Representative image Photo: Stuart Logan · CC BY-SA 2.0
The National Golf Club - Moonah Course
Cape Schanck, Victoria, Australia
18 Holes · Par 72 · On request · Links
— About
About The National Golf Club - Moonah Course
The National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula is home to three 18-hole courses — the Old Course, the Ocean Course, and the Moonah Course. The Moonah Course, designed by Greg Norman and Bob Harrison and opened in 2000, takes its name from the moonah trees — a distinctive coastal-adapted tea-tree species — that frame and shelter multiple holes. Set on open, exposed Mornington Peninsula terrain, the Moonah plays in the links tradition: firm, fast fairways, prominent bunkering, and holes that change character entirely based on wind direction and strength. The National is a private members' club, with visitor access arranged through the club.
- Three 18-hole courses on one Mornington Peninsula estate
- Moonah Course designed by Greg Norman and Bob Harrison, opened in 2000
- Moonah trees create unique native framing and wind corridors across the Mornington Peninsula terrain
- Open, exposed Mornington Peninsula location — links-style playing conditions in an Australian context
- Private members' club with interstate and overseas visitor tee-time requests handled directly by the club
History of The National Golf Club - Moonah Course
The National Golf Club was established on the Mornington Peninsula at Cape Schanck in the 1980s, on exposed terrain at the peninsula's southern tip. The club expanded when Greg Norman's design firm, with Bob Harrison, created the Moonah Course, which opened in 2000. Norman's brief was to create a links-style layout that would use the moonah tree corridors — the native tea-tree species endemic to this part of Victoria — as both design features and wind buffers. The Ocean Course is the third layout on the three-course estate.
Signature holes at The National Golf Club - Moonah Course
The par-4 7th on the Moonah Course is a standout hole — a long driving hole through a corridor of moonah trees that open on the approach to reveal a green exposed on the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula, with Bass Strait visible in the distance. The par-3 12th plays from an elevated moonah-framed tee across a natural hollow to a green where the coastal wind tests every club in the bag — a hole that changes character completely depending on the direction of the Southern Ocean breeze. The par-5 18th finishes back toward the clubhouse through the densest section of moonah forest, with a sweeping second shot that demands commitment.
When to play The National Golf Club - Moonah Course
October through April is the peninsula's summer and optimal golf season — mild temperatures of 18–26°C and reliable conditions on the exposed coastal terrain. The Mornington Peninsula experiences strong winds year-round from Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean; calm days are the exception rather than the rule. Autumn (March–May) often provides the most settled conditions. Winter (June–August) is cooler and windier but the moonah forest is dramatic in grey winter light.
Playing The National Golf Club - Moonah Course: tips
The National Golf Club is a private members' club — visitor access requires a member introduction or arrangement through a specialist golf travel operator. The club is at Cape Schanck, approximately 90 kilometres south of Melbourne CBD — 1 hour 20 minutes by car. Caddies are available. The Mornington Peninsula's food and wine scene — particularly the Red Hill and Main Ridge wineries — is excellent, making a visit to The National the natural centrepiece of a two-day peninsula itinerary.
Visit The National Golf Club - Moonah Course
The Cups Drive, Cape Schanck, Victoria 3939, Australia
Cape Schanck, Victoria, Australia
— Facilities
Practical Information
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about The National Golf Club - Moonah Course
Can visitors play The National Golf Club?
The National is a private members' club — visitor access requires a member introduction or arrangement through a recognised golf travel specialist. Contact the club for visitor access protocols.
How many courses does The National Golf Club have?
The National has three 18-hole courses: the Old Course, the Moonah Course (Greg Norman/Bob Harrison, opened 2000), and the Ocean Course.
What are moonah trees?
Moonah (Melaleuca lanceolata) is a native tea-tree species endemic to the coastal regions of southern Australia. At The National, moonah trees create dramatic windswept corridors that frame many holes and give the Moonah Course its distinctive character.
How far is The National Golf Club from Melbourne?
The club is at Cape Schanck at the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula — approximately 90 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, around 1 hour 20 minutes by car via the Mornington Peninsula Freeway.