Kingston Heath Golf Club, Cheltenham, Victoria, 3192

Overview

Kingston Heath Golf Club

Kingston Road

Cheltenham, VIC, 3192

Australia

Tel:	+61-3-8558-2700
Pro:	+61-3-8558-2700
Web:	Visit the website

Kingston Heath Golf Club

Kingston Heath Golf Club is one of Australia's best golf courses. Currently ranked as the number 2 course in Australia and the 27th best course in the world, Kingston Heath enjoys an enviable reputation for its superb conditioning all year round.

The 18 holes were built on only 125 hectares (most courses in the modern era are built on over 250 hectares), it is perfectly manicured and its bunkering and clever use of dips and hollows visually fools the non observant golfer.

Many people would argue it is a more aesthetically pleasing course than the nearby Royal Melbourne, however if you wildly deviate from the fairway, the rough (comprising long grass, tea tree and sandy scrapes) will test your ability to get the ball back into play.

The 14th hole is a longish par 5 which, depending on the wind direction, can tempt the golfer into reaching the green for 2. One golfer Roger Mackay did better than that in a tournament at the Heath when he holed his second shot for an albatross.

The three par 3 holes are a feature of Kingston Heath and show off one fantastic feature of this great golf course - the classic, natural bunkering. The fifteenth hole, in particular, is a real test ( not necessarily needed towards the end of your round).

An uphill par 3 of moderate length, the path to the hole is surrounded by a myriad of bunkers (some of them very deep) all waiting to swallow the errant tee shot. If you reach the putting surface par is still not guaranteed as the undulating green gives up more 3 putts than 1 putts.

The remaining finishing holes are long par 4's and can ruin an otherwise good score. The 16th is known in golfing circles as the hole where Greg Norman took a 9 on his way to losing a tournament at Kingston Heath in the 1990's. Norman carved his tee shot into the right hand tea tree and it was all downhill from there.

Kingston Heath has hosted the Australian Open 8 times (7 men’s & 1 women’s) as well as hosting the 2009 Australian Masters. This event saw world number 1 golfer Tiger Woods grace the fairways of KH, and he didn’t disappoint, displaying superb shot-making over 4 rounds to take out the yellow jacket.

Kingston Heath is a wonderful golf course and a true delight to play. If you can manage to play a round there it is worth the effort - you will not be disappointed.

Course Information

Par:	72
Length (m):	6352
Architect:	Dan Soutar (bunkering by Alister Mackenzie)
Design Year:	1925
Top 100:	2

Playing Tips

1	Par 4, Length 418m A long, accurate drive is required on this straight par four. Heavy rough and fairway bunkers make the first shot most demanding. An excellent starting hole.
2	Par 4, Length 351m A well placed tee shot will leave only a short, uninterrupted pitch to the green. However, heavy timber on the left could spell trouble for any wayward shots or shortcut attempts. Accuracy, not distance, is the key.
3	Par 4, Length 269m This is the shortest par four on the course. Most players will be looking for birdies here, but the terraced green is very undulating and could turn a potential one-putt into three.
4	Par 4, Length 357m The fairway is wide open, but a drive to the left affords the best approach to the heavily bunkered green. Once again, the green has many undulations and slopes from back to front.
5	Par 3, Length 173m Although this is the longest par three on the course, it is a fairly straightforward hole. There are plenty of sand traps on both sides, but the size of the green provides reasonable margin for error off the tee.
6	Par 4, Length 393m A difficult par four requiring a long drive and a long second shot. A string of bunkers waits to snare any approach straying right, although the area around the green itself is fairly clear.
7	Par 5, Length 460m The par five seventh hole is a definite birdie or eagle chance. Drive down the left centre of the fairway, short of the cross bunker. I favour a fairway wood or long iron to pass the small swale at the entrance of the green. Any shot short of the swale is very difficult to judge.
8	Par 4, Length 398m Another long par four requiring placement off the tee. The drive must be kept left to open up the green and avoid fairway traps and rough on the corner of the dogleg. The green is severely bunkered on the left.
9	Par 4, Length 328m A relief, but accuracy is essential. Many will use an iron from the tee. The green slopes from left to right and is virtually surrounded by bunkers and thick bush.
10	Par 3, Length 128m There should be plenty of birdies on this short hole, but any misdirected shots will finish in either heavy rough or one of the numerous bunkers, which surround the green.
11	Par 4, Length 378m This hole has many pitfalls. Fairway bunkers just over 200 metres from the tee, heavy timber on either side, and an out of bounds behind the narrow green. There will be more bogeys than birdies on this tough hole.
12	Par 5, Length 509m A solid par 5, and a real birdie chance with three well executed shots. However, the players, who take the shortest line along the left, must contend with fairway traps, thick timber, and an out of bounds.
13	Par 4, Length 323m Another potential birdie opportunity, but again the tee shot should be well placed. Any shot hit to the right will leave a more difficult approach over bunkers to the small green.
14	Par 5, Length 515m The longest hole, where birdies will be scarce. Bunkers 45 metres short of the green leave little opening for long hitters attempt to get close in two. An out of bounds left and behind the green provides an additional mental hazard.
15	Par 3, Length 141m This hole is considered by many to be one of the best par three's in Australia. The very narrow green is protected by deep bunkers on both sides and slopes sharply from back to front.
16	Par 4, Length 397m The first of a trio of great finishing par four's. This hole doglegs right with a large number of bunkers perfectly placed to deter or challenge long hitters. The extremely fast, sloping green requires a delicate putting touch.
17	Par 4, Length 420m An extremely difficult par four, particularly if the wind is blowing from the north. Any shot hooked to the left is 'dead', and the huge, sloping putting surface will produce many three-putts.
18	Par 4, Length 391m An accurate long iron approach is required to set up a par on this hole. The green is guarded by traps on both sides and like the previous 17, has many rolls and borrows.