By David Luis Portsea Golf Club is a private dune-links course at the tip of the Mornington Peninsula that opens to visitors on set days. It scores 4.5 out of 5 in our Portsea Golf Club review. The club does not publish a green fee, so ring ahead before you book.
The course sits among sand dunes and moonah trees near Point Nepean National Park. The club is marking its centenary, was re-routed in 2013 and has a 24-room hotel attached.
GCR Score: 4.5 / 5
Verdict: Highly recommended for visitors who plan ahead, and a bit frustrating that the green fee is not on the website.
Best For: Weekend golf trips, stay-and-play groups, links lovers
Think Twice If: You need a price before you commit, or you want a quick day trip from the city
Last Reviewed: 11 October 2026.
At a Glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | 46 London Bridge Road, Portsea VIC 3944 |
| Course Type | Sand-dune links with moonah woodland |
| Holes | 18, par 71 or 72 depending on the card used |
| Course Length | 5,747m blue, 5,078m red (club website) |
| Green Fees | Not published; included in stay-and-play packages |
| Visitor Access | Set visitor days; request a tee time through the club’s booking enquiry form |
| Membership | Traditional, Lifestyle and House categories; prices by enquiry |
| Dress Code | Not published on pages reviewed; confirm when booking |
| Founded | 1926 (club website) |
| Phone | +61 3 5981 6100 |
| Official Website | Portsea Golf Club |
All prices are Australian dollars. This club does not publish a standard green fee, so none is quoted here.
Course Overview
The club’s golf page credits Alex Russell, Sloan Morpeth, Mike Clayton and Ogilvy, Cocking and Mead with the design. The layout was re-routed in 2013, and a third-party description says the old 15th was revived as an extra 19th hole, though the club’s current golf page shows 18 holes only.
Portsea is a links-style course, though not a seaside one in the Scottish sense. It sits behind the dunes with Port Phillip Bay in view from the clubhouse, and the fairways are sandy and drain fast.
Golf Australia’s Join a Club feature says the course is consistently ranked in the national top 100. It deserves more attention outside Victoria.
Standout Holes
Start with the closing stretch. The 16th to 18th mix risk and reward, and the 18th is a par 4 of 399m from the blue tees with a blind tee shot over the hill, which the club calls Twice Blind. The 16th is a downhill par 3 of 158m, and the 17th runs beside London Bridge Road, where a pulled drive means a re-tee. It is a finish that rewards a clear head.
The opening hole is a gentle uphill par 4, and that is the point. You get a chance to settle in before the dunes get serious.
A revived 19th hole has been described in third-party coverage, but the club’s current golf page lists 18 holes only, so ask in the pro shop whether any extra hole is in play on your day.
Wind decides the rest. The coastal breeze can turn a mid-iron into a hybrid in a few minutes.
Green Fees and Visitor Access
Portsea is a private club that opens its gates to visitors on set days. The club’s golf page lists Monday, Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday afternoon and Friday, and tee times are requested through the booking enquiry form on that page.
Older directories say Sunday to Friday, so the days have clearly shifted over time. Confirm before you book and do not rely on a listing.
I could not find a published green fee on the club’s pages. A couple of directories quote around A$35 to A$40, but those figures look very old for a top-100 course. Ask the pro shop on 03 5981 6155.
Directories also note a handicap is required. Bring a current Golf Australia GA Handicap number. Our guide to how to join a club affiliated with golf australia explains how.
Stay and Play
The 24-room Mercure Portsea hotel is built into the club. The stay-and-play page lists a Classic package (one night, one round), a Weekend package (two nights, two rounds), an Extended Peninsula stay and a midweek package for groups of eight or more.
Every package includes accommodation and green fees. Cart hire, spa treatments and dining are optional add-ons, and prices are quoted on enquiry.
Membership
Portsea offers traditional memberships, a Lifestyle category with seven-day course access and a House membership for people who want the clubhouse and social side. Golf Australia calls the Lifestyle option well priced.
Prices and joining fees are not published. If you are thinking about joining, email membership@portseagolf.com.au and ask about waiting lists and the joining fee. For context on what Victorian clubs charge when they do publish rates, see the fees for Victoria, WA, SA and Tasmania.
