Dan Andrews’ surprising next move after he was rejected by TWO prestigious golf clubs in his home state

By HARRISON CHRISTIAN FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 01:27 BST, 17 May 2025 | Updated: 01:50 BST, 17 May 2025

Dan Andrews has finally been accepted at a ritzy Melbourne golf course following several failed attempts to branch out from his own club. 

Melbourne golfers were outraged by the Victorian government’s ban on the sport during lockdown, despite it being in the open air with large distances between players and providing a rare outlet for exercise.

Andrews, who led the state through Covid and earned the nickname ‘Dictator Dan’ for making Melbourne the world’s most locked down city, has been trying to play more golf since resigning as premier.

His attempts to play at clubs other than his own Kingston Heath have been rejected, including the Mornington Peninsula’s Portsea Golf Club and Moonah Links, despite the help of his high-profile friend and property developer Mark Beck.

The list of clubs with a ‘Dan Ban’ have kept growing, with members of the National Golf Club, also on the Mornington Peninsula, banding together to write a letter to the club demanding Andrews not be allowed to join.

On Friday, however, Andrews was able to play at the Commonwealth Golf Club in Oakleigh thanks to a members’ swap event.

But one golfer remained skeptical of Andrews’ presence on the fairway.  

‘The one time is fine (but) I don’t know if I would like to see him out here a lot,’ he told the Herald Sun. 

Andrews has been trying to play more golf since resigning as premier

On Friday, Andrews was able to play at the Commonwealth Golf Club in Oakleigh (pictured) thanks to a members’ swap event

Another said he ‘wasn’t too fussed’ about Andrews playing there. 

Mr Beck has previously defended Andrews’ attempts to gain memberships at other courses.

He said the refusal to accept his mate at Portsea was ‘ridiculous’, and the former premier had ‘worked his guts out for the state’ and ‘just wants to play golf’. 

‘I can’t believe how small-minded people can be,’ Mr Beck said. 

‘You can’t just ban people because of their political beliefs.’ 

And it’s not just golf clubs banning Andrews.

Daily Mail Australia revealed in December that ex-AFL star Paul Dimattina, who runs popular South Melbourne venue Lamaro’s Hotel, had barred Andrews from the venue.

Mr Dimattina said Andrews was ‘easily the most hated person’ in Victoria as it was revealed multiple restaurant owners had refused service to him and his wife Cath. 

Andrews (pictured with wife Cath) led Victoria through Covid and earned the nickname ‘Dictator Dan’ after making Melbourne the world’s most locked down city

‘No hope Mr Andrews would get a seat at my pub,’ Mr Dimattina told this publication.

‘If he walked in and sat down the Lamaro’s crowd would be disgusted if they saw him. Mr Andrews is hated because of his whole anti-business stance.

‘The trail of destruction Mr Andrews left is still being felt today: small businesses closed down, endless lockdowns, critical healthcare neglected, children missing out on school. He didn’t help anyone.’ 

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Dan Andrews’ surprising next move after he was rejected by TWO prestigious golf clubs in his home state

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk