BUILDING THE WORLD’S BEST
Duncan Andrews, owner
of The Dunes Golf Links
on the Mornington
Peninsula, knows a thing
or two about building
a golf course. turfmate
caught up with him
last month when he
shared his insights about
what makes a good
golf course and how to
execute it.
The Dunes Golf Links is rated by Golf Digest at #14
in Australia’s Top 100 golf courses. It is also one
of the few privately owned courses in Australia, its
27 hole layout was opened in March 1997. Since
then Andrews, in partnership with Ian and Philip
McNaughton, has built a 36 hole golf complex at
Thirteenth Beach, Barwon Heads. Thirteenth Beach
is also rated among the Top 30 in Australia.
Unlike most who enter into commercial enterprises
with golf and are unsuccessful, both Andrews’
courses have proved to be financially viable. This
is not surprising, he has played golf since he was a
child, most of that time on a single figure handicap.
Andrews’ had always considered what sort of land
would make a good course, having played many
links land courses in Scotland and Ireland. While
driving his car, like many other golf-tragics, he