By David Luis 
Woodlands Golf Club in Mordialloc is a short Sandbelt course that punishes poor positioning more than weak hitting, and it is open to outsiders on a few weekdays only. Manager-introduced guests pay A$350 (A$450 for international visitors), while the club does not publish its joining fee or subscription at all.
This Woodlands Golf Club review covers who gets a tee time, what the application involves, and why the 4th hole gets mentioned in every Top 100 write-up.
GCR Score: 4.6 / 5
Verdict: Strongly recommended for golfers who value strategy over length; just expect to be introduced, to pay A$350 and to play midweek.
Best For: Sandbelt pilgrims, short-course purists, golfers who can find a member
Think Twice If: You need a weekend tee time, a published price or a long, brawny layout
Last Reviewed: 4 October 2026.
At a Glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | 109 White Street, Mordialloc VIC 3195 |
| Course Type | Private heritage Sandbelt course, bent-grass greens, fescue surrounds |
| Holes | 18; third-party scorecards list par 72 at roughly 6,100m, so check the club card |
| Visitor Green Fee | A$350 domestic, A$450 international (as listed by the club) |
| Visitor Days | Manager-introduced: Mon pm, Tue, Wed pm, Fri; no Thursday, weekends or public holidays |
| Membership | Proposer, seconder and two referees; entrance fee plus subscription; fees not published |
| Dress Code | Collared shirt tucked in, knee-length shorts, soft spikes |
| Founded | 1913 as Mordialloc Golf Club; renamed Woodlands in 1925 |
| Phone | (03) 9580 3455 |
| Official Website | Woodlands Golf Club |
Prices are Australian dollars as the club lists them. Confirm current rates and availability before you book.
How a Visitor Gets Onto the Course
There are two doors. The first is a manager-introduced round, which you request through the operations manager or the pro shop. The club offers it on Mondays and Wednesdays in the afternoon, and all day Tuesday and Friday.
The second is a member-introduced round. Members can bring guests, with limits on how many and how often, and Wednesday is closed to member guests from March to November because it is Women’s Day. Saturdays are effectively off limits unless the president or captain approves.
Full-time students aged 25 and under pay half the usual member-introduced guest rate with proof. Every round includes a short heritage briefing.
What Membership Costs, and What We Do Not Know
Woodlands publishes six categories: 7 Day, 6 Day (no Saturdays), an age-conditional 7 Day for 18 to 34s, Junior, Long Distance for members living 125km or more away, and Corporate. It does not publish a single dollar figure for any of them. An entrance fee applies on top of the annual subscription, and you have to ask for the schedule.
Our guide to what Australian golf clubs publish separates clubs that publish fees from clubs that publish none. Woodlands is in the second group.
The process itself is clear enough. You need a proposer and seconder, plus two referees, one of whom must be a current member. Your name is posted for 14 days of member comment before the board decides. If you know no one, the general manager will try to help, and our guide to find a member who will propose you covers that step.
Intake depends on field size and vacancies in each category. The club does not describe a formal waitlist, so ask about timing early.
The Course: Short, Firm and Fussy
The club says it has stayed on its original site throughout its history, which is unusual among Sandbelt neighbours. The bunkering and layout are credited to English architect J.D.A. Scott in the mid-1920s, with Royal Melbourne greenkeeper Mick Morcom preparing the greens. Alex Russell, a partner of Alister MacKenzie, redesigned the 11th, 16th and 17th in the mid-1930s.
The greens are small, firm and quick. Bent grass sits inside tight fescue surrounds, so a ball that misses the putting surface tends to keep running. Top100GolfCourses says the greens are smaller than most on the Sandbelt and calls them elusive targets on a bad day.
The 4th, known as Tabletop, is the one everybody mentions. It plays around 250 to 275m depending on the tee, and the plateau green has hard slopes off every side. You can nearly drive it, which is the trap, because the safe play is a position shot to the right spot. The 13th is called The Strategist and the 15th is rated among the better par 5s in the country by the club.
Our key takeaway: Woodlands asks where you put the ball, not how far you hit it.
Tom Doak designed the 19th hole in 2013 and has advised the club since 2014. Mike Clayton and Harley Kruse have since been brought in on biodiversity work, according to Australian Golf Digest, which ranks Woodlands 24th in its 2024-25 Top 100.
Dress Code
The club is firm. A collared shirt must be tucked in, shorts must reach the knee and only soft spikes are allowed. Denim, cargo pants, tracksuits, t-shirts and clothing with large advertising are all banned. For the wider conventions, our private club dress code guide covers what to pack.
Best Time to Visit
Autumn and spring suit a firm, fast-running course best. Winter rain softens the fescue, so the ground game is less of a factor. Guest days are limited, so book the first date the club offers and accept the weather.
Compared With Other Sandbelt Options
Woodlands sits among a cluster of famous neighbours. Our Royal Melbourne review covers visitor access at the Sandbelt’s best-known club. For other Melbourne options on this site, see our review of Commonwealth, the Spring Valley Golf Club review and the Victorian club archive.
People Also Ask
How much does it cost to play Woodlands Golf Club?
The club lists a visitor green fee of A$350 for domestic players and A$450 for international guests on manager-introduced rounds. Full-time students aged 25 and under pay half the normal member-introduced guest rate with proof. The fee is not an indication of membership cost, which is not published.
Can visitors play Woodlands Golf Club?
Yes, but only by introduction. The operations manager arranges rounds on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and all day Tuesday and Friday. Thursdays, weekends and public holidays are closed to manager-introduced guests. Members can also bring a limited number of guests.
How do you become a member of Woodlands Golf Club?
You need a proposer, a seconder and two referees, one of whom must be a current member. Your name is posted for 14 days and the board decides. An entrance fee applies on top of the annual subscription, and the club does not publish either figure.
Is Woodlands Golf Club on the Melbourne Sandbelt?
Yes. The club describes itself as being on the Sandbelt, and Australian Golf Digest places it on the edge of that region. It sits in Mordialloc, close to the bayside suburbs, and has ranked between 18th and 48th in Australia since 1989.
What is the dress code at Woodlands Golf Club?
Wear a collared shirt tucked in, knee-length shorts and soft-spike golf shoes. The club bans denim, cargo pants, tracksuits, t-shirts and clothing with large advertising. Neat golfing attire is required at all times on the course.
Verdict and Score
Woodlands earns 4.6 out of 5. It scores for a layout that rewards thought, genuine heritage, small and firm greens and a visitor briefing that explains why. It loses points for a high guest fee, narrow access windows and fees that are not published.
If you can secure an introduction, go on a Tuesday or Friday and treat the 4th as an exam. If you want a transparent price list instead, our review methodology page explains how we score clubs.
See how it stacks up against Australia’s best in our Best Golf Clubs in Australia roundup.
Author Note
Woodlands scores on design, access and price transparency. Sources are Woodlands’ own pages, Australian Golf Digest and Top100GolfCourses. I have not played the course.
Last reviewed: 4 October 2026. Rates and access can change; confirm directly before travelling.
