Peninsula Kingswood is the first of its kind in Australia – the merger of two established clubs, Peninsula and Kingswood, each a century old.
Starting in 2014 the courses underwent their most recent and significant upgrade. No course on the sandbelt has undergone such a major renovation in such a short space of time. The aim was to realize the potential of the site and to create a true sandbelt experience, both in design but perhaps more important conditioning. Bunkers and creek-lines were constructed to add to the strategy, fairways were drained, tees added, paths built and extensive work was made to the vegetation. No doubt though, the biggest talking point comes with the putting surfaces. A new construction method and a variety of bent grass in Pure Distinction has finally given the club consistently firm fast greens which rival the best in the world and complimenting the strategies set up by the new design.
North Course
Whilst the intention was never to create two distinctly different designs the nature of the site suggested that the North would always feel a little different to the South. The North, playing over sandier and more undulating ground, with perhaps the best examples of heathland vegetation of any course in Melbourne, was always intended to be a pure sandbelt experience. Firm and fast, with tilted greens, expansive bunkers, wide fairways and roughs featuring that distinctive combination of sand, native grasses and heathland vegetation that the region is known for.
South Course
Since the original Peninsula course was developed into a 36 hole facility in the late 1960’s, the South course was always regarded as the longer more difficult test. Built over flatter ground than the North its open, more manicured look often had it labeled (incorrectly) as a parkland. The new design looks to capture its sandbelt origins. Greens and bunkers were built in a style and scale which closer matched its more famous neighbors, reworked bunkering and green design putting more of a premium on positioning from the tee. Vegetation was removed to open up views across the course and many thousands of plants and grasses added to complement bunkers and tee carries. Perhaps the most unique characteristic of the new design has been opening up of the original creek lines, which proliferated the site and now form a key part of the design on at least half a dozen holes.