The Commonwealth Golf Club

The Commonwealth Golf Club in Oakleigh, South Victoria, is one of Australia's highly acclaimed golf courses in the world famous Melbourne Sandbelt area.

History of the Course:

The Commonwealth Golf Club was formed in 1920 when members of the Waverley Golf Club, moved to the prospering Sandbelt area and purchased the clubs current site close to The Metropolitan Golf Club.

The Commonwealth Golf Course has undergone various changes made to its championship course. Initially designed by Sam Bennett in 1921, changes were made to the greens along with the completion of the18 holes by architect Charles Lane during the 1930's; Lane's laborious efforts to design the famous greenside bunkers are well acknowledged and prominent within the vintage course. The course was then again redesigned and returfed in 1938 by famous architect Sloan Morpeth. Recently in 1992, architect Kevin Hartley undertook the greens drainage programme of the Commonwealth course, which saw the increase in length of the course.

The par 73 golf course of the Commonwealth Golf Club is located in the centre of the Melbourne Sandbelt region. A subtly crafted course, its layout consists of sloping, contoured and tiered greens; undulating tree-lined fairways dotted with well placed, deep bunkers typical of sandbelt courses; and the various mounds created out of the natural terrain of the region- the course itself is very dense yet there are excellent tee options that provide a wonderful challenge to all golfers.

Despite changes to improve the course, it still proved ineffective. However, the original Commonwealth course in its contemporary form still makes it an incredible golf course.

The Clubhouse at the Commonwealth Golf Club is also one of the best in the Melbourne Sandbelt, which provides various services and also astounding views from its balcony overlooking the magnificent sandbelt course.

Course Trivia:

The Commonwealth Golf Club has been host to various golf events and tournaments including the Australian Open Championships, the Victorian Open, Australian Ladies Open and the Australian Amateur Championships

The 1967 Australian Open Championship, won by golf legend Peter Thomson, remains till date the only Australian Open to be held here at the Commonwealth. It was a grand event then, with also the opening of its new 10th hole on the course.

The signature hole of the Commonwealth Golf Club is its par 4, 16th hole- a strategic dogleg bend hole that requires a good tee off onto the greens, guarded by a fairway lake and a huge deep bunker- the trick is to get as close to the water, to avoid the sand trap- a tough challenge nonetheless!

The Commonwealth Club is a private golf course. Guests must be accompanied by a member.

As per Australian Top 100 Golf Courses (2006 rankings), the Commonwealth Golf Club has been ranked as No. 23.