1. Jeremycollins | Rated | 23 Jul 2008 | Add A Review

StewyGriffin, what are you talking about!? Yes, i agree that the cost is a bit much, but i played at kingston about a month ago and the course was great. The greens and fairways were beautiful. The course has a terrific, challenging layout with water coming into play on most of the front nine. The bunkers are well placed on the fairway, rewarding a straight drive, and around the greens, meaning you have to be accurate to shoot low numbers.

2. StewyGriffin | Rated | 27 May 2008 | Add A Review

Hi ther Mr Faldo, I do agree with some of your comments. But due to the nature of the cousre being public access the bunker, greens, fairways & tee boxs will allways be keep that way due to the nature of type of client they let on. It was always “GOLF ATTIRE ONLY”, I’ve seen people in tracky dacks & tee shirts on this course. Like I said before it was once Melbournes premier course to play. Now just a good local course. I wont be back again !

ALSO LIKED

• Portsea Golf Club
• Spring Valley Golf Club
• The Dunes Golf Links (Dunes)
• Waterford Valley

3. Faldo | Rated | 26 May 2008 | Add A Review

I think your appraisal is a bit harsh StewyGriffin.I have been playing twice a week at Kingston Links for the past 6 months and have always found the course to be well presented.My only criticisms would be the number of pitch marks on the greens and the sometimes messy bunkers – mainly due to golfers not raking bunkers and not repairing pitch marks. Don’t forget it is a links course hence the undulating fairways of 100% Santa Ana couch grass cannot be in pristine condition every day of the year. Overall I consider it good value particularly in view that it is a Public Golf Course. I have always found the staff at Kingston Links to be friendly,helpful and courteous. Recommended.

4. StewyGriffin | Rated | 22 May 2008 | Add A Review

I played this course when it opened in the early ‘90s, was a great track and a good test of golf. Now I played it agian and its turned into a goat track. Green are a disgrace fairways arent much better and dont get me started on the bunkers. If they made movies about a golf course this would be called “Once were warroirs” This play is over priced for what its become a good public golf course.

5. Tubbytiger | Rated | 13 Jan 2008 | Add A Review

Great course that offers excellent clubhouse hospitality. The course was in great condition considering there hasn’t been much rain. Generous fairways protected by a lot of bunkers along with strategic water hazards. I really enjoyed playing this course that would accomodate all skill levels. Seems to play longer than the card indicates.

6. Lowdown | Rated | 01 Nov 2007 | Add A Review

Played this course last weekend. It was in great condition I thought, and without a doubt, the best public access course I’ve played on in Melbourne metropolitan area.

I did end up losing 3-4 balls in the drink at various holes, but still managed to shoot my lowest ever round – so that helps!

Fairways were great, green perfect and it is quite a challenging course – with many greens, fairways unsighted off the tees, and quite narrow.

If only it was a little cheaper. At $49 a round, it is twice the cost of Yarra Bend and other quality public courses.

7. danieltheprogolfer | Rated | 20 Jul 2007 | Add A Review

i played ther today and i will say it is a very good and great golf course the grass is a little bit soggy and dinted but is a great course and allso a chalenge/hard

8. jasonk | Rated | 23 Jun 2007 | Add A Review

played kingston links 22nd june 2007. read the reviews on here and was a bit hestiant what to expect when i turned up to play. Arrived and was very surprised in how immaculate the course was in. Those people who wrote a review ans said the course was not maintained must of been in la la land, coming from sydney, this is the second course i have played and must say it is so much better than the growling frog. to anyone who is hesitant to book a round at the links, don’t be fantastic course in fantastic condition.

9. melbsouthpaw | Rated | 09 Nov 2006 | Add A Review

Played here twice and while I enjoy the layout, there are many problems which don't justify the relatively high price.

The pro-shop staff are next to useless. Marshalling of the 1st tee would be a good start - as would the slower players out on the course. Their attitude could do with an overhaul as well - they must remember that this is a service industry. If you want customers to return, you must service their needs.

The course has some really great moments, but some equally poor ones as well. The greens are maintained appalling - pitch marks, debris and damage from mishandling flagsticks. Wouldn't take much to fix, but they seem to forget that half the game is focussed around the greens.

The fairways are in good condition and the placement of bunkers/water hazards is really good in my opinion.

The problem I really find about this course is the fact that a lot of cashed-up bogans tend to play here and they don't tend to play with any golf etiquette (throwing cigarette butts, damaging greens, not raking bunkers, hitting into player groups ahead and other generally aggressive behaviour.

Eliminating some of these players would improve this course a lot in my opinion. Also, dropping the price about $10 should be considered - in comparison to Growling Frog, this course is a joke (for essentially the same price).

10. sarboy | Rated | 15 May 2006 | Add A Review

I must start with; I always play under my handicap at this course.

BUT

It needs the attention that a private course gets. With no members to take care of the bunkers, greens and fairways, you can ended up getting very frustrated with pitch markes, foot prints in bunkers and bad lies in the middle of the fairways.

It plays very easy from the white markers and I would say there is no value in playing from these tees. Play it off at least the blues and then it starts to get a bit harder.

Lots of water and many bunkers. Greens are fast but uneven due to lack of player care.

Last time I played they no longer were doing the deal of 4 rounds and two carts and a beer for $42 each, which wasnt bad value but at a straight $44 its over priced.

