Australia’s Sandbelt 2024: Showcasing Iconic Courses, Designs, and Tournaments

My love for Sandbelt golf was sparked by late-night Golf Channel broadcasts, where I discovered the Gold Coast’s intricate courses and watched legends like Peter Senior navigate them. The Australian Open and PGA Championship were a must-see for the players’ skill and the announcers' pride in the Sandbelt’s challenging and visually stunning beauty that jumped off the screen.

The Sandbelt region of Australia is legendary in the world of golf.

Renowned for its iconic courses, strategic challenges, and stunning natural landscapes. Home to some of the world’s most celebrated layouts, the Sandbelt will take center stage in 2024 as the world’s best players compete in a series of elite events that showcase the artistry, history, and unmatched competitive thrill that defines Australian golf. This year, the Sandbelt will host the BMW Australian PGA Championship, the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, and other premier tournaments for both men and women, making it a must-watch season for golf enthusiasts globally.

The Sandbelt courses' allure goes beyond the competition's quality; it is deeply rooted in their design and history. Crafted by some of the game’s greatest architects, including the legendary Alister MacKenzie, these courses embody a unique combination of aesthetic beauty and strategic complexity. In contrast to the "bomb and gouge" style seen on many modern PGA Tour courses, where distance off the tee is king, the Sandbelt demands precision, creativity, and shot-making finesse. MacKenzie’s approach to golf architecture emphasizes subtlety, with courses that test the mind as much as the body. His designs and those of others in the region place a premium on positioning, angles, and trajectory, requiring players to consider every shot in a way that few other regions demand.

The MacKenzie Influence and Sandbelt’s Signature Style

Alister MacKenzie’s impact on the Sandbelt courses, most notably at Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath, has left an indelible mark. MacKenzie, an English-born architect who studied medicine and served in the British Army, applied his knowledge of camouflage and landscape to create some of the world’s most enduring golf courses. His work spans four continents and includes some of the top courses in the world, like Augusta National and Cypress Point in the U.S., but Royal Melbourne’s West Course remains one of his most esteemed creations.

MacKenzie’s Sandbelt designs are distinguished by their bold bunkering, undulating greens, and use of natural contours, which make shot selection a delicate balance of risk and reward. Unlike most greens, MacKenzie’s often feature subtle breaks and slopes that can trick even the most skilled players, elevating the importance of shot control and strategy. A MacKenzie green, such as the Redan-style 7th at Royal Melbourne, challenges players to execute precise approaches and trajectories that match the contours, and often requires players to utilize the ground as much as the air.

The Redan concept, which originated at North Berwick in Scotland, is revered for its angled green that slopes from front-right to back-left, protected by a deep bunker in front. The Sandbelt courses incorporate this design feature in multiple layouts, and Kingston Heath’s 15th hole and Royal Melbourne’s 7th are prime examples, adding layers of complexity to each round.

Sandbelt’s Place in the Golfing World and Influence on Shot-Making

The Sandbelt region has become one of the most influential areas in global golf, and its designs have shaped how players approach the game in Australia and beyond. The firm, fast fairways and tight lies reward players who can adapt their shot-making to the terrain, often hitting punch shots or controlling spin in ways that simply aren’t as necessary on softer courses. Sandbelt golf is a study in creativity and adaptability, where players often need to adjust their strategies based on wind, firmness of the greens, and the ever-present threat of deep, strategically placed bunkers.

One of the beauties of the Sandbelt is that it emphasizes the classic principles of golf architecture. While many modern courses focus on length, the Sandbelt prioritizes placement and ingenuity. Players can rarely overpower these courses; instead, they must carefully consider their positioning, club selection, and trajectory, making for a much more cerebral form of golf. This season, fans can look forward to watching elite players adapt their games to these storied layouts, showcasing both their power and finesse.

