By Andrew Marmont
BOASTING two top 100 golf courses, a PGA high-performance facility and an eye-catching clubhouse, visiting Sandhurst Club feels like going to a candy store for a weekend golfer. There is so much to like, see and do. But you won’t see CEO Dean Jamieson resting on his laurels.
“The vision is to be the premier golf and residential estate in the country,” he tells Inside Golf.
“There are only four or five ‘Sandhurst’s’ in the country for the size. Anyone who has been a resident or member, been in the environment or used the health club can see that vision is entirely achievable. We want anyone who comes here to be ‘wowed’ by the Sandhurst experience.”
It starts when you enter the complex. An elegant lobby with a jaw-droppingly high ceiling creates a sense that you are in a unique space – more akin to a five-star hotel. There is a large and open practice range and several spacious putting greens to get in the zone before hitting your course of choice.
Two championship golf courses
Members and guests can play on either the Champions or the North course. There is usually a members’ competition course and the other one is the guest course. There is some flexibility for members to bring in guests at certain times in the afternoon.
Both are entirely different in layout and challenge. Members love the opportunity to test themselves and enjoy the luxury of having two championship courses in the same venue.
“The North course off the tee is a little more forgiving,” Jamieson says.
“It is a little bit more open in terms of its design. Thomson-Perrett (golf course architects Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett) are well known for their bunkering. The Champions Course is a lot tighter. The bunker and green complex are probably not dissimilar to both courses but definitely have different grass varieties.”
We played on the Champs course and enjoyed the challenge of these bunkers. Many, particularly on the par fours, had teasing fairway bunkers within driving distance. Playing with a member is a must, as many of the greens are blind shots with deep contouring and unforgiving slopes. From a playability perspective, it would challenge both low- and high-handicappers with its layout and the challenging approach shots. The fairways were immaculate. It was a pleasure to play.
The Australian PGA were headquartered here before moving to Sandy Links in 2021 while the PGA Academy remains based at Sandhurst.
Membership experience
Sandhurst has around 1,700-1,800 members, comprising a mixture of platinum, five-day, and six-day members, which includes juniors. The facility hosts 120,000-130,000 rounds per year. The club’s number one focus is on improving the membership experience, which flows on to all areas of the club, including course utilisation, corporate golf and community engagement.
When we visited the course, there were some capital improvements taking place such as renovating the existing pool and moving the pro shop to the front of the venue. Little things like these combine to make the experience an accessible and exciting one for members and guests.
“Whether you are walking into the pro shop, the gym, or the hospitality and events area, you are welcomed as a member and feel part of a community,” Jamieson says.
“That is really important for us. That really is the overarching commitment. On the golf course side, we are committed to improving the quality and consistency of every part of the space. Most golf clubs are usually judged on their greens, so we are reviewing our maintenance program to improve the playability of the greens and continue to work on all aspects of agronomy.
“Then when you step onto the golf course you have that ‘wow’ factor. You feel like you are in a special environment that has a really strong discipline around everything we do. This even includes things like vegetation management outside of the tees, fairways and greens,” Jamieson added.
Sandhurst has invested heavily in its team’s skills and experience. All staff undergo training to ensure they align with the club’s values and to prioritise the membership experience. In the golf department, there is an experienced professional golf coaching team consisting of former touring players, including Cam Davies, Caleb Wamstecker, Jon Abbott (Manager of Golf), Marty Doyle and Josh Cassap.
“We want to enable more participation and lower the barriers of entry,” Jamieson says.
There is also a strong appetite to increase women’s golf membership and to achieve this goal through a combination of training, clinics, and partnerships with the likes of PGA and Future Golf, who reside on-site.
The Sandhurst team are also keen to welcome more corporate golf bookings. It makes sense as the venue can cater for large groups as well as golfers and non-golfers.
A community focus
It’s a curious fact about Sandhurst that the golf complex is situated within a residential area. If you lived on a golf course, you would be a golfer, right? Wrong. Of the 1318 homes and over 4,000 people who live at Sandhurst, only 30 per cent are golfers. This statistic has led to a greater focus on community engagement.
“Our offering as a club needs to be across all demographics,” Jamieson says.
“We want to create more activations for the broader community. We have some really important community groups here who have been disconnected with the club for various reasons. There are simple things we can do to build this community back.”
The annual Australia Day celebrations are an excellent example of this community spirit. There is a fireworks display, food trucks and the golf course turns into a mini carnival. Families and all demographics enjoy the experience together. There are also Halloween events and the club has engaged ambassadors like Damien Fleming, Max Gawn and Jake Lever to bring the community together.
“We want to lower the barriers to entry and make the facility less intimidating. It starts with improving the community experience,” Jamieson said.
With a world-class venue and a renewed focus on welcoming new and local people to Sandhurst, it’s a destination you can’t miss.
Sandhurst Club Fact File
Contact: 75 Sandhurst Blvd, Sandhurst VIC 3977.
Phone: (03) 8787 7011.
Website: www.sandhurst.com
Green fees: $119 for 18 holes at the North Course and $119 for the Champions.
Golf carts: $60.
Hire equipment: Yes.
Practice facilities: Sandhurst has an open driving range where you can hit driver, a short game area and several putting greens.
Toughest hole and why: The 15th hole on the Champions Course has a challenging bunker and difficult second shot. On the North Course, the par four 18th requires accuracy from the tee to avoid water, particularly if you are playing from the tips.
Best chance for a birdie: The par-3 11th hole on the Champions is short but manageable with an accurate tee shot. On the North course, it’s the short par four 14th.
Don’t miss: The excellent lunch menu at the clubhouse.
Clubhouse facilities: The clubhouse offers multiple dining options, including the relaxed Heydays Pizzeria and the sophisticated Members’ Dining Room, which serves fresh beer, full menus, and specialty coffee. Members also enjoy a gym, indoor pool, steam room, tennis, and basketball courts.
Memberships: The club offers five, six and seven-day membership options as well as junior memberships.
Pro shop offers: The pro shop has all the offerings a golfer needs, including snacks, merchandise and apparel.
Club professionals: PGA Professionals Cam Davies, Caleb Wamstecker, Jon Abbott (Manager of Golf), Marty Doyle and Josh Cassap are on hand for 1-on-1 instruction, group coaching and clinics.
The post CLUB OF THE MONTH: Sandhurst Club – A golfer’s paradise first appeared on Inside Golf. Australia's Most-Read Golf Magazine as named by Australian Golfers - FREE.