1. rodney21 | Rated | 27 Aug 2011 | Add A Review

I need to confess up front, I’m a member of The Sands Torquay and I really enjoy the course, but it wasn’t always that way. My first experience of playing The Sands left me unimpressed. It was a summer day and the wind blew at about 25 knots. I cruised around the front 9 but was blown away by the back 9. What annoyed me the most were the fairway bunkers. I thought they were unfair and some of the risk reward drives didn’t offer enough reward. I stayed away from the course for two years before trying it again. I’m a reasonable golfer playing off 3, but I thought the course to be too difficult, and I was used to playing in the wind. So what changed my mind?

I played the course in a more manageable wind and found it wasn’t as tough as I thought. They had also filled in a couple of the bunkers I thought were unfair, they were placed about 50 or 60 metres in front of greens, most noticeable hole 10. What I discovered is the course is more about strategy and less about trying to over power it. Given that I consider myself more of a strategist when playing I was a bit of a slow learner when it came to The Sands.

After playing the course three times I had begun to think about joining, by the time I had played it five times, I was hooked. The 2nd, 8th, 11th, 14th, 15th holes really stood out as the best. The 11th is my favourite closely followed by the 8th. The course is in great condition all year round, but it does look better in summer because the santa ana couch fairways are greener. The fairways are generous on most holes, the 14th and 15th being the rare exceptions.

The Surfcoast knockout held in Feb 2011 proved the course was not too difficult, 3 or 4 pros scored 64, but when the wind picked up on Friday I did hear plenty of complaints about how tough it was. Even one very famous and successful pro with the initials CP said they should’ve called it off on Friday because of the wind. For the record the wind was just nudging 23 knots.

Great course, great facilities, including the practice green and fairway. Get down and have a game before the secret of the Bellerine Peninsula gets out.

Also Liked

• 13th Beach Golf Links (Beach)
• 13th Beach Golf Links (Creek)
• Barwon Heads Golf Club
• Barnbougle Dunes
• Eynesbury Golf Course

2. ipwood | Rated | 21 Mar 2011 | Add A Review

If you can’t play in the wind don’t play The Sands or make sure it’s a calm day when you visit!! Immacculately conditioned course with fairly generous fairways required for something this exposed. Missing fairways will make for plenty of lost balls.

The two nines are very different in design with the front nine changing directions on almost every hole which means you rarely have the wind coming from the same direction. The back nine has 10-14 playing north with 15-18 straight back.

A fairly tough collection of par 3’s are probably the most memorable holes on the course and, if you want a real challenge, have a crack at 16 off the back tees. A lazy 200 mertre water carry.

Terrific staff and cold beer. On site accommodation in the houses overlooking the course is first class and affordable.

3. Malvern | Rated | 03 Nov 2008 | Add A Review

Have played The Sands twice in the last 2 months, one time with 50km winds, the next on a perfect day, scored better in the wind. It looks like there is some attempt to fill in some of the hundreds of bunkers, a move I would agree with.

I enjoyed both visits, the course has two distinct nines, the front you wend through strangely designed houses whilst on the back you play 5 holes out and four back with little housing. Some really good holes on the back, 10, 11 and 14 are excellent.

Summing up, really good course, worth a trip, staff couldn’t have been nicer to us

Also Liked

• Barwon Heads Golf Club
• National Golf Club (Moonah)

4. Segalavic | Rated | 13 Apr 2008 | Add A Review

Stayed at The Sands Pepper Resort and played this course the next morning (on a Thursday). The pro shop staff were extremely friendly as were the hotel staff. Staying mid week is defintely the way to go if you can. I felt like I was the only person in the hotel. Stayed in a golf view room, so was able to sit on my balcony the afternoon before and watch groups hit off the tenth tee. As to the course itself, well teeing off at 7.15am resulted in me being the first person out on the course. I absloultely loved this course. I love a course that makes you stop and think about your tee shot instead of just blasting away. I’m not a long hitter but pro standards, (average 210m) but that still brings most fairway bunkers into play on your tee shot, so I found myself dropping to 3 wood on several holes (except when the wind was in my face). You cross the road in sevearl places as the front 9 winds its way through the residential blocks. Some reviews have criticized the build up, but to be honest I barely noticed it as the course itself is so beautifully laid out and i amazing condition..as it should be. The back 9 was definitelt my favourite, including the Par 5 12th…and the amazing Par 3 13th which is an almost vertical shot to the higlhy elevated green. Speaking of greens, I loved the pace of these..yes putts can be tricky if you don’t land it in the right spot, but once you have picked your line the ball runs true. Also loved the sand quality in the bunkers. More grainy than most but the the ball came out beautifully..you felt you could hit blast with confidence without bouncing the club of the concrete some courses call sand. Worth the money, worth the stay

Also Liked

• Port Fairy Golf Club
• The Glades Golf Club
• Palm Meadows Golf Club
• Gainsborough Greens

5. kovu23 | Rated | 11 Apr 2008 | Add A Review

great course offers great fairways and greens and a good club house and pro shop

6. Janjuc | Rated | 08 Jan 2008 | Add A Review

Very tricked up course, 120+ bunkers, with when I played had little sand in them. The course is lined with houses, row upon row on most holes and leaves little aesthetics of the game. The wind was blowing 30+kph the day I played and the houses caused a ‘funnel effect’ which seemed to make the game more difficult. Overall not a pleasant experience.

