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the mighty murray
Waterskiing, fishing, lawn bowls, world-class wineries and quality golf at bargain prices – the Murray River has it all.
Just two-and-a-half to three hours’ drive north of Melbourne, you can select at least nine excellent golfing locations with ample accommodation options in close proximity to the course of your choice.
Heading from east to west, we begin in the regional centre of Albury that boasts a population of 100,000. The Commercial Albury Golf Club has recently seen some clubhouse refurbishments to enhance an excellent course that features tree-lined fairways and well-placed bunkers.
Next stop is Howlong Golf Club which has to be one of the prettiest courses on the Murray. Synonymous with its windmill and picturesque gardens, you will find excellent greens and some tight, tree-lined holes.
A little further west are the delightful towns of Corowa and Rutherglen. Horse racing fans don’t have to be in the city on Melbourne Cup day as this is also the time of the premier event at the Corowa races. The town also has a Federation Museum as it was here in 1893 that the Peoples Convention set in motion the first steps towards our federation
Rutherglen has many famous and well-established wineries and you could easily spend a day visiting iconic names such as All Saints and Campbells Wines, noted for its ‘Bobbie Burns’ shiraz. Early March also features the tastes of Rutherglen festival.
But back to golf. The Corowa Golf Resort is the home of touring Australian professional golfer Marcus Fraser and his family. Here you will find some of the best greens anywhere, especially on the newer nine holes known as the Front Nine. The original 18 holes play amongst some enormous river gums and is one of the longest of the Murray courses. On site accommodation is available.
In terms of its size and the number of players competing, the Yarrawonga & Border Golf Club could well be described as the epicentre of golf on the Murray. The resort facilities include a huge clubhouse, 72 on-course accommodation units, lawn bowls and 45 holes of golf alongside Lake Mulwala. Golfers can choose between the highly acclaimed Thomson/Wolveridge designed Murray Course, the Lakes Course and a slightly shorter but still challenging nine-holer known as the Executive 9.
Yarrawonga is a mecca for waterskiing and fishing and has a highly-rated tennis tournament on its grass courts every Easter.
A little further west is the 36-hole complex at Cobram Barooga Golf Club. The Old Course is the more tree-lined and you often share the fairways with kangaroos. The newer West Course is now maturing nicely and is the better conditioned of the two.
Tocumwal Golf Club also provides golfers with a 36-hole complex and can be divided into various combinations of each nine holes ranging from the tree-lined fairways of the Presidents Course to the more open links-style holes of the Captains Course. Many regard the Captains Course as one of the best conditioned of any of the Murray courses.
Due north of Melbourne is Echuca/Moama where the paddle steamers once flourished as a means of commercial transport. They are still there to take you on a sightseeing trip along the Murray.
Rich River Golf Club Resort is another 36-hole complex that also includes lawn bowls and on site accommodation with swimming pools. The West Course is more tree-lined with small-ish greens whilst the East, recently redesigned by Peter Thomson, has wider fairways and more bunkers.
About midway between Echuca and Swan Hill is the Barham Golf and Country Club offering on site accommodation and 18 holes of excellent golf. There are four new holes designed by Ross Watson. The front nine plays through tall trees and creek crossings and there are some very challenging bunkers, particularly around the 5th and 9th greens.
Heading west our final destination is the Murray Downs Resort at Swan Hill, some 156 kilometres from Echuca. Designed by Ted Parslow, Murray Downs opened to much acclaim in 1991. The course is noted for its design features and excellent conditioning all year round. The greens are large and there are a few heroic water carries for you to contemplate. Water is in abundance here and comes into play on seven holes, with the par-3’s at five and the 15th being entirely across the water. There are ample tees to cater for golfers of all standards and there is the usual provision of accommodation with swimming pool and lawn bowls.
There are visitor information centres at each of these locations so you have no excuses for not enjoying all the delights of the Murray. From a purely golfing perspective, these nine destinations offer fantastic value for money and you can be sure of a friendly welcome.
By David Worley
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