Your winter of Australian golf is coming. Here’s how to plan a trip

It’s roughly the third question asked of any self-respecting golf writer right afterward “Which professionals do you like?” (I have my favorites!) and the ever-popular successor, “Which professionals do you hate?” (I have my favorites!)

The question in question? What’s the coolest place you’ve ever been for work?

I don’t like this question, partly because it makes me feel like a slacker, and partly because it forces me to confront the stupid luck of my work life. The truth is, I was really lucky. I’ve seen an inordinate number of “cool” places in the golf world, from the ancestral homelands of Scotland to rural Ireland, and about half a dozen other golf-loving countries in between. Yet there is a leader in the clubhouse for “cool-East place” I’ve ever been – a place that may never be surpassed no matter how long I write about golf. This place changed my view of the golf world… and also of the world world – a location so remarkable and far away that the first thing I did after leaving was to promise myself that I would return again before I perished.

The place was Oz. Australia. In particular, the state of Victoria, where I tasted the best espresso, met the most sports-obsessed locals and saw the biggest and friendliest wave of my life.

If you’ve been following the golf world closely, you know that Australia is in the precipice of a moment many decades in the making. This December, Rory McIlroy will make a much-anticipated visit to Australia for the latest outing of the Australian Open. The timing of McIlroy’s visit is no coincidence. It overlaps with the return of the Aussie Open to Royal Melbourne – which is arguably the best course on the continent, if not the world – and with the renewed emphasis of pro golf in Australia, which LIV exposed as astonishing. underexposed for pro golf.

McIlroy’s visit marks the start of what will be three years of golfing fun in Oz, starting with the Aussie Open in December and ending with the return of the Presidents Cup to Melbourne in 2028 at Kingston Heath. During that time, I estimate that American golf fans will witness what I already know to be true about the country: the people are remarkable, the experience is unimaginable, and golf has no equal.

When American golf fans realize this, I imagine they will do what you, dear reader, are already doing Are: Research the best way to make the trip for yourself. And that’s a question (or series of questions) I can answer without hesitation.

9 questions and answers about planning an Australian golf trip

1. How do I get there?

I guess that question depends on your location at the moment, but for the sake of brevity I’ll assume you’re an American traveler. If so, fly west first. There are fewer direct flights from the United States to Australia than to other international destinations, but there are still plenty. Los Angeles is the most popular departure point for the trip; major Australian airlines are located here like Qantas have their US headquarters – although flights can also be found from New York, Dallas, San Francisco, Vancouver and Honolulu.

If you’re not from one of those countries, I recommend flying through LAX, where the trip from the United States to Oz is the shortest, and where you can sneak into one of the several business class lounges. (I’ve never experienced such an abundance of all-you-can-eat food and self-serve wine—and I’ve never stolen so many gummy bears—than in the Quantas lounge.)

I’ve heard the argument against the airport lounge culture on TikTok in recent months (namely that lounges are not “free”, but baked into the cost of business class tickets and flashy credit cards). These arguments may have merit in many circumstances, but not in this one. Freshening up comfortably before a very long flight is an important weapon in your travel arsenal.

2. How long will it take to get there?

The trip from LA to Oz takes the better part of a day (16 hours to be exact), which, thanks to the International Date Line, takes away most of the day. two days off your calendar (don’t worry, you’ll earn that “lost” day back on the way home!). Fortunately, claustrophobes (like yours truly) have less to worry about: every plane that makes the journey is huge and spacious. Qantas also paid close attention to customer wellbeing during the flight, including regular reminders to stretch and a fertile selection of movies and TV shows (I caught up on some recent ones Oscar names). Furthermore, flight schedules are designed to encourage passengers to get a full night’s sleep during the flight, thus relieving jet lag and reducing the burden of flight time.

It’s still a long time to be on an airplane, but I found that my fears about the flight time far outweighed the reality of the experience. In many ways, the crew on my flight was my first taste of the Aussie experience – which is to say it was filled with people friendly enough to melt even the deepest fears of my cold New York heart. I encourage you to buy snacks… and, for weight and balance, encourage you to limit your book selection to three.