7. frizzante | Rated | 03 Jan 2008 | Add A Review

This is a fabulous golf course. It is challenging, fun, attractive and very well maintained. The bunkering is incredible. On some holes there seems to be more bunkers than fairway. This does make shot selection a bit obvious for the average player, but the course is just so enjoyable it doesn’t matter.

The last nine holes are fabulous links golf with some great views. The first nine are very good but further from the sea.

We are indeed lucky to have some great courses near Melbourne. This is right up there with Barwon Heads. In fact I think the back nine is better than Barwons front nine.

8. glendonald | Rated | 04 Jul 2007 | Add A Review

From the opening hole you are left in no doubt why it has been named The Sands. Excessive bunkering often leaving lay up as only strategy on a fw holes, others were wide open fairways with natural hazards. Long course from the back tees. Housing development will make it like playing in a fish bowl when all the fairways are lined with box shaped houses.

Also Liked

• Pacific Harbour Golf Club

9. barryt57 | Rated | 21 Mar 2007 | Add A Review

Sometime in a persons golfing career there tends to be watershed moment. A moment in time when you are both challenged and inspired to examine your game in its purest sense. We all know that golf was developed by those crazy Scot’s on the windswept shores of St. Andrews Bay so it is appropriate to play a game at the "Sands" so that you can tap into the historical perspectives of this ancient game. I have played the "old and new" St. Andrews courses so I feel reasonably confident to comment upon the parallels of both courses. Both courses presented with bunkers and wind on occasions as well as hard uncompromising but true greens. This course is certainly a thinking and strategic course where a course guide is a necessity in order to judge the distances to fairway traps and stay out of trouble. It has risk and reward holes, magnificent vistas and no shortage of challenge. It is a course where a par is met with a great deal of personal satisfaction. The whole area has been in severe drought but there appears to be limitless recycled water for this course. The large greens and Santa Anna fairways are brilliant!!!! Friends I have played with at this course cannot wait to return the subtle nuances and superb golf this course provides.

10. niceshot | Rated | 01 Feb 2006 | Add A Review

Ok The Sands is my home course so i hop i don't sound bias here, but this is an honest opinion.

I have been playing there regularily since September 05.

The course itself is kept in immaculate condition and is always in good nick to play on. The fairways are Santa Ana and are cut quite short and not really spongy like some Ssanta Ana is. The Greens i'm not sure what they are made from (grass i suspect) but they are quite fast and very true.

The layout as the name implies contains many bunkers. They are in play on pretty much every shot, it adds to the challenge. But be sure to brush up on your sand play before playing here.

The course starts out with a couple of short par 4's where accuracy is the key. As a general rule for the whole course i find stay on the fairways and you will be fine, easier said than done. Most tee shots on the course have bunker danger and often a good tee shot can end up in a fairway bunker. The fairways are often quite wide giving you a fair chance but venture of into the long grass and you will pay the price.

My favorite/most challenging holes on the course are:

2nd par 4 - a very short hole and if accurate off the tee you can find yourself maybe 50 metres from the green. But the green is wide and not long with bunkers left, right and front. To stop the ball on the green and avoid the bunkers is the challenge.

5th par 3 - About 180 metres bunkers left, right and front and water right(although about 10 metres off fairway. Very tough to hit the green miss it and in a bunker most likely.

10th par 4 - Plenty of room on the drive but the approach shot is the most challenging on the course.

16th par 4/5 - I say 4/5 because of the black tees it is a par 5. All i will say is it is difficult to even hit the fairway with your best tee shot.

Sorry if i have not gone into to much detail here but in summary the course is always in immaculate condition it is a very challenging course that is very often subject to coastal winds making it even harder. Bunkers aplenty add to the challenge.

You have to really think about every shot on this course and those looking to play here don't expect a walk in the park. The practice facilities are first rate with putting green, chipping green(with 3 bunkers) and a 250m driving range with grass hit off. The clubhouse is class with a top rated restaurant and fully stocked pro shop. Unfortunately for teh punters this is a member only course and you can only play here with a member. But if you get the chance i strongly recommend it for the challenge.

11. tnelson46 | Rated | 02 Jul 2004 | Add A Review

The Sands opened for play to members on July 1st, 2004, and I was the first to make a booking! After a heavy night of rain, and a very windy, cold morning, my enthusiam was not diminished.

Bob, Steve and I tee'd off at 10:00 with a strong steady northerly wind in our faces and occasional gusts in the 50 kph range. With that on your mind, you then faced the first hole with about 10 deep bunkers staring you down - if that layout didn't stir the blood, nothing would! Get past that one, and they just keep coming - one strong challenge after another.

The Sands is an awesome course that is not for the faint-hearted. Stuart Appley has done a great job putting this one together. The course will only get better as it matures (and my knowledge of it's intricacies grows). I am definitely looking forward to future games and comp. rounds.

If you get a chance to play this one, do not pass it up! Be prepared for a course that rewards the thinking golfer, and will quickly penalize a lack of concentration - if you don't think out each shot, be prepared for a lot of heartburn!

That said, enjoy it if you get the chance - Tom Nelson (July 2, 2004)