I was in Port Fairy to play golf.  At home my second golf club is at Elie in Fife.  It’s an old fishing village, now a holiday village for the Edinburgh and Glasgow middle classes with a wonderful, simple but excellent golf course.  I had been told that Port Fairy is an old fishing village, now a holiday village for the Melbourne middle classes with a wonderful, simple but excellent golf course.  I’m always sad when American golfers visiting the UK choose to only visit the great, championship courses, missing out on the smaller “2nd tier” courses which can be just as good golf and offer as much interest as the St Andrews and Muirfields of this world.  I try to encourage them to slow down and visit the Elies, Broras and Golspies.  It would have been remiss of me, therefore, not to visit Port Fairy.

Breakfast at a local cafe was excellent:

As I made up for the lack of WiFi in my AirBnB by updating this blog over brekkie and lots of excellent coffee.  I also dealt with e-mails about my job situation, which appears (touch wood) to be nearing a resolution which will allow me to get cracking with the new job in the New Year.

I was playing with Shane at 11.45, so had some time to explore the village:

Just like the beach at Elie

The river runs through it

I’m still surprised to see defences against invasion here.  This time the perceived threat was Russia in 1907.

The golf course at Port Fairy had been described as being one of the most links like courses in Australia.  I don’t think that’s right. I think it isn’t like a links, it is a links.  No individual architect gets the credit here, the course has developed through the work of its members, though more recently Mike Clayton (again) has offered a guiding hand.

Arriving early I was struck by the simplicity of the clubhouse:

My host, Shane, is a property valuer who left Melbourne (where he had been a member at Commonwealth) a few year back with his family to live out here.  He’s another very good golfer, playing now off 2 and having been better in previous years.  The course makes brilliant use of one prominent dune which provides a number of spectacular views and

The first tee shot gives a feel of what’s to come

Sadly a bogey on this par 5

Shane walks off the green with another par

Looking back from behind the excellent bunker-less par 3 15th, one of a few bunkerless greens

Port Fairy is a real golf club.  No vast echoing clubhouse.  No impressive dining facilities.  A super golf course, a small but sufficient clubhouse, a bar with beer (and wine for those that want it) and a staff of 6 (I think, three greens staff, a caterer, a manager and a pro).  Lots and lots to like.

I had a very enjoyable game with Shane in a good cool breeze (at last, 18 holes wearing a sweater) and actually played reasonably well.  We had a couple of beers and said goodbye, before I went back out for another 9.  A cracking place and a cracking club.  I’m very glad I visited.

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