Ranfurlie Golf Club

Overview: Ranfurlie Golf Club is a modern public-access course south-east of Melbourne, laid across broad sandy ground with native vegetation and open playing corridors. Mike Clayton's original design draws on the generous width associated with Melbourne Sandbelt golf, but it does not become simple just because the fairways are broad. Bunkers, green angles, changing lies and the scale of the property ask for a deliberate line from the tee and a clear plan for the approach. At par 71 and about 6,105 yards, the course has room to move while still making position matter.

History: Ranfurlie was originally crafted in 2001 by Mike Clayton and has continued to evolve through reviews by OCCM. The current Clayton DeVries & Pont team provides further architectural advice, so the architect field records the design history rather than reducing it to one name. The club's own course description emphasizes open expanses, eucalyptus, sandy soil and a mix of surface conditions, all of which help explain why the layout is often described as links-inspired despite its inland Melbourne setting.

Did You Know? Ranfurlie's design brief deliberately draws on the width and strategic options associated with Melbourne Sandbelt courses. The course's open fairways are therefore not simply generous targets: the intended challenge is to choose the best angle and accept that the most direct line is not always the safest approach to the green.