By David Luis 
Greg Norman won the Australian Masters at Huntingdale six times, and for three decades the tournament made this one of the most familiar golf courses on Australian television. That fame is why people search for Huntingdale in the first place. It is also why a review in 2026 has to start with an awkward fact: the course has been in the middle of a major renovation.
Huntingdale Golf Club is a private club on Windsor Avenue in Oakleigh South, in the heart of the Melbourne Sandbelt. Here is our Huntingdale Golf Club review, covering the history, the course, how interstate and overseas visitors get a game and what I could not confirm.
GCR Score: 4.5 / 5
Verdict: Recommended for Sandbelt devotees and Masters history fans, with the caveat that the course is newly renovated and visitor access is narrow.
Best For: Interstate and overseas visitors with a letter from their home club, reciprocal members, golfers who love Australian Masters history
Think Twice If: You need public tee times, firm pricing information or a guaranteed visit date
Last Reviewed: 4 October 2026.
At a Glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Windsor Avenue, Oakleigh South VIC 3167 |
| Course Type | Sandbelt championship parkland |
| Holes | 18 holes; par and length not given on the pages I read |
| Scratch / Slope | Not published; ask the golf shop |
| Green Fees | Not published; visitor fees are not listed on the booking page |
| Visitor Access | Private; limited tee times for interstate, overseas and reciprocal members on request |
| Membership | Contact the membership office; no fees published |
| Dress Code | Not published on the pages I read; confirm when booking |
| Buggy Hire | Motorised carts need a medical certificate; club hire available |
| Founded | 1941 (club roots date to 1896) |
| Phone | (03) 9579 4622 |
| Official Website | Huntingdale Golf Club |
No fees appear in this table because the club does not publish them. Confirm current access and rates directly.
Where the Name Came From
The club’s history page is a tangled one. Golf affiliations here go back to 1896 and the Surrey Hills Golf Club, which closed in 1914. A few of its members started the Box Hill club after the war, and in 1924 a committee leased land in Doncaster Road, laid out 18 holes among the orchards and renamed the club Eastern Golf Club. (That club is still going and has its own page in our Eastern Golf Club review.)
The Huntingdale story proper starts in 1938, when a member heard that Mrs Creswick was thinking of selling the old Melbourne Hunt Club grounds at East Oakleigh. The club bought them, handed the design to English architect C.H. Alison, and the new course opened in 1941. That is when the name Huntingdale was adopted.
Alison designed it from models, contour plans and written notes, without visiting. Former curator Sam Berriman adapted the plans to the real ground.
The Masters Years
The inaugural Australian Masters was played here in March 1979, and the tournament returned for 30 consecutive years. In 2008 the club was formally recognised as the Home of the Australian Masters, and in November 2015 it hosted the event for the 31st time.
The field list reads like a history lesson: Nicklaus, Palmer, Seve, Norman, Faldo, Langer, Woosnam, Baker-Finch, Ogilvy and Tiger Woods. According to the club, Norman won six times, including his 1987 romp and his 1990 win over Nick Faldo.
Course Design and Standout Holes
Huntingdale has changed a lot since 1941. Golf Australia notes that Jack Newton, Graeme Grant and John Spencer remodelled it over several years from the late 1990s, and the changes divided opinion even as they improved winter drainage. British architect Martin Hawtree later advised on further work, including clearing introduced trees and scrub and planting more than 4,000 native plants.
The same Golf Australia piece counts more than 80 bunkers, and says their size makes them look more intimidating than the numbers suggest. The round opens with two strong par 4s that ask for the right position off the tee. The short 8th is about accuracy and finesse rather than power.
On the back nine, the 12th is a 161m par 3 played through a chute of trees. The wind is hard to read there, and the bunkers flank the green, so it can bite anyone nursing a good score. Top100GolfCourses also points to the back-to-back par 5s at the 6th and 7th and a testing finish from the 16th to the 18th.
Our key takeaway: Huntingdale is a test of accurate ball-striking more than a showpiece of Sandbelt beauty, and the rebuild is the thing to watch.
The Renovation and What It Means for a Visit
This is the part that matters most for a 2026 visitor. The club’s play page says a course renovation led by OCM Golf broke ground in November 2023, with completion anticipated on 1 December 2025 and visitor play expected to return after April 2026.
