Robert Trent Jones Jnr’s layout at RACV Cape Schanck Resort is the publicly accessible, ‘junior’ version of its venerable Mornington Peninsula neighbour, the Old course at The National Golf Club. Trent Jones Jnr penned both and the two courses opened in the same year: 1988.
The similarities between the pair are evident from the outset. Occupying similar land and utilising the same designer drew a lasting result at Cape Schanck. The veteran American designer’s signature large, undulating greens are a feature throughout the par-70 layout – including the mammoth sixth green, which is unusually narrow but extends 80 metres from front to back.
Adding to the course’s appeal is the way it frequently taps into golfers’ imagination. For instance, the contours on and around the putting surfaces in many cases aid players, providing an ‘out’ to one side or a way of feeding balls circuitously towards certain flags.
Other features include elevated tee shots and yawning bunkers framing most drives and approaches. Meanwhile, the rotation of pin positions ensures a different examination with each hole change, to say nothing of the exposed and often windy site. With Bass Strait in view and providing a constant presence, there is never a dull moment along this rugged stretch of the Victorian coastline.
THE DETAILS
RACV Cape Schanck Resort
Ranking for 2026-2027: 68th
Prior rankings: 72nd (2024), 72nd (2022), 75th (2020), 60th (2004), 83rd (2002)
Where: Trent Jones Drive, Cape Schanck VIC 3939
Phone: (03) 5950 8000
Web: racv.com.au/travel-experiences/resorts/cape-schanck.html
