Dan Andrews axed from prestigious golf club after sly plot

Former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has reportedly been kicked out of an elite club after he was sprung trying to enter with a sneaky move.

Dan Andrews has been busted and blacklisted.

That’s the incredible situation that has played out at one of Victoria’s most prestigious golf clubs with the former Victorian Premier sensationally kicked out after just one week.

As first reported by The Herald Sun, Andrews was reportedly able to “sneak in the back door” of the elite club with the help of billionaire friend Max Beck.

In a wild week at the elite Moonah Links Golf Resort on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula, the club on Thursday took the extraordinary step of releasing a public statement to say Andrews is not a member.

That comes after The Herald Sun reported last week Andrews, whose controversial policies saw Melbourne become the most “locked down” city in the world during the pandemic, had found a backway to secure membership at the club.

It is understood Beck, who is a Foundation Member at the club, made the venture possible by switching out his wife’s name on a membership, and replacing her with the former Premier, Sky News reports.

This reportedly did not violate any club rules.

However, The Herald Sun reports the backlash against Andrews’ membership status was so fierce that the club was forced to act.

Daniel Andrews playing Golf. Yuri Kouzman

The pubication reports Andrews’ inclusion at the club was met with “frothing and feverish” condemnation.

The club addressed the furore with a message shared on its Facebook page on Thursday.

“Moonah Links Golf Resort wishes to address recent public speculation regarding former Premier Daniel Andrews,” the golf club wrote.

“We can confirm that Mr Daniel Andrews is not a member of Moonah Links Golf Resort.

“Moonah Links continues to focus on providing a world class golfing experience and supporting events that promotes sport, tourism and community development.”

It is not the first time Beck and Andrews have been at the centre of golf club membership storms.

Andrews was in 2023 told he was not welcome to apply for membership at several other elite courses around the Morning Peninsula.

Former Premier Dan Andrews, David Evans and his wife and Greg Norman at the opening of the Cathedral Lodge golf course in 2017. Picture: David Crosling.

Beck at the time said the backlash from members at those clubs was “ridiculous”.

“I can’t believe how small-minded people can be,” Beck previously told the Herald Sun.

“It’s just all about a bloke who wants to play golf and enjoy the rest of his life. It’s ridiculous. “He’s worked his guts out for the state with his beliefs.”

Those comments surrounded Andrews’ rumoured links to the Portsea Golf Club in November, 2023.

At the time it was reported Andrews was at least considering a membership application to the club – sparking radio shock jock Steve Price to threaten to “tear up” his membership if the potential application was approved.

One week later it was reported members had sent a letter to the prestigious National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula calling for Andrews to be denied membership.

The Project host Steve Price. Picture: Channel 10

The backlash against Andrews stems from the Covid-19 pandemic when he imposed strict restrictions on golf in Victoria.

“This is the premier who stopped us playing golf for two years during Covid,” Price previously told Sky News Australia.

“This is the premier who locked down this community even though we’re 120km out of the city.

“The same premier who let people on the other side of the bay play golf. No way that should that man come into the golf club.

“If Dan Andrews is allowed to join the Portsea Golf Club, I’ll quit, I’ll resign, I’ll tear up my membership and I’ll go and play golf somewhere else.”

Andrews told a podcast in December, 2023, that he was not seeking membership at those clubs.

He said the saga was “quite ridiculous”.

The fascination in Andrews’ golfing activities comes from his final press conference where he announced his decision to step down as Premier.

He said in September, 2023, that playing more golf was one of the things he was looking forward to after ending his political career.