220m driving range, along with chipping greens, putting greens, and practice bunker are open to the public 7 days a week.
And for those who need a bit of instruction (don’t we all?!), teaching professional Matt Bolton is on hand to help you get the best out of your game. The Bolton Performance Golf is a modern teaching facility with all the high-tech gadgets and technology to help you boost your game. An Indoor/Outdoor, all-weather facility, Bolton Performance Golf features high-speed cameras, Flightscope and the SAM PuttLab – all designed to help every part of your game. In addition, there is a fully-equipped workshop on site. Bolton caters for group lessons or individual lessons, and thus there is instruction available for any level of golfer.
Bolton also runs a very successful junior program, which is considered to be one of the best in the state of Victoria. Additionally (and importantly), many of these juniors have transitioned to become club members, which is a critical demographic for the health of any golf club these days.
Of course, the golf itself is first and foremost in many golfers’ eyes. And Rosebud Country Club doesn’t disappoint. The facility offers 36 holes of quality golf, with two very different playing experiences. The North course (a former host of the Australian PGA Championship) features large pine trees framing the fairways, while the South Coast boasts wide fairways and large greens. They provide a good contrast to each other, and not only keep it interesting for the members, but also make it an ideal destination for an annual golf weekend with your mates. The greens are true, challenging and fair, while the overall course condition is of a very high calibre. It is a true members’ facility – one that you can play over and over without feeling bored or like you’ve been unduly punished. Fun, interesting and always a challenge, both courses (played in various combinations) have provided Inside Golf plenty of enjoyment over the years during our many visits.
In addition to the fantastic golf, the club offers a bright, comfortable, light-filled clubhouse with TAB, Café and Bistro open from 7.00 a.m. daily. The facility is available to host large functions, weddings, social groups or dinners (they recently hosted a whopping 250 people for New Years, while they also have successfully hosted extremely large groups from the annual Mornington Peninsula Golf Classic.)
For golfers looking to extend their stay a bit, there is also on-site 4-Star accommodation at Fairways Resort. With 39 generously-sized guest rooms, all with king beds, private courtyards, LCD television and inverter climate control systems, Fairways Resort is perfect for large groups— there are several 2-bedroom and twin suites, while superior rooms include the executive Suite and Spa Suite.
Rosebud Country Club offers Public Access golf 7 days a week. Green fees are just $59 on weekends, and $49 midweek. There is a $30 daylight saving special 7 days a week after 2pm. Social groups are welcome, and shotgun starts are available. There are 16 competitions held each week, and there is also a fleet of 45 carts available for hire.
A variety of memberships are available at Rosebud Country Club. Golfers staying on the Peninsula during the summer months should consider the option of a Lifestyle Membership, an innovative points-style membership offering flexibility and member benefits.
So if you’re looking for a high-quality, fun and challenging club which ticks all the boxes for great golf, then drop in to Rosebud Country Club and say G’day.
For more information and group discount pricing visit: www.rosebudcountryclub.com.au, Clubhouse (03) 5950 0800, Golf Shop (03) 5950 0888. Fairways Resort: www.fairwaysresort.com.au, 1300 363 349
A four-time winner of the Australian Golf Media Awards, including Best Photojournalism, Best Opinion, Best Column and Best Photographic Presentation, Inside Golf Group Editor Richard Fellner is the quintessential Golf Tragic, having played the game for over 50 years (but has never gotten any better!) He has played and reviewed courses all over the world, and has interviewed many of the great players of the game (including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Greg Norman). Richard is a member of both the Australian Golf Media Association and the Golf Society of Australia, and has been a featured guest on many Australian "sports talk" radio shows and networks, including ABC Grandstand, SEN 1116, Melbourne Talk Radio 1377, 2GB and others.
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