Southern Golf Club

About the club

Though less heralded than the Kingston heath or Royal Melbourne, the Southern belongs to that outstanding group of Melbourne Sandbelt courses, and like them is played only by invitation only. Sam Berriman laid out the first course shortly after World War II, and three decades later Michael Wolveridge and Peter Thomson and Michael Wolveridge carried out renovations. Large trees border the original holes, and water hazards defend those constructed more recently. In order to test skilled players yet remain fun for casual ones, the Southern has little relief and its fairways are ample. Thus for instance the 1st hole, a fairly long par 4, is reached with difficulty; the lay of the land makes for an abrupt approach to the green. Also formidable are the 5th, a par 5 where players must either make for the green in two or confront the bunkers, and the well-defended green of the par 5 12th.