1. malvernstar | Rated | 03 Nov 2008 | Add A Review

Have played The Sands twice in the last 2 months, one time with 50km winds, the next on a perfect day, scored better in the wind. It looks like there is some attempt to fill in some of the hundreds of bunkers, a move I would agree with.

I enjoyed both visits, the course has two distinct nines, the front you wend through strangely designed houses whilst on the back you play 5 holes out and four back with little housing. Some really good holes on the back, 10, 11 and 14 are excellent.

Summing up, really good course, worth a trip, staff couldn’t have been nicer to us

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2. segale1969 | Rated | 13 Apr 2008 | Add A Review

Stayed at The Sands Pepper Resort and played this course the next morning (on a Thursday). The pro shop staff were extremely friendly as were the hotel staff. Staying mid week is defintely the way to go if you can. I felt like I was the only person in the hotel. Stayed in a golf view room, so was able to sit on my balcony the afternoon before and watch groups hit off the tenth tee. As to the course itself, well teeing off at 7.15am resulted in me being the first person out on the course. I absloultely loved this course. I love a course that makes you stop and think about your tee shot instead of just blasting away. I’m not a long hitter but pro standards, (average 210m) but that still brings most fairway bunkers into play on your tee shot, so I found myself dropping to 3 wood on several holes (except when the wind was in my face). You cross the road in sevearl places as the front 9 winds its way through the residential blocks. Some reviews have criticized the build up, but to be honest I barely noticed it as the course itself is so beautifully laid out and i amazing condition..as it should be. The back 9 was definitelt my favourite, including the Par 5 12th…and the amazing Par 3 13th which is an almost vertical shot to the higlhy elevated green. Speaking of greens, I loved the pace of these..yes putts can be tricky if you don’t land it in the right spot, but once you have picked your line the ball runs true. Also loved the sand quality in the bunkers. More grainy than most but the the ball came out beautifully..you felt you could hit blast with confidence without bouncing the club of the concrete some courses call sand. Worth the money, worth the stay

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3. kovu23 | Rated | 11 Apr 2008 | Add A Review

great course offers great fairways and greens and a good club house and pro shop

4. janjuc | Rated | 08 Jan 2008 | Add A Review

Very tricked up course, 120+ bunkers, with when I played had little sand in them. The course is lined with houses, row upon row on most holes and leaves little aesthetics of the game. The wind was blowing 30+kph the day I played and the houses caused a ‘funnel effect’ which seemed to make the game more difficult. Overall not a pleasant experience.

5. frizzante | Rated | 03 Jan 2008 | Add A Review

This is a fabulous golf course. It is challenging, fun, attractive and very well maintained. The bunkering is incredible. On some holes there seems to be more bunkers than fairway. This does make shot selection a bit obvious for the average player, but the course is just so enjoyable it doesn’t matter.

The last nine holes are fabulous links golf with some great views. The first nine are very good but further from the sea.

We are indeed lucky to have some great courses near Melbourne. This is right up there with Barwon Heads. In fact I think the back nine is better than Barwons front nine.

6. glendonald | Rated | 04 Jul 2007 | Add A Review

From the opening hole you are left in no doubt why it has been named The Sands. Excessive bunkering often leaving lay up as only strategy on a fw holes, others were wide open fairways with natural hazards. Long course from the back tees. Housing development will make it like playing in a fish bowl when all the fairways are lined with box shaped houses.

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7. barryt57 | Rated | 21 Mar 2007 | Add A Review

Sometime in a persons golfing career there tends to be watershed moment. A moment in time when you are both challenged and inspired to examine your game in its purest sense. We all know that golf was developed by those crazy Scot’s on the windswept shores of St. Andrews Bay so it is appropriate to play a game at the "Sands" so that you can tap into the historical perspectives of this ancient game. I have played the "old and new" St. Andrews courses so I feel reasonably confident to comment upon the parallels of both courses. Both courses presented with bunkers and wind on occasions as well as hard uncompromising but true greens. This course is certainly a thinking and strategic course where a course guide is a necessity in order to judge the distances to fairway traps and stay out of trouble. It has risk and reward holes, magnificent vistas and no shortage of challenge. It is a course where a par is met with a great deal of personal satisfaction. The whole area has been in severe drought but there appears to be limitless recycled water for this course. The large greens and Santa Anna fairways are brilliant!!!! Friends I have played with at this course cannot wait to return the subtle nuances and superb golf this course provides.

8. niceshot | Rated | 01 Feb 2006 | Add A Review

Ok The Sands is my home course so i hop i don't sound bias here, but this is an honest opinion.

I have been playing there regularily since September 05.

The course itself is kept in immaculate condition and is always in good nick to play on. The fairways are Santa Ana and are cut quite short and not really spongy like some Ssanta Ana is. The Greens i'm not sure what they are made from (grass i suspect) but they are quite fast and very true.

The layout as the name implies contains many bunkers. They are in play on pretty much every shot, it adds to the challenge. But be sure to brush up on your sand play before playing here.

The course starts out with a couple of short par 4's where accuracy is the key. As a general rule for the whole course i find stay on the fairways and you will be fine, easier said than done. Most tee shots on the course have bunker danger and often a good tee shot can end up in a fairway bunker. The fairways are often quite wide giving you a fair chance but venture of into the long grass and you will pay the price.

My favorite/most challenging holes on the course are:

2nd par 4 - a very short hole and if accurate off the tee you can find yourself maybe 50 metres from the green. But the green is wide and not long with bunkers left, right and front. To stop the ball on the green and avoid the bunkers is the challenge.

5th par 3 - About 180 metres bunkers left, right and front and water right(although about 10 metres off fairway. Very tough to hit the green miss it and in a bunker most likely.

10th par 4 - Plenty of room on the drive but the approach shot is the most challenging on the course.

16th par 4/5 - I say 4/5 because of the black tees it is a par 5. All i will say is it is difficult to even hit the fairway with your best tee shot.

Sorry if i have not gone into to much detail here but in summary the course is always in immaculate condition it is a very challenging course that is very often subject to coastal winds making it even harder. Bunkers aplenty add to the challenge.

You have to really think about every shot on this course and those looking to play here don't expect a walk in the park. The practice facilities are first rate with putting green, chipping green(with 3 bunkers) and a 250m driving range with grass hit off. The clubhouse is class with a top rated restaurant and fully stocked pro shop. Unfortunately for teh punters this is a member only course and you can only play here with a member. But if you get the chance i strongly recommend it for the challenge.

9. tnelson46 | Rated | 02 Jul 2004 | Add A Review

The Sands opened for play to members on July 1st, 2004, and I was the first to make a booking! After a heavy night of rain, and a very windy, cold morning, my enthusiam was not diminished.

Bob, Steve and I tee'd off at 10:00 with a strong steady northerly wind in our faces and occasional gusts in the 50 kph range. With that on your mind, you then faced the first hole with about 10 deep bunkers staring you down - if that layout didn't stir the blood, nothing would! Get past that one, and they just keep coming - one strong challenge after another.

The Sands is an awesome course that is not for the faint-hearted. Stuart Appley has done a great job putting this one together. The course will only get better as it matures (and my knowledge of it's intricacies grows). I am definitely looking forward to future games and comp. rounds.

If you get a chance to play this one, do not pass it up! Be prepared for a course that rewards the thinking golfer, and will quickly penalize a lack of concentration - if you don't think out each shot, be prepared for a lot of heartburn!

That said, enjoy it if you get the chance - Tom Nelson (July 2, 2004)