3. Should I spend money on business class?

If you can afford it, I say yes. It’s probably the longest flight you’ll make in your life, which is reason enough for extra comfort. A flat bed, a handful of five-star meals from Australia and a new set of pajamas are good ways to burn away the boredom of 16 hours in the air.

But if you can’t or don’t want to pay, that’s okay too. Try to pick a fight for yourself, book a seat next to a trusted travel partner, experiment with a more affordable ‘premium economy’ class, or drink in the Australian prospects and board your flight ready to make friends. In any case, you will arrive in a good mood.

4. Where should I play golf?

Golf can be found all over Australia – including the furthest reaches of the Outback – but most of Australia’s “famous” courses belong to the southern states of Victoria and Tasmania.

For tourists, Tasmania will be the most familiar experience, with welcoming resorts and ‘stay-and-play’ packages. Tazzy is one of the most exotic golf destinations in the world, with resort courses such as Barnbougle and Cape Wickham spread across rolling terrain and beautiful cliffs.

However, Victoria is the location most worthy of golf envy. It is home to several of GOLF’s Top 100 courses in the world, including an elite handful lined up on the outskirts of Melbourne. These courses, part of the mythical Melbourne ‘Sandbelt’, are the courses you hear first when talking about Aussie golf: Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Peninsula Kingswood, Metropolitan, Commonwealth and Yarra Yarra. They are best known for their psychedelic visuals: razor-sharp edges; big, rolling waves; and resilient sand grass.

Also worth a visit in Victoria? The Mornington Peninsula, a Napa-like wine country enclave south of the city with scenic coastal courses such as The National, The Dunes, St. Andrews Beach and Portsea. And also the Great Ocean Road, an aptly named, breathtaking single-lane highway linked to funky left-wing classics like Port Fairy, Apollo Bay and Peterborough.

5. How do I secure a start time?

Many of the courses mentioned above are public-access courses with their own tee time portals, but fortunately even Australia’s most exclusive private clubs have adopted a more egalitarian approach to the visitors’ game. Courses such as Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath reserve a certain number of tee times each month for international visitors, who can request a time by submitting a letter from their local club. Be warned: the costs are extreme: Royal and Kingston Heath can get away with charging around $750 Australian (or about $500 USD) per person per round, but if you’re already on the other side of the world on a golf trip, it can be worth the cost – especially with the help of a favorable exchange rate. What is actually the price of a lifelong memory?

6. How many days should I take to travel?

I’d say two weeks is a safe time to ensure you can see the country without feeling rushed. Anything less than 10 days is doable, but it would feel like a lot of time in transit for such a short stay.

You can also stay for a month. Or a few months. Or forever.

7. Where should I stay if I go golfing in Melbourne?

If you’re playing the Sandbelt, the South Yarra district is the perfect place to travel between the city’s epic restaurants and cafes and the even more epic golf courses of the suburbs.

8. What else should I do?

A drive along the Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is a great way to ensure you spend at least a few minutes thinking about the cost of real estate in Melbourne. An Aussie Rules Football match is an incredible time. A visit to Sydney can help put into context the New York-San Francisco comparisons you often hear between Melbourne and Australia’s breathtaking capital. Oh, and if you can find some time to surf, do it at Bells Beach near Torquay, also known as the founding location of Rip Curl, or on the legendary Gold Coast.

Or play more golf!! Visit Royal Sydney in New South Wales or Brisbane, or hop on a quick flight to New Zealand, where mythical-looking new courses seem to open every few weeks.

The only thing I advise against is not to connect with the locals. You’ll never find a friendlier or more enthusiastic culture that pushes your comfort zones. Lean into it!

9. What should I know about the trip home?

The jet lag will last for a while – for me it was the better part of five days until I felt completely like myself again – but the real pain will be the return to reality. Even today, eighteen months removed from my first trip, I still feel a pang of melancholy as I write about my trip to Oz. Not long after my return flight, I set up email notifications for Qantas, hoping that the lure of a big deal might encourage me to make an unreasonable financial decision.

I left a little piece of my soul in Australia, but that’s okay. I’ll be back soon to pick it up.

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