Golfing – The Murray
Forming the border between Victoria and New South Wales, the Murray River is home to paddle steamers, classic Australian country and a host of spectacular resort courses.
A favourable climate and conditions allow year-round golf in the region, and many of the Murray’s courses are as famous for the food and entertainment of their large clubhouses as they are for their challenging golf on offer. Many also have on-course accommodation, so you can roll straight out of bed and onto the first tee.
British Open champion and well-known course architect Peter Thompson designed several courses in the region. Some are on the banks of the beautiful river and have fairways lined with signature river red gum trees. This is a truly Australian setting for golf.
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Gulai Road, Mulwala, New South Wales
Ph 03 5744 3893
Lakes course: par 72; 5,957 metres
Murray course: par 72; 6,085 metres
Executive course: (9 holes) par 33; 2,246 metres
Yarrawonga and Border is a large 45 hole resort course on the banks of the Murray River. The Murray course is carved through natural bushland, lagoons and large river gum trees, with the fifth hole running along the banks of the river, requiring an accurate drive and approach to avoid the water and large trees lining the fairway. The Lakes Course is more open, with wide fairways and large greens that are protected by strategic bunkering and, as the name suggests, a number of lakes. The Executive course is an easier nine hole layout in undulating parkland, perfect for the beginner or a quick round at the end of the day.
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Barooga Road,Tocumwal, New South Wales
Ph 03 5874 9111
Presidents course: par 72; 6,066 metres
Captains Course: par 72; 6,272 metres
Tocumwal Golf Club features two championship courses - the more established Presidents course set amongst tall river gum trees and typified by deep bunkering, and the Captains course, which is a more open links style course with strategic bunkers and water hazards.
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6 Niemur Street, Barham, New South Wales
Ph 03 5453 2159
Par 73;
The Barham Golf and Country Club has a superb 18 hole, par 73, well established Championship course, that features, water hazards, bunkers, driving range magnificent grass greens. With the recent addition of new 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 9th holes plus new 4th and 6th Greens and driving range, designed by Ross C Watson and constructed by Turnpoint Constructions, this course now compares with some of the best courses along the Murray.
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Murray Downs Golf & Country Club Resort (public)
Moulamein Road, Murray Downs, New South Wales
Ph 03 5033 1427
Par 72; 6,197 metres
Murray Downs is a resort style course currently ranked 53 in the top 100 courses in Australia. The large greens and wide fairways mixed with lakes and contoured bunkers of red river sand provide a challenge to the experienced golfer and an enjoyable experience for the beginner. The fifth hole is a challenging par 3 featuring a water carry to a large undulating green surrounded by three strategic bunkers.
Cobram-Barooga Golf Club (public)
Golf Course Road, Barooga, New South Wales
Ph 03 5873 4304
Old course: par 72; 6,186 metres
West course: par 72; 6,287 metres
Cobram-Barooga features two championship layouts, the Old and the West. The Old is a traditional layout featuring large established trees lining the fairways, slick greens and is well bunkered - none more so than the twelfth green, which is surrounded by sand. The West course is more open than the Old and features more water hazards, sculptured approaches and large greens.
Rich River Golf Club Resort (public)
24 Lane, Moama, New South Wales
Ph 03 5482 4092
East course: par 72; 6,044 metres
West course: par 72; 6,183 metres
Located close to Echuca on the Murray River, Rich River is an established 36 hole resort course. The East course offers a rugged links style challenge, with the par 5 eighteenth hole a fitting finish to the round as it requires a good tee shot and approach to avoid the trees and water that flank the fairway. The green is also well protected by water and bunkers. The West course is a more traditional layout typified by tall gum trees and small tricky greens. Both courses bring water into play on a number of holes.
Corowa
Hume Street, Corowa, New South Wales
Ph 02 6033 1466
Old course: par 72; 6,037 metres
East course: par 73; 6504 metres
West course:par 73; 6327 metres
A 27-hole complex of three nines, with holes numbered 1 to 27. The original course along the river has feel-good charm. Watch out for the par five featuring long-leaf pines and striking river gums. Its a true three-shot hole. Al Howard added another nine in the early 80s, giving even more variety to the course. A series of doglegs on the early holes makes it difficult to pick the preferred line on tee shots, without some help from locals.
Commercial Albury
North Street, Albury, New South Wales
Ph 02 6041 7283
Course length: par 70; 5,774 metres
Ideally set on the Hume Highway, the major transit route between Sydney and Melbourne. The clubhouse overlooks an 18-hole course that occupies rolling land on Alburys north-west outskirts. A number of blind drives over fairway elevations feature, while a small stream dominates play on the flatter holes. The 11th hole is a cracker, with a concrete drain threatening shots swinging right from the tee and on approach to the green.
Coomealla
Kookaburra Drive, Dareton, New South Wales
Ph 03 5027 4517
Course length: par 72; 6,250 metres
Anyone trying shortcuts at Coomealla will rack up big numbers. Fairways are lined with box gums that severely punish off-line shots. Locals call it the Coomealla clatter, as ball after ball cannons into the timber. Its a course that rewards straight hitting like few others. This is the one and only layout of Ross Putland, who went out of his way to incorporate the usually dry creek bed, as a natural hazard fronting about five greens.
Mildura Golf Club
Twelfth Street, Mildura
Ph 03 5023 1147
Course length: par 72; 6,011 metres
Kikuyu fairways are lined by pines, date palms and native scrub. The relatively flat course is well-maintained with good lies all-year round. A tough set of finishing holes culminate in the 205-metre par-three 18th. The elevated green is protected by bunkers and mounding. This is a definite swing hole with a few dollars riding on the outcome.
