{"id":31556,"date":"2024-12-20T15:15:51","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T04:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/?p=31556"},"modified":"2024-12-23T10:00:28","modified_gmt":"2024-12-22T23:00:28","slug":"weekend-golf-getaway-torquay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/weekend-golf-getaway-torquay\/","title":{"rendered":"Birdies & the Benz: A Weekend Golf Getaway in Torquay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A car-share app takes the kiosk queues out of hiring a ride for an upcoming golf weekend aw<\/em><\/strong>ay on Victoria’s Surf Coast. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having never played golf other than a few rounds of putt-putt, it was with this na\u00efvet\u00e9 that I suggested my partner simply hire clubs for our three-night stay at The Sands Torquay<\/a>. My mistake. No matter how serious the swings, hiring clubs \u2013 especially when teeing off on a course like the one at The Sands \u2013 is a no-no. Too many variables, I was schooled: no control over the feel, the length, the weight of the clubs. So, with a partner insisting he must<\/em> take his own set of clubs, the first conundrum of the weekend arose: how would the aforementioned clubs fit, along with two suitcases, in my compact Mazda 2? While my car is perfect for zipping around Melbourne and squeezing into the tightest of parking space, it lacks the Mary Poppins magic of infinite space. All the Tetris talent in the world wouldn\u2019t help so instead of scaling down the luggage, the answer came from scaling up <\/em>our ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extra space to boot<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Enter Turo, the world’s largest car sharing marketplace<\/a> where local hosts list their cars and vehicles for short- and long-term rentals. Some hosts are individuals, others are verified car-hire operators, and finding a ride is as easy as scrolling on your phone via the app (although the desktop browser is just as simple to navigate). But where Turo has the edge on traditional car hire services is its option to filter for hosts who drop the car off at your address \u2013 no lining up at kiosks, no scouring crowded car parks, and no chance of being handed the keys to a different make or model than the one you actually booked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As easy as it was to book a ride for a golf weekend, the drop-off process was even easier. Josh, our host from AutoChimp Rentals, gave plenty of heads up when he was on his way and even arrived early. A quick handshake later and he was running me through the features of the Mercedes-Benz GLA Class 2022, kitted out with Apple Car Play, an extra lightning cord and hint of new car smell. Yes, the choice of Mercedes-Benz ticked the form and function boxes; it gave us the extra room while also being a treat to drive. It was, as declared by my partner, ‘The nicest car I’ve ever driven’. Two birds, one booking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The golf clubs, our suitcases and extra gym bag all fit in the car \u2013 and then some. Unlike if we\u2019d been in my car, my partner had nothing crammed in at his feet; the freedom to fully stretch out the legs a welcome upgrade, even if only for the 90-minute drive from Melbourne\u2019s north-east suburbs to Torquay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staying at The Sands Torquay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Sands Torquay is an ideal base for a golf weekend. This contemporary resort, on the fringe of the town centre (also walking distance), is a sprawl of stylish accommodations and a top-tier golf course. Designed by Australian golfing legend Stuart Appleby, The Sands\u2019 course is an 18-hole, par-72 stretch that, ahem, green and seasoned golfers alike will want to take a swing at. Practiced putters will find more than a fair share of challenging holes, especially when the coastal breeze kicks up and headwinds send drives curling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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