Commonwealth Golf Club, Oakleigh South, Victoria, 3167

Overview

Commonwealth Golf Club

Glennie Avenue

Oakleigh South, VIC, 3167

Australia

Tel:	+61-3-9575-0444
Pro:	03-9575-0444
Web:	Visit the website

Commonwealth Golf Club

With a heritage dating back to 1920, Commonwealth Golf Club is revered for its magnificent, tree lined fairways, strategic bunkering and subtle sloping greens which call for accurate shot making and makes Commonwealth a true test for golfers of all abilities.

The course was designed by club Captain Charles Lane, who learned his craft from the world renowned Alister Mackenzie and Harry Colt. The guiding principles were to create a visually interesting, engaging layout where bunkers and hazards were intended to encourage strategic play.

All 18 greens were then re-designed in the mid 1930s under the guidance of administrator Sloan Morpeth who determined that no two greens be the same in shape and design.

The course remains true to these principles today.

Course / Club Highlights:

Hosted following events;

Men’s Australian Open – 1967 (Won by Peter Thomson)

Women’s Australian Open – 2010 & 2011

Victorian Open – 1961 & 1972

Victorian Women’s Open – 1988 & 1989

Australian Amateur – 1957, 1983 & 2013

Signature Holes (include description):

A: 16^th hole – Par 4

The 16^th hole is the epitome of Commonwealth golf. From the elevated tee the long hitter surveys a classic ‘risk versus reward’ challenge with the heroic carry over the corner of the lake, presenting a real opportunity. A successful shot over the corner of the lake might yield a nine iron pitch and a birdie opportunity. It might also yield a watery grave for the ball pulled or drawn a little too far left! The sloping green presents a very difficult target from the wide open spaces of the right hand side of the fairway with the right hand green side bunker to be carried and a steep slope running off the left hand side of the green.

B: 18^th hole – Par 4

A great finishing hole played under the eyes of the elevated clubhouse. This challenging final hole needs a driver to the left side of the fairway to set up the best angle for a mid-iron into the green. Driving accuracy is paramount here with a drive in the centre or to the right of the fairway resulting in a second shot that must carry some or all of the right hand greenside bunker. A pull to the left will finish in difficult rough or, in the worst case, in deep fairway bunkers where you may find it hard to reach the green in two.

C: 9^th Hole – Par 3

A strategic short par three, which is heavily bunkered and where pin placement determines the club and shot required. Common pin placements are short left-centre – just over the front bunker, and back right or back centre. Land too close to the left edge and the ball will run off the green and down the steeply sloping surrounds; The green is situated at the highest point on the course and ball flight can be significantly influenced by wind which may not be noticeable on the relatively sheltered tee.

