With Australia’s central bank being the first globally to muster some audacity and raise interest rates since the credit crisis began, perhaps the Antipodeans can also be the leaders in recapitalizing some of the world’s wonderful golf terrain. In Australia, that is first and foremost greater Melbourne, where the quality of the Sand Belt collection is easily expandable. This modern example of the region is the Ranfurlie course at Amstel Golf Club, an honest and thoughtful layout with representative firm turf and lipless, greenside hazards from Mike Clayton and his design team. The modest property doesn’t have a ton of elevation change, but the blessed sand and many charismatic trees have been used to full advantage, making for a beautiful setting and ideal member course. If all cities could be so lucky as to boast a course such as Ranfurlie or a dozen others as fantastically fun alternatives to all-world tracks like Kingston Heath and Royal Melbourne…ah, me. Don’t miss out on ’surely the finest ‘flaming’ links in the Southern Hemisphere’ at Barnbougle if you get this close, a majestic effort on which Mr. Clayton’s team collaborated with Renaissance.
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