Course Conditions
Fast-draining sand under couch fairways means Portsea holds up in winter better than most clay courses further inland. Greens are described as smooth and true.
The trade-off is exposure. On a windy afternoon you will use every club in the bag.
Facilities
- Clubhouse with panoramic bay views and a licensed bar
- Mercure Portsea, 24 boutique rooms with bay balconies
- Pro shop (03 5981 6155) and online tee bookings
- Event spaces for weddings, conferences and corporate days
Best Time to Visit
Autumn is hard to beat. March to May gives you calm mornings, firm fairways and quieter roads. Spring from September to November is nearly as good.
Peninsula holidays get busy in December and January, and one directory notes a Pro-Am on 2 January each year. Winter is cold and breezy, but the sand makes it playable.
How to Get There
Portsea is about 90 minutes from Melbourne, so most golfers drive down and stay. Allow extra time on summer Fridays, because the Nepean Highway fills up.
On-site parking is available. If you want to see more of the area, Point Nepean National Park is next door.
Dress Code
The pages I reviewed do not set out a dress code. For a private club in this part of Victoria, plan on a collared shirt, tailored shorts or trousers and soft-spike golf shoes, and confirm when you book.
Who Is Portsea For?
This club is a good fit if you want a golf weekend with dinner and a bed on site. It suits couples and groups who like a links feel without a flight to Tasmania.
Skip it if you need to see prices up front or only have a free Saturday. Visitor days are limited.
Nearby Alternatives
- Curlewis Golf Club for a coastal test across the bay on the Bellarine Peninsula.
- Royal Melbourne Sandbelt course for Sandbelt heritage if you can arrange access.
- the renowned Kingston Heath test for another renowned Melbourne test.
Our full set of more Victorian clubs we have reviewed covers more options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can visitors play at Portsea Golf Club?
Yes, on set visitor days. The club website lists Monday, Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday afternoon and Friday, through its booking enquiry form. Directory listings say a handicap is required, so bring your GA number. Older directories show Sunday to Friday, so confirm the days when you book.
How much is a round at Portsea Golf Club?
The club does not publish a standard green fee on its public pages. Rounds are included in stay-and-play packages, so phone the pro shop on 03 5981 6155 or ask when you book.
Is there accommodation at Portsea Golf Club?
Yes. The Mercure Portsea has 24 boutique rooms attached to the clubhouse, many with bay views, and stay-and-play packages bundle accommodation with green fees.
How long is Portsea Golf Club?
The club lists 5,747m from the blue tees and 5,078m from the red tees, with a par of 71 or 72 depending on the card. Directories quote slightly different back-tee lengths.
Who designed Portsea Golf Club?
The club credits Alex Russell, Sloan Morpeth, Mike Clayton and Ogilvy, Cocking and Mead. The layout was re-routed in 2013. Third-party coverage mentions a revived old 15th as an extra 19th hole, but the club’s golf page lists 18 holes, so ask the pro shop whether it is in play.
Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Dune and moonah links routing beside Point Nepean National Park.
- Re-routed in 2013, with Ogilvy, Cocking and Mead among the credited designers.
- On-site 24-room hotel makes stay-and-play easy.
- Visitor days published on the club site, with a booking enquiry form.
- Fast-draining sandy fairways.
- Sharp finish through holes 16 to 18.
What Could Be Better
- Green fees are not published.
- Visitor days are limited and can change.
- Peninsula wind can wreck a card.
- About 90 minutes from Melbourne.
- Membership pricing is enquiry-only.
Final Verdict
Portsea Golf Club earns 4.5 out of 5. The setting, the routing and the stay-and-play set-up make it one of the best golf weekends in Victoria. See how we score on the review methodology page.
The half-point lost is for the missing prices and the limited visitor days. Ring ahead, bring your handicap and book the hotel.
See how it stacks up against Australia’s best in our Best Golf Clubs in Australia roundup.
Author Note
I score destination clubs on setting and design first, then on how easy the club makes it for a visitor to turn up and play.
Last reviewed: 11 October 2026. Rates and access can change; confirm directly before travelling.
