Whenever discussion among golf partners turns to favourite courses of the Melbourne Sandbelt and I am asked for my preferred options, I am always hit with a curious look or two when I follow up Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath and Victoria with Long Island.
“Where?” is the stock standard reply, especially from those not entirely familiar with the expanse and quantity of layouts that call the Sandbelt home.
I might have given the same ‘where’ answer a dozen years ago too but after missing out on a tee time at the neighbouring Peninsula Country Golf Club, I ventured next door to Long Island and negotiated a start on a course I knew very little about. What an eye-opener!
I can recall finishing that round and walking back to the car confused and thinking, why is this place such an unknown? Every time I have been back to play the course I have the same thought when I leave and the only thing I can pin it on is this: the St Andrews Old Course syndrome.
Please explain! Well, I have long held the belief that if the New course and Jubilee course at St Andrews were on the other side of Scotland, instead of next to the Old Course, they would be more highly regarded, more popular. In the shadow of the great course, they are not fully appreciated for their quality. The same can be said for Royal Melbourne’s East course.
In the case of Long Island, it too suffers from being in a golfing neighbourhood where world-class courses outnumber McDonalds restaurants. I’m not saying Long Island should be positioned shoulder-to-shoulder with Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath. It’s simply not in the same class but if you are after a Sandbelt experience that will have you craving more because you’ve had a lot of fun from holes 1 to 18, Long Island is the course for you.
