A Destination Down Under

Buoyed by the Sandbelt Invitational, it’s time to add Melbourne to the list of must-visit spots

St. Andrews. Pockets of Ireland. Pinehurst. The Monterey Peninsula. Long Island. The “Links along the Line” in England. And now, one could say, Bandon Dunes. There are these destinations that have become synonymous with golf, their very mention stirring the souls of avid amateurs all over the world. Which brings us to Melbourne. It’s not a village or an old gray town, but rather a cosmopolitan city of more than 5 million. It will never be thought of as just a golf destination, but it is long past time to put it on the list of the world’s greatest golf getaways.

Thanks to its innovative format of visiting four courses in four days, the annual Sandbelt Invitational has become instrumental in introducing Melbourne’s glorious playing fields to a larger audience. Whether it’s beloved classics like Kingston Heath and Royal Melbourne, a hidden gem in Yarra Yarra or new-school eye candy like Peninsula Kingswood, the Sandbelt Invitational serves up a variety of challenges to a unique field featuring male and female pros and amateurs, young and old. “One of the great things about the tournament,” says co-founder Geoff Ogilvy, “is that each of the host clubs is trying to show off and outdo each other. The playing conditions are perfect, and they use the best and most interesting pin positions. It has become a showcase for Sandbelt golf at its finest.”

In December, the Fire Pit Collective descended upon Melbourne for the 2022 Invitational, chronicling all of the competition and camaraderie at a tournament unlike any other. We also enjoyed a sampling of the cultural offerings that make Melbourne such an appetizing destination. For golfers with wanderlust, it has never been more true: A pilgrimage to the Sandbelt is long overdue.

More From Melbourne

In just two years the Sandbelt Invitational has become one of the most charming tournaments in golf. In this Fire Drill podcast, founder Geoff Ogilvy and Alan Shipnuck discuss a rousing week and the future of the Sandbelt. The star of the tournament, Momoka Kobori, joins the conversation to share what she learned playing alongside winner Cameron Davis and what the strong showing at the Invitational means to her fledgling career.

Colt Knedler and Benni Wescott bring you the sights, sounds and stories from Melbourne, Australia, as the 2022 Sandbelt Invitational gets underway.

One of the charms of the Sandbelt Invitational is getting to watch host Geoff Ogilvy play Royal Melbourne, the course that raised him and where he now makes his home.