11. hitori | Rated | 22 Dec 2005 | Add A Review

Very disappointed in the place, especially given the cost of a round. This is definitely now a course where the golfer is taken for granted

Played a couple of rounds over the past years and the course condition has dropped off significantly. Since the original course superintendent was poached by one of the sandbelt clubs a couple of years ago the course condition has suffered.

The fairways suffer from weed and foreign grass infestations (as well as the odd bare patch) and the greens are only just at the standard expected. The impression is that ground staff only turn up once a week with no ongoing (7 day) attention.

This course is advertised in all of the "Top ###" courses but surely must only be included on past glories and reputations.

Go and have a crack by all means but don't be surprised if the course looks a bit different to the promo shots. Also, if the staff in the pro-shop are on a personal call, you may have to wait 5-10 minutes until they are good and ready to serve you.

BTW - This review isn't as a result of a bad round. Every time I have played here I have played under my handicap by 4-5 shots.

12. fridrobrec | Rated | 30 Nov 2005 | Add A Review

Overrated. It's simply a mud-pool during the winter. Avoid in winter months - the grass simply doesn't grow and the drainage is poor.

In summer it is okay but not great. Wind is no problem - that is what a links course is all about.

13. ronrat | Rated | 24 Oct 2005 | Add A Review

But I think it is overrated. And the beers are dear. That said it seems to play into the wind on every hole and it can be quick.

14. griffoman | Rated | 17 Jul 2005 | Add A Review

I have to admit when I first approached Kingston Links I was downcast - all those reviews but here we are driving through an industrial estate with pylons along the side. Boy was I wrong. KL is a top course - not at all a Melbourne sandbelt course but that is quite refreshing - a bit like Growling Frog. First thing you notice is the perfect fairways - this place used to be a swampy wasteland, now it is magnificent. Bunkers are as pleasurable as is possible in a sadistic sort of way and the greens are always extremely excellent except when duck shooting season is in full bore and then the greens are a mass of crap !

The hole layouts are interesting and demanding. If you are a 20 or better golfer thenyou have nothing to worry about, but if you are a weekend warrior like me I suggest you pop along to Drummond Golf and buy a bag of 15 second hand balls because you are bound to lose half in the water hazards in front or alongside you.

Once again the key to par and salvation is a few minutes reading the website and laying up for key holes rather than doing the testosterone thing and grabbing the driver every hole - boy will you lose lots of balls that way. My favourite hole today - I love that fourth - a nice three iron then a chip to the green. heaven... a true peace of ecstacy built on a pile of XXXX - great job and excellent value for money although the tuck shop could offer a little better fare (get rid of those curry pie please).

Good to see they don't load up the tee times at the weekend so you can still enjoy your round.

15. kpavey | Rated | 05 May 2005 | Add A Review

Played this course last weekend (end May 2005) and usually play it a few times a year. Generally in very good condition although recent green coring was still very noticeable on some greens. Worse though was the duck @!#$* on several holes' greens - literally making you carve a way to the hole...pretty annoying...

I also find the general layout a little too forgiving, particularly in fairway width. In my view as a mid handicapper I think stray shots should be penalised - more often than not on this course you can still play them fine.

I ended up playing off the back tees on most holes to keep it more challenging - it's definitely a better test this way as some of the back tees add nearly 50m to some holes and make you play over water or to a more challenging line.

Bunkers could do with some fresh sand as they were hard packed and lean to play out of...

Having said that there are some good holes with water mid way (4th, 8th) that do prompt strategic club selection.

As I live out west of Melbourne, I tend to spend more time around the Bellarine - in my opinion courses like 13th Beach, Curlewis and Clifton Springs are better kept and more enjoyable.

Just like to see this course become more challenging and they pick up the maintenance a bit more - maybe open duck season there a couple of times a year to keep the duck @!#$* down...

16. tigertee | Rated | 11 Apr 2004 | Add A Review

I played this course the day after it opened and once, sometimes twice a year since and have seen the course slip fom top quality to average. Bunker quality and weed infestation are becoming a problem, if the latter becomes established it is very costly to turn around. However this is what happens when you contract out the maintenance, they make money from what they don't do!

The course is a good layout and fun to play for all levels, when the wind picks up it is a real hand full. A bit of water around that is best treated with caution for the first round or two, anyone with a ball retriever will come away with a bag full! The driving range is an excellent warm-up facility.

17. clinton | Rated | 23 Sep 2003 | Add A Review

Kingston Links is my favourite Melbourne metro course. It offers a challenging layout, plays links style and by varying the tees, white to blue, you can change the way this course plays dramatically.

Fairways and greens are generally in excellent condition and are true in pace and turn, coring can seriously affect putting so enquire if they have done it lately. They generally offer a discount, pay for 9, play 18 when they have done the coring recently.

There are some tough holes and some relatively easy ones that you can make hard all by yourself. Most greens carry protection in the forms of bunkers or heavire rough so hitting greens is important. There is plenty of water and sand around but if accurate off the tee, they won't come into play. Bunkers have good sand except after rain when it gets heavy, it does everywhere though!

There are plenty of par 5's on this course and playing off the white tees will allow the bigger hitters to reach in 2. The wind is the deciding factor and as the course is fairly open (links style),

Headwinds or tailwinds will affect your decision off the tee.

I think that Kingston Links offers great value for money. You do pay a little bit more than your average public course but the course is worth it as it is testing and the good condition of the fairways and greens give better golfers no excuses. I find our groups generally move quite quickly, 4.5 hours as opposed to the usual 5+ at other public courses. Spike bar is also well stocked and the staff have always been really friendly.