I could not verify that the work finished on time or what the course looks like now, and I am not going to pretend otherwise. The review score below is based on the club’s published history, its design lineage and its access policy, not on a post-renovation playing report. If you are planning a trip, email the golf bookings team first and ask for the current status.
Visitor Access
Huntingdale is private, and only a limited number of tee times go to interstate, overseas and reciprocal visitors. Everyone must show a letter of introduction and handicap confirmation from their home club.
| Item | What the Club Says |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Reciprocal club members, interstate visitors, overseas visitors and guests of members |
| Documents | Letter of introduction and handicap confirmation from your home club |
| Preferred days | Monday, Tuesday (PM), Wednesday and Friday |
| How to request | Online visitor booking request form, or email golfbookings@huntingdalegolf.com.au |
| Hire | Clubs; motorised carts with a medical certificate |
| Green fee | Not listed |
You can also tick a box on the request form to book lunch. The head professional is Steve Hibon, and the golf shop phone is +61 3 9570 4133 according to the club’s page. For a Victorian without a member invite, the simplest route is a reciprocal arrangement through a club you already belong to.
Membership
The club does not publish membership categories or prices. Its membership page names a contact in the office, and says field sizes are maintained to avoid waiting lists. It also says men and women have had equal rights for over 30 years. Ask directly about joining fees and availability.
Our cost guide sets the national yardstick: Australian golf club membership costs a median A$1,819 per year. For the application process, read how to join a private golf club.
Facilities
The club completed an A$12 million clubhouse in August 2014 after an 18-month project. The club also runs a golf shop, tuition and a separate private events venue at Windsor Avenue. I could not find a detailed menu or practice-area description, so I will not guess.
Best Time to Visit
Autumn (March to May) and spring (September to November) are the best months for firm Sandbelt turf and mild temperatures. Summer can be very hot. Sandy soil helps winter play, though the club has historically fought drainage problems, which the late-1990s remodel aimed to fix.
How to Get There
Huntingdale is in Oakleigh South, about 20km south-east of the Melbourne CBD. It sits close to Commonwealth, so a two-club trip is realistic. Our Commonwealth Golf Club review covers its neighbour and the restoration there.
Nearby Alternatives
If you cannot get on at Huntingdale, our Royal Melbourne review and Kingston Heath review cover the other big Sandbelt names. The Victoria golf club archive lists every Victorian club we have scored.
People Also Ask
Can you play Huntingdale Golf Club as a visitor?
Only in limited circumstances. Interstate and overseas visitors who belong to a registered golf club, plus reciprocal club members, can request a tee time. You need a letter of introduction and handicap confirmation from your home club. Preferred days are Monday, Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday and Friday.
How much is a round at Huntingdale Golf Club?
The club does not publish a visitor green fee on its booking page. Email golfbookings@huntingdalegolf.com.au or ring the golf shop on +61 3 9570 4133 to ask for the current rate when you submit a visitor request. Interstate and overseas visitors need a letter of introduction first.
Who designed Huntingdale Golf Club?
English architect C.H. Alison designed it from models and contour plans, with curator Sam Berriman adapting it to the ground, and it opened in 1941. Jack Newton, Graeme Grant and John Spencer remodelled it from the late 1990s, and Martin Hawtree advised later.
How many times did Huntingdale host the Australian Masters?
The club hosted the Australian Masters 31 times. It was held here from 1979 to 2008 and again in 2015. The club says Greg Norman won the title six times at Huntingdale, including in 1987 and 1990.
Is Huntingdale Golf Club open after its renovation?
The club’s play page said visitor play was expected to return after April 2026, following a renovation that began in November 2023 and was due to finish on 1 December 2025. I could not confirm the current status, so contact golfbookings@huntingdalegolf.com.au before planning a visit.
Verdict and Score
Huntingdale Golf Club earns 4.5 out of 5. It has a real design pedigree, one of the strongest tournament records in the country and a Sandbelt address. We held back half a point because access is limited, fees and dress code are not published, and the post-renovation course is unverified.
If you can get a letter from your home club, ask for a Monday or Wednesday slot. If you want certainty on cost and conditions, call first. How GCR scores each club explains the 4.5.
See how it stacks up against Australia’s best in our Best Golf Clubs in Australia roundup.
Author Note
This review relies on Huntingdale’s own pages and Golf Australia’s course guide. It does not rest on a post-renovation playing report, and it flags every point the club’s pages leave open, including fees and the finish date of the rebuild.
Last reviewed: 4 October 2026.
