Kingston Heath Golf Club
The purest jewel of the Melbourne Sandbelt — a MacKenzie-bunkered heathland masterpiece where a visiting club golfer can, with a little planning, play one of the world's top-ranked courses midweek.
Kingston Heath Golf Club in photos
Can I play Kingston Heath Golf Club?
Kingston Heath is a private members' club, but overseas and interstate visitors who belong to a recognised golf club can arrange a round on weekdays, subject to availability. You will need to present current club membership identification or a letter of introduction from your home club. In practice most visitors play midweek, either through the golf shop's visitor enquiry process or as part of a Melbourne Sandbelt golf tour.
How to book: Submit the visitor enquiry form on the club website with your preferred dates, group size and tee times, then confirm through the golf shop. Visitor tee times are generally offered Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (no weekends), so book well ahead. A recognised handicap and letter of introduction are expected, and international visitors sit at the top of the fee range.
About Kingston Heath Golf Club
Kingston Heath is routinely ranked the finest course in Australia and inside the world's top 20, a compact heathland layout on the sandy soils of Melbourne's south-east. Dan Soutar laid out the holes in 1925 and Alister MacKenzie added his celebrated bunkering scheme a year later, giving the course its strategic teeth despite a modest yardage. Firm, fast greens and beautifully sculpted sand make it a supreme test of angles and short game rather than brute power. It remains a private members' club, but visitors from recognised clubs can arrange weekday tee times, and the course is a fixture of any serious Sandbelt itinerary. It is scheduled to host the 2028 Presidents Cup.
Signature hole
The par-3 15th is regarded as one of the finest short holes in world golf — barely 150 metres to a small green ringed by a horseshoe of MacKenzie bunkers. The par-5 14th, doglegging around sand, is another sandbelt classic.
What makes it special
MacKenzie bunkering
The 1926 sand scheme is among the most admired in golf, framing every green and dictating strategy on a course under 6,400 metres.
World's best short par 3
The 15th is frequently cited as one of the greatest one-shotters anywhere, a tiny green defended by a ring of bunkers.
Presidents Cup stage
Kingston Heath will host the 2028 Presidents Cup, cementing its status as a genuine championship venue.
Tournament pedigree
- Australian Open (1948, 1957, 1970, 1983, 1989, 1995, 2000)
- Australian Masters (2009, 2012)
- World Cup of Golf (2016)
- Women's Australian Open (2008)
- Presidents Cup (2028, scheduled)
Need to know
Best time to play
October to April (the Australian spring-autumn) offers the firmest, fastest sandbelt conditions; summer can be hot and windy. Avoid weekends, when visitor play is not permitted.
Dress code
Smart golf attire required — collared shirts, tailored shorts or trousers, and soft/non-metal spikes. Denim and untidy casual wear are not permitted in the clubhouse or on the course.
Good to know
A walking course with caddies available on request; buggies are restricted. Allow around four hours for a round. The greens are the fastest and most feared on the Sandbelt, so approach angles and bunker avoidance matter more than length.
Upcoming golf tournaments
Prefer to watch the world’s best? Book tickets to an upcoming tournament, then add a hotel and flights.
Getting there
Nearest airports
Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) ~40 min; Moorabbin (MBW) is minutes away for light aircraft.
On arrival
Kingston Heath sits in Cheltenham in Melbourne's bayside south-east, about 25-30 minutes by car from the CBD via the Nepean Highway or Dingley Bypass. It is the geographic heart of the Sandbelt, close to Royal Melbourne, Victoria and Metropolitan, so most visitors drive or take a golf-tour transfer.
Stay near the course
There is no on-site lodging; most golfers base themselves in the Melbourne CBD or bayside suburbs such as Brighton and Sandringham and drive out each morning. Staying central makes it easy to string together several Sandbelt courses in one trip.
★★★★★ 5-starTap for live prices Quest Moorabbin Apartment Hotel
Melbourne
★★★★★ 5-starTap for live prices Hotel Chadstone Melbourne MGallery Collection
Melbourne
★★★★★ 5-starTap for live prices The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series
Melbourne
A taste of the luxury stays near Kingston Heath Golf Club — tap any hotel to see live availability and prices for your dates, or search them all.
Plan your golf trip
Hotels near the course
Live-priced stays a short drive from the 1st tee.
Search hotelsFlights
Get to Cheltenham — search fares to the nearest airport.
Find flightsTournament tickets
Rather watch the pros? Book golf tournament tickets.
See golf ticketsThings to do
Tours and experiences around Cheltenham.
Explore CheltenhamFrequently asked questions
Can visitors play Kingston Heath?
Yes, but only by arrangement. Overseas and interstate golfers who are members of a recognised club can book weekday tee times (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri) via the club's visitor enquiry process, presenting membership ID or a letter of introduction. Weekends are members only.
How much does it cost to play Kingston Heath?
Indicatively around A$450-750 per round for visitors, with international guests at the top end. Rates vary and are set by the club, so confirm when you enquire.
Do I need a handicap to play?
You need to be a member of an established golf club and present current membership identification or a letter of introduction; a recognised handicap is expected.
When is the best time to play?
The Australian golf season of October to April gives the firm, fast sandbelt conditions the course is famous for. Midweek is essential, as visitors are not accepted on weekends.
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Golf guideSources & pricing note
Green fees, access rules and tee-time policies change frequently and vary by season. The figures here are indicative for trip planning — always confirm on the official site before booking.
Guide updated 2026-07-27.