There’s a group of 8 of of us planning a week’s golf on the Murray in April next year. None of us have been there before and so would be grateful if people familiar with the Murray courses could offer advice. In particular is this a good time of the year? Which is the best base – we would rather stay in one place but stay ‘n play rates might make it cheaper to move once or twice? Which are the best courses?

My biased opinion is base yourself in Yarrawonga/Mulwala. Basically 30 minutes to Tocumwal, Cobram-Barooga and other country town courses that you can play.

Any time of the year is usually pretty good, weather & conditions wise but April is a good choice. Don’t go there on public holidays unless you pre book becasue every man and his dogs go there then…..try mid week if you can.

Best courses – Yarawonga and Boarder Golf (54 holes), Tocumwal (36 holes) Cobram-Barooga (36 holes). Plenty of others nearby and just as good.

Thanks for this advice Francie. Have been trawling the internet a bit but it is hard to find info based on personal experience. Mid-week is not a problem as we are all retired. Plan is to fly to Melbourne (from NSW North Coast) and then hire a small bus. Some in the group have already suggested Yarrawonga as the base and even canvassed the idea of playing mainly there if the two courses are good enough. Would it be too cold if we left it a bit later, say May or even June?

Thanks again

Sorry – should have added to my post above. Would love any other opinions – biased or otherwise!

Brian the courses at Yarrawonga are quality layouts and you have 45 holes. You could certainly park the bus in the car park and just leave it there ! Meals are fine and the courtesy buses cover the area so you can enjoy a few drinks at the differant social venues.

Isn’t Yararwonga only 45 holes comprising two quality layouts (lake & murray) plus the shorter executive nine hole course.

That said its good golfing all the same.

Isn’t Yararwonga only 45 holes comprising two quality layouts (lake & murray) plus the shorter executive nine hole course.

That said its good golfing all the same.

Sorry….........Hawkers is correct ….........it is 45 holes; I got my numbers around the wrong way. I knew that but I’ll put it down to a typing error.

Brian, May or June will be fine…......some days start out very cold, (no cloud cover) but fine up to lovely days. Obviously I can’t predict the weather but as long as we don’t have a really wet year like this year it should be a good time to go as they say they get more sunshine than Qld.

Winter days are mostly great at the Murray, dry cloudless days fantastic once the sun gets a bit of an edge.

But it can go sub zero overnight and stay there for a 7am tee time.
Personally I think Murray downs is head and shoulders above anything else on the Murray. But it’s a fair drive to anywhere else from there other than barham.

Thanks for these comments. Will follow up on staying at Yarrawonga and make a later decision as to whether we will go to other courses. At this stage considering dates in late April. Any other comments most welcome.

Thanks

I think Yarrawonga is a good base. As has already been mentioned you have easy access to Yarrawonga, Tocumwal and Cobram which are all quality tracks.
Plus Cowora is ‘only’ about 45 mins away which is meant to be a nice 36 hole layout.
I should say that I have found Cobram to be a bit cheaper for accomodation but not as much fun off course in terms of places to get a decent feed and a few drinks.
If you get the opportunity you should consider having a hit at Sheperton, although its a bit over an hour away from Yarrawonga, it is a really beautiful course
As for best time, I think April or May would be good, before the dead of winter. Not too cold and you might be able eek a few more minutes day light out of each day…
A week of golf anywhere is bound to be good though

Another for Yarra, I’ve been going for 12 years at that time of the year.

Great golf, good club & meals & staff. Grab the bus to Yarra & enjoy the pubs each night.

I’ll be back there in April 2012…......if you want to travel Cobram Old is good, Toc either course & Corowa is great also.

Enjoy

Book early Brian, its not easy getting in to Yarrawonga. I have tried to book a few dates up to Christmas and have had no luck….Mike..

Thanks everyone for these insights. Will check back on this thread from time to time in the hope that anyone who plays and/or stays in the area might give a quick update on their experience

Thanks again

Each year a group of my mates go for a week long trip up to a golf resort on the Murray, in fact we are heading to Rich River tomorrow morning. We have been to Rich River(twice now), Corowa and Murray Downs (twice).