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Course Information

Par:	73
Length (m):	6380
Architect:	Sam Bennett
Design Year:	1921
Top 100:	27

Playing Tips

1	Par 4, Length 303m A classic opening hole, it is seen to preview perfectly the style, quality and beauty of the course, and at only 303m, it provides a comfortable start to the round. Its key strategic feature is the decision required for the first shot of the day. Whether to be short and safe or to fly as much sand as possible for the simpler approach. From the clubhouse at days end, enjoy the view of one of Melbourne's finest golfing landscapes, and contemplate on your earlier tee shot decision.
2	Par 5, Length 466m The view from the tee sets the scene for the typical Commonwealth tree-lined hole, with an inviting fairway and strategically placed hazards. After a good drive care must be taken to keep the second shot on the fairway, thus avoiding the intrusions of the rough on the left and the sand on the right. Although the third shot to the small multi-level green should be with a short iron, a cavernous bunker at the front right or the prospect of a very tricky chip for those who miss on the left, fills the mind with uncertainty. For the very long hitters, the second shot to the small opening of the green requires great accuracy.
3	Par 4, Length 390m At 390m it is the first of the long par 4 holes. Played to the north, it is generally influenced by the prevailing winds, while other hazards include the extensive left side fairway bunkers and the natural lake on the right. Thus the penalty for missing this fairway is severe. The second shot to the green can be played through a narrow opening with the right side bunker encroaching at the front. A bold approach shot is required to make the green. The bunkers on both sides of the sloping green provide no easy recovery prospect for an errant approach. It is a hole to enjoy and a par is good golf.
4	Par 4, Length 348m While not long it is a hole of decision. Drive safely down the left side of the fairway and play your second across a dangerous bunker to a green sloping left to right. Or, make a positive drive over the corner bunker and gain the reward of a more straightforward shot in. You stand up to your second shot knowing that any shot at the green can be caught by the dip just short directing the ball left, and an up-and-down from the greenside bunker to a green sloping sharply away from you is rare. Even so the bunker acts as if it were a magnet. While birdie 3 appears possible par is a good result.
5	Par 4, Length 376m Picturesque from the elevated tee this hole rewards those who can finish close to the right side fairway bunker providing a good view of the green for the second shot. Drive to the left side and the illusory bunker short of the green creates deception in distance and the left greenside bunkers seem to attract the second shot. The choice of club for the second shot needs to be precise. Those landing short pull up quickly leaving a long putt over the hump in the green, those hitting on the back half of the green often run down the slope and through the green leaving a delicate chip to secure par.
6	Par 5, Length 531m At 531m this genuine three-shot par 5 is considered one of Melbourne's best and hardest, particularly into a southerly wind. Driving on to the sloping fairway is vital and the second shot is best long and down the right side of the fairway. This position offers the best approach to the long narrow and sharply sloping green set at an angle to the fairway. Anywhere left with your second shot brings the greenside bunkers very much into play. Then if your approach is short or right, you risk falling back off the green. An up-and-down from the greenside bunkers requires great skill. Even avoiding the ball running off the other side of the green requires a good shot. Par is an excellent score and birdies are rare.
7	Par 3, Length 182m The longest of the par 3s has a generous green heavily bunkered left. This hole is a challenge to the player with lengthy carry who can put stop on the ball. A pin position in the front half of the green offers an easier tee shot, while the pin position anywhere in the back half of the green brings all the sand into play. Because of the hole's orientation the often south-westerly or north-westerly winds can make this hole very long. Par is a good result.
8	Par 4, Length 376m Many club members consider this hole one of their favourites. The walk to the tee, the tee outlook and the green landscape are all attractive features. The fairway bunker is located adjacent to the ideal position from the tee and the fairway narrows in this area. Right side play requires an approach to an elevated two-tiered green over an extensive array of sand. Not easy and prospects are poor for an-up-and down from any of the greenside bunkers. Again, the fairway is a must from the tee and club selection for your second merits extra consideration.
9	Par 3, Length 133m Despite its short length a testing hole with a green sloping sharply right to left and back to front. A tee shot on the green is very desirable, as an up-and-down from the right side bunkers generally requires a minor miracle and the danger is, hit too far left to avoid these bunkers and risk rolling off the left down the steep slope into rough leaving a tough chip. Prevailing winds make club selection important. An extra club is recommended to reach a pin placement in the back half of the green otherwise a long first putt uphill will be needed. Finish above the hole to a forward pin placement and be faced with a very slick downhill first putt.
10	Par 5, Length 503m On this dog leg par 5 it is important to get the tee shot on the fairway. Too far left will mean the second shot is cut off from a direct line to the green while on the right, sand awaits. From the drive, the fairway slopes down to provide a good overview of the remainder of the hole. This features a lot of sand in the approach area and a playing decision is required whether to charge with a long shot or to lay up short. At 38m the green is the longest on the course so club choice for the third shot varies widely according to pin placement.
11	Par 4, Length 373m Arguably the toughest par 4 on the course. The bunkers on the right hand corner of the fairway tempt you and a very well hit drive will clear these and leave a short iron approach. A long drive hit left will end up in the rough and a chip out at best.
12	Par 4, Length 408m At almost the highest point of the course one can see down the full length of the 12th and 7th holes. Be wary when lining up the tee shot as the tee points slightly to the right to a fairway bunker over 50m long. The fairway bunker on the left is out of range for all but the longest hitters so it provides an ideal line to aim the tee shot for most players. Choose the second shot club carefully as there is a deceptive dip in front of the green likely to confuse one's judgment.
13	Par 5, Length 444m This is a birdie hole if you can get your drive away. At 444 metres it is often hit in two by the long hitters but the key issue to hit a straight drive. If you end up in the trees or bunkers then a bogey is more than likely the outcome.
14	Par 4, Length 325m This is a fairly straightforward hole of moderate length which shapes gently to the right. The only trouble is a few gum trees on the left side of the fairway which can block the second shot.
15	Par 3, Length 147m A grand display of sand at its front means the only option is to fly to the green on this picturesque 147m hole. While there are no bunkers at the rear this area is only slightly more agreeable than the front as the ground falls sharply away from the rear and both sides of the green. The sloping green allows for a variety of putts depending on the pin position. The prudent playing strategy is to club yourself to comfortably clear the front bunkers and make it to the centre of the green. Birdies await the accurate tee shot but par is a more likely result.
16	Par 4, Length 364m As you stand on this tee the thought which invariably goes through your mind is not to hit the ball in the water. The water in question is a large pond running down the whole left hand side of the fairway. Bite off more than you can chew and a double bogey will be your best result. The approach is easiest when played as close to the pond as possible but more often than not the drive is pushed right away from the pond.
17	Par 4, Length 307m This is a great short drive and pitch hole. The drive needs to be sufficiently long to see the green as a blind approach shot is very difficult. Treat the approach with respect because if the green is missed right or left a very difficult chip awaits.
18	Par 4, Length 404m A challenging finishing hole. Drive down the left side of the fairway and enjoy a safer more direct second shot into the well-bunkered green. But a little further left and a much more difficult shot from the rough is required while also having to contend with the Banksia tree on the corner. Drive down the right side, and the opening to the green for the longer iron second suddenly appears much narrower between the huge bunker complex on the right of the green, and the likelihood that a second shot left will feed into the left side bunkers. Recognize that any shots played from past the dogleg corner will be under watchful eyes from the bar or from diners on the enclosed balcony. Par here, no matter how the rest of the round has gone, is a very satisfying result.