The National Golf Club — Moonah Course Golf Course

— About

About The National Golf Club — Moonah Course Golf Course

The National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula is home to three distinctly different and highly-rated 18-hole courses — the Old Course, the Ocean Course, and the Moonah Course — making it one of Australia's most comprehensive private golf estates. The Moonah Course, designed by Greg Norman and Bob Harrison and opened in 1998, takes its name from the moonah trees — a distinctive coastal-adapted tea-tree species — that create dramatic framing and wind protection on 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 private and exclusive — one of Australia's most desirable memberships — but its three-course variety and the quality of all three layouts make it the most compelling private golf destination on the Melbourne Sandbelt. The Moonah is consistently ranked in Australia's top 20 and among the world's top 50.

— History

History of The National Golf Club — Moonah Course

The National Golf Club was established on the Mornington Peninsula at Cape Schanck in the 1980s, with the Old Course designed by Peter Thomson and Mike Wolveridge on a site of dramatic exposed coastal terrain at the peninsula's southern tip. The club expanded significantly when Greg Norman and Bob Harrison were commissioned to design the Moonah Course, which opened in 1998. 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, the third layout, was designed by Thomson and Wolveridge in the early 2000s to complete the three-course estate.

— Signature Holes

Signature Holes at The National Golf Club — Moonah Course

The par-4 7th on the Moonah Course is the layout's most celebrated 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 on one of the most atmospheric closing holes in Australian golf.

— Best Time to Visit

Best Time to Visit 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.

— Practical Tips

Tips for Playing The National Golf Club — Moonah Course

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.

— Highlights

Why Play The National Golf Club — Moonah Course

• ▸ Three 18-hole championship courses on one estate — Australia's most comprehensive private golf complex
• ▸ Moonah Course (Greg Norman design) consistently ranked Australia's top 20, world's top 50
• ▸ 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 and exclusive — among the most coveted golf memberships in Australia

— 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 (Thomson/Wolveridge), the Moonah Course (Greg Norman/Bob Harrison), and the Ocean Course (Thomson/Wolveridge). The Moonah is the highest-ranked of the three.

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.