For me Murray Downs is the stand out of those 3, the accommodation is great, the club has good facilities with decent meals and the golf course is head and shoulders above Corowa and Rich River. We all agreed that Corowa was the worst of the 3, accommodation was average, the club always closed really early and the course was in good condition but was a bit boring.

We are heading back to Rich River this year for a shortened trip, since we were there 4-5 years ago they have renovated the club area and the 2 courses there are pretty good.

The only problem for Murray Downs is that it’s not really close to other courses if you want to play at multiple places during your trip.

I am going to Rich River in two weeks,

it is gonna be great

G’Day,
You might notice I’m a bit biased, but I do believe MDG&CC is the best course along the Murray!!

I use to live over that way and it was my home course, would I travel and play three days in a row, yes. It is a course with enough tricks in it to be a challenge each day.

I now live over Cobram way and am happy to report that all the courses in this neck of the woods, Yarrawonga, Cobram-Barooga, and Toc are all in really good nick.

Whatever you choose I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Regards
MD

We have considered Murray Downs but as has been pointed out, its not close to others and is a fair bit further away. At this stage we look like basing ourselves at Yarrawonga – yet to decide whether we will play any where else. Tocumwall and/or Cobram seem to be the best other options.

I was on the Murray last week and I think Yarrawonga is the place to stay I stopped at Barooga and where i stopped was great but when I went to the club it was dead in comparison to Yarrawonga.

The golf courses at Barooga were in great condition so no complaints there.

I just think for all round conditions and golf in general I would stay in Yarrawonga

We have considered Murray Downs but as has been pointed out, its not close to others and is a fair bit further away. At this stage we look like basing ourselves at Yarrawonga – yet to decide whether we will play any where else. Tocumwall and/or Cobram seem to be the best other options.

Try “Black Bull” at Yarrawonga as well Brian, you wont be dissapointed…Mike…

We have considered Murray Downs but as has been pointed out, its not close to others and is a fair bit further away. At this stage we look like basing ourselves at Yarrawonga – yet to decide whether we will play any where else. Tocumwall and/or Cobram seem to be the best other options.

Try “Black Bull” at Yarrawonga as well Brian, you wont be dissapointed…Mike…

+ 1. Black Bull will be great when they open the second 9 but at the moment the 9 holes are quite challenging.

Do you know when , Francie.

Do you know when , Francie.

Mike, the last time I was there I spoke with the pro shop and estate agent. It appears that they have to sell a certain quantity of the blocks before they can commit to finishing the course.

My thoughts are that it may be quite a few years as they have a projected plan of somewhere near 4 to 7 years (I think from memory)

Do you know when , Francie.

Mike, the last time I was there I spoke with the pro shop and estate agent. It appears that they have to sell a certain quantity of the blocks before they can commit to finishing the course.

My thoughts are that it may be quite a few years as they have a projected plan of somewhere near 4 to 7 years (I think from memory)

2011 ISG Order of Merit # 2 Putting Champion – Long Island
2011 ISG Eynesbury – Handicap 2nd
2011 ISG Growling Frog – Handicap Equal 5th

http://www.gippswebs.com.au…

http://www.golflink.com.au/...

Thats a shame Francie. When wifey and I get to Yarrawonga we like to play other courses and Black Bull is good value. I thought they were well under way with the next nine. They might not be selling as well as they thought…Mike…

Do you know when , Francie.

Mike, the last time I was there I spoke with the pro shop and estate agent. It appears that they have to sell a certain quantity of the blocks before they can commit to finishing the course.

My thoughts are that it may be quite a few years as they have a projected plan of somewhere near 4 to 7 years (I think from memory)

2011 ISG Order of Merit # 2 Putting Champion – Long Island
2011 ISG Eynesbury – Handicap 2nd
2011 ISG Growling Frog – Handicap Equal 5th

http://www.gippswebs.com.au…

http://www.golflink.com.au/...

Thats a shame Francie. When wifey and I get to Yarrawonga we like to play other courses and Black Bull is good value. I thought they were well under way with the next nine. They might not be selling as well as they thought…Mike…

Exactly Mike…........there is a plan in place but you can’t predict sales. I believe the remainder of the course is “ready to go” and all it will need is grass etc but until they sell the right number of properties to fund it, it wont be finished.