2024 Australian Golf Season: Highlight Events on the Sandbelt and Beyond

The 2024 Australian golf calendar is packed with events that celebrate the sport’s rich tradition in the country. Here are some of the key tournaments that will unfold on these storied courses:

1. BMW Australian PGA Championship - Dates: November 21–24, 2024. Location: Royal Queensland Golf Club. Overview: Kicking off the 2024/25 DP World Tour schedule, the Australian PGA Championship will draw top Australian and international players, including fan favorite Cameron Smith. Known for his creative play and finesse around the greens, Smith is a perfect fit for the Sandbelt’s challenging layouts, and fans are eager to see him in action on home soil.
2. ISPS HANDA Australian Open - Dates: November 28–December 1, 2024. Locations: Kingston Heath Golf Club & Victoria Golf Club. Overview: The Australian Open will bring together both men’s and women’s fields to celebrate inclusive, top-tier competition. Hosted at Kingston Heath, another of MacKenzie’s masterpieces, and the Victoria Golf Club, this event showcases the precision required on the Sandbelt. Cameron Smith is again a headline name, joined by fellow Australian stars like Min Woo Lee and Lucas Herbert.
3. Victorian PGA Championship - Date: December 8, 2024. Location: Moonah Links Resort Overview: Moonah Links offers a change of pace, with expansive fairways but punishing rough that requires precise ball striking. Players who thrive here must possess control and finesse—qualities that are hallmarks of Sandbelt players.
4. Gippsland Super 6 - Dates: December 12–15, 2024. Location: Warragul Country Club. Overview: Known for its hybrid format, blending stroke play with match play, the Gippsland Super 6 brings excitement and unpredictability to the tour, with a scenic course that adds visual appeal and challenging play.
5. Women’s NSW Open - Dates: March 29–31, 2024. Location: Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club. Overview: This event highlights Australia’s top female golfers and is played on Magenta Shores, a seaside course with natural hazards that demand creativity and precision from players.
6. Australian Women’s Classic - Date: April 6, 2024. Location: Bonville Golf Resort. Overview: Set against the backdrop of lush fairways and dramatic greens, the Australian Women’s Classic is a Major event on the women’s calendar and a celebration of the talent in Australian women’s golf.

Iconic Australian Golfers and the Sandbelt Legacy

Australia has produced many legendary golfers whose skills were honed on these challenging Sandbelt courses, including:

• Greg Norman: Known as “The Shark,” Norman claimed two Open Championship titles and became a symbol of Australian golf on the world stage.
• Adam Scott: Scott made history as the first Australian to win the Masters in 2013, and his beautifully balanced swing and precision have made him a model of Sandbelt technique.
• Karrie Webb: With seven major titles, Webb is Australia’s most successful female golfer and an inspiration to generations of players.
• Jason Day: The 2015 PGA Championship winner, Day’s powerful yet controlled style embodies the adaptability that Sandbelt courses demand.

Today, the legacy of these champions lives on in players like Cameron Smith, Min Woo Lee, and Lucas Herbert—talents who have taken their Sandbelt-honed skills onto the world stage, showing that the strategic prowess developed here can compete against the world’s best.

Redan-Style Holes to Watch

The Sandbelt’s unique Redan-style holes, particularly Kingston Heath’s 15th and Royal Melbourne’s 7th, embody MacKenzie’s focus on strategy and precision. These holes require players to factor in the angled green, bunkers, and the slope from front-right to back-left, emphasizing trajectory control. For viewers, these holes provide an excellent look at the design philosophy that makes Sandbelt courses both beautiful and challenging.

Final Thoughts: A Season of Golf Course Design Artistry and Competition

As the 2024 season unfolds, Australia’s Sandbelt will remind us of what makes golf a game of artistry as much as power. The upcoming events not only showcase elite competition but also celebrate the legacy of Alister MacKenzie and the rich history of Australian golf. Fans can look forward to seeing players adapt to the demands of these iconic courses, where creativity, precision, and strategy are paramount. As the world tunes in, the Sandbelt’s timeless appeal will captivate new and seasoned golf fans alike, offering a masterclass in the beauty of the game.