Course 43 for 2023 – Devilbend GC, Moorooduc, Vic
Shot taken from forward of the tee on the 485m par5 1st
Nomadic_golfer : December 2023 – Devilbend Golf Club, Vic review
Par 71, 5997m slope 128 (Blue) $50
4 par3s 135-178m, 11 par4s 303-408m, 3 par5s 462-484m
The Devilbend course is situated smack bang in the middle of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, just outside the town of Mornington and within the Devilbend Natural Features Reserve. Opening in the early 1970’s, this par 71 (3 par 5s & 4 par 3s) features lots of elevation changes and a number of prominent water hazards amongst spectacular native flora and fauna (particularly the birdlife).
The tree-lined fairways are of average width, with many slopes and tilts bringing those trees into play as the most prominent hazards on the course. 15 of the greens are bunkered (no fairway bunkers) and five of the holes feature prominent water hazards, with water taking centre stage on each of the 3 par 5s. The greens are probably a little smaller than most of its Peninsula neighbours and with numerous drop-offs featured, finding greens with your approaches would be critical when the surfaces are firm.
I was fortunate enough to be hosted by local identity and greenkeeper Ted Stark, for the December Monthly Medal and together with National member Denis D’Angelo and my son Tanner, we endured constant & heavy rain for the entire round. It was difficult to gauge surface pace in the pouring and puddling rain, but the couch fairways had good cover and the bent/ poa greens did look pretty smooth.
Most memorable holes for me were: 2 (a very tough 353m right to left par4 with a reverse camber that plays uphill and much longer than its yardage. Daunting looking tee-shot as trees narrow significantly from about 180m, while the greens has a very narrow opening between 2 bunkers); 3 (a super-looking, steep downhill 135m par3 to a largish green with bunkers either side, OOB long and water way right); 10 (dangerous but reachable par5 with water right off tee and a downhill blind second, turning right to a narrow kidney shaped green); 12 (long, straight par4 of 408m with water left off the tee and a fairway that tilts down to the left, before a long second to a hard to find elevated, well bunkered green); and 14 (a beautiful looking 346m dog leg right on reverse camber, which then turns slightly uphill to a slopey green well protected by bunkers short, right).
Overall, this is a beautiful place to play golf and experience true Australian surrounds. I would love to return outside of a thunder-storm and experience the true flavour of the course as my gut tells me with dry, firm surfaces it would be a real challenge and one where control over your ball would rule over the bomb & gouge game!!
And I apologise for both the quality and quantity of course photos – the constant rain made it near impossible. We started on 10 and the outlook worsened as we progressed, hence only 4 photos of the front 9. Thanks to the said local icon for supplying me with the brighter, unlabelled photos at the end of this batch. For more views of the course, refer to the club’s website http://www.devilbendgolf.com.au as it has an excellent course tour.
The following unlabelled photos (from much dryer days) were sourced elsewhere.
