Golf – a great place for a drive

We mean golf, of course, though the Fleurieu Peninsula is also a terrific place for that other sort of driving holiday.

Here you can drive to more than a dozen golf courses, ranging from top rated courses with million dollar views to the fun of a mini-golf course. Five of them are championship courses - Links Lady Bay, McCracken Country Club, the Victor Harbor Golf Club, the Fleurieu Golf Course near Mount Compass, and South Lakes.

There are golf courses that are perfect for happy hobby golfers to swing away, along with smaller but equally pleasant picnic courses. Alternatively you can choose to play golf the easy way with a Guided Golf Tour with Hotel Victor, packaged especially to suit your needs. All you need to do is book in and enjoy a day or more of golf.

The Links Lady Bay (18 holes, Par 72, 6116m)

Rated as the third best course in South Australia and No 43 in Australia by international experts, the Links Lady Bay course provides coastal views and kangaroos, as well as great golfing - just an hour’s drive south of Adelaide. This is a St Andrews-style, sand-based links course with amazing views and a new hotel and clubhouse. It is a true links championship course to challenge you in some of the most appealing surrounds available in South Australia. Designed by Jack Newton, Graeme Grant and John Spencer, Links Lady Bay offers golfers smooth and subtle greens, long undulating fairways strategically placed bunkers and water hazards. It is rated as the No.1 public access course in the state and among the best in Australia for Best Par Fours (Modern), Best Par Threes (modern) and Best Greens (Modern). In South Australia it is rated as No.1 in all three categories. Website: www.linksladybay.com

McCracken Country Club (18 holes, Par 72, 6021m)

Only minutes from the centre of Victor Harbor, the McCracken Country Club is a great course that’s been much re-invigorated in recent years. Designed by renowned golf course architect Tony Cashmore, this is a fun but challenging course with five memorable par threes and is a fine driving course. The South Australian PGA was held here in 1996 in a memorable and record breaking event won by veteran pro Lyndsay Stephen. With coastal breezes and elevated fairways, the par 72 course features 74 bunkers and water in play on several holes, with 14 lakes in a beautiful setting of natural watercourses and gentle slopes. The club now includes a resort. Website: www.countryclubs.com.au

Victor Harbor Golf Club (18 holes, Par 72, 5962m)

Nearby is the Victor Harbor Golf Club with not to be missed views of coastal and hinterland views.

The oldest course on the peninsula, this is a refreshing alternative to many modern courses.

This first tee takes full advantage of the magnificent views of Encounter Bay, the sparkling waters of the Southern Ocean and the grandeur of Granite and Wright Islands.

Former golfing legend Norman von Nida is reputed to have said this was the best first tee anywhere in the world.

Website: www.vhgolf.com.au

South Lakes Golf Club (18 holes, Par 70, 5784m)

The relatively flat terrain of this coastal club makes the course a pleasant walk with a background of waves crashing on the beach. The course is not long but still provides a challenge to the low handicappers as accuracy is the priority, particularly approach shots to the greens. Website: www.southlakesgolf.com.au

Fleurieu Golf Club (18 holes, Par 72, 6116m)

Modelled on the links-style courses of Scotland and England, the international-standard Fleurieu Golf Course has 18 challenging and interesting holes. The course features large greens, water hazards and gently undulating open fairways, all in a pleasant natural bushland setting. Website: www.fleurieugolfcourse.com.au

Other Great Courses

As well as these great courses, golfers can enjoy the course at Sunset Cove Golf and Country Club (18 holes, Par 70, 5697m).

This has magnificent sea views and coastal cliffs, and is close to Cape Jervis from which the ferry departs for Kangaroo Island.

Sunset Cove has excellent bent grass greens and couch fairways, and is challenging for golfers of all abilities.

On-course accommodation is available.

Willunga Golf Course in the heart of McLaren Vale and is considered one of South Australia’s best public courses, with 200-year-old gum trees, creeks and great views over surrounding vineyards. Strathalbyn Golf Club is a semi-private club that features fabulous views to Lake Alexandrina and the Coorong, with excellent on-course amenities.

Smaller clubs, mostly with only nine holes, include the private Ashbourne Golf Club at Ashbourne, the 18 hole Yankalilla Golf Club, the nine hole Glacier Rock Golf Club between Victor Harbor and Yankalilla, and the nine hole Goolwa Golf Club.

It may be no championship course, but for a fun day nothing can beat the challenging Dunes Mini Golf Park on the Victor Harbor foreshore, where an 18 hole course is a test of skills and accuracy. On the foreshore opposite the Causeway with views towards Granite Island and positioned right on the waterfront, it is the perfect opportunity to swing into action and then grab an ice-cream or light meal to dine in or take away.