Golf – The Murray
Forming the border between Victoria and New South Wales, the Murray River is a boating, fishing and golfing haven. The region stretches from Albury in the east to Mildura, the capital of Sunraysia. Short trips between towns are advised to link everything together. Many golf venues offer attractive play and stay packages that represent terrific value for money. Australian Sports Hall of Fame legend and well-known architect Peter Thomson put his stamp on several courses in the region. And there's no better way to toast a low round than to sample product from local wineries.
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North Street, Albury
Ph 02 6057 2000
Course length: 5774 metres, par: 70
Ideally positioned on the Hume Highway, the major transit route between Sydney and Melbourne. The reinvigorated clubhouse overlooks an 18-hole course that occupies rolling landscape on the northwest edge of town. There are a number of blind drives over fairway elevations. A rivulet providing storm water run-off dominates play on the flatter holes. The eleventh hole is a cracker with the concrete drain threatening shots turning right from the tee and on the approach to the green.
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Rich River Golf Club
Twenty Four Lane, Moama
03 5481 3333
West course length: 6183 metres, par: 72
East course length: 6131 metres, par 72
What Peter Thomson achieved at Moama put Rich River on the map as a place to take the clubs. Most regulars prefer tackling the more established West course but the more modern East course is a better test of a player's ability. The round starts and finishes with a monster par five covering well over 500 metres. No less than eleven bunkers protect the fairway and green on the home hole.
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Golf Course Road, Barooga
Ph 03 5873 4372
Old course length: 6176 metres, par: 72
West course length: 6287 metres, par: 72
The more mature Old course is the pick of the neighbouring layouts on the northern bank of the Murray. Across the road is the much younger West course that will provide even more of a challenge once the trees grow up and become more menacing. Number 13 is a Redan hole, a design feature first introduced at North Berwick on the links of Scotland.
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Corowa Road, Tocumwal
Ph 1800 631 197
Captains course length: 6272 metres, par: 72
Presidents course length: 6066 metres, par 72
Both courses offer contrasting sets of nine holes contained between giant river gums. Arguably the prettiest hole is the last on the Captains course, a sweeping dogleg that veers sharply to the right in the landing area. Bunkering in this part of the world is quite unique. The sand is a spectacular ochre colour and really stands out from a distance. In an earlier life during WW11 the Presidents course was a top-secret airstrip used to test RAAF bombers.
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Weir Road, Mulwala
Ph 03 5744 3983
Murray course length: 6085 metres, par: 72
Lake course length: 5957 metres, par: 72
Executive course length: 2246 metres, par: 33
Golfers taking aim on the fifth hole of the Murray course need to avoid inland Australia's grandest water hazard. Anything wide of the river gums in the left rough dives head first into a fast flowing reach of the Murray River. This signature par five of 470 metres has a fairway centreline with a natural hogsback most of the way to the elevated green. Five-times British Open champion Peter Thomson and his former business partner Mike Wolveridge masterminded the layout that meanders among the sandy river flats and lagoons. The Lake course and the nine-hole Executive course complete the 45-hole complex.
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Moulamein Road, Murray Downs
Ph 03 5033 1427
Course length: 6197 metres, par: 72
Somewhat of a fertile oasis compared to the surrounding landscape baked red by the hot sun. Golf is the cornerstone of the resort that's a short five-minute drive from the regional centre of Swan Hill. The signature hole is the fifth – a par three measuring over 200 metres from the back tees with water all the way along the right and behind the green. The most exciting tee shot with a driver in hand is on 16, a dogleg par five across a water body set on a diagonal to the fairway.
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Twelfth Street, Mildura
Ph 03 5022 8089
Course length: 6011 metres, par: 72
Features kikuyu fairways 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 culminates 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.
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Silver City Highway, Dareton
Ph 1800 674 505
Course length: 6250 metres, par: 72
Anyone trying shortcuts at Coomealla will rack up big numbers. It is a course that rewards straight hitting like few others. Each fairway is lined with wall-to-wall box gums that severely punish off-line shots. The 'Coomealla clatter' is how locals refer to it, as ball after ball cannons into the timber. This is the only design on the resume of Ross Putland. He did a fine job – going out of his way to incorporate the usually dry creek bed as a natural hazard fronting about five greens.
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Park Street, Nichols Point, Victoria
Course length: par 72; 5,814 metres
The Riverside Golf Club winds its way along the Murray River six kilometres from the Mildura CBD. The sounds and sights of paddle boats and water birds surround the picturesque fairways and verdant greens set amongst the ancient River Red Gums. The old style country clubhouse overlooks the course.
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Beverly Street, Wentworth, New South Wales
Men's course length: par 71; 5,700 metres
Ladies course length: par 74; 5,700 metres
This golf course boasts lush santa anna couch undulating tree-lined fairways that wind their way around eight lakes, which come into play on nine of the course's holes. Tackle tricky bent grass greens, subtle contours and a true surface that will always reward a good putt.
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6 Niemur Street, Barham, New South Wales
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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Clubhouse Place, Wodonga, Victoria
Course length: par 73; 6,289 metres
Associate's course length: par 73; 5,326 metres
Championship 18 hole golf course located to the west of Wodonga's CBD. Clubhouse has been completely refurbished and is a contemporary, modern facility that will please even the most fastidious of golfers. Golf Carts, lessons and accessories available at Pro Shop. Home of the Murray Masters.
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Thurgoona Drvive, Thurgoona, New South Wales
Men's course length: par 72; 6,372 metres
Women's course length: par 74; 5,480 metres
Thurgoona Country Club offers the complete resort experience with comfortable accommodation, 18 championship golf course, 16 tennis courts, driving range, pool, spa, gymnasium and sauna along with bar, bistro, tab and keno. Only eight minutes from the centre of Albury this is the ideal place to relax and unwind.
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Hume Street, Corowa, New South Wales
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.
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