I have been charged with the resaponsibility of establishing 'The Riverboat Open", a Murray golf trip and 54 hole tournament for workmates, reps and a few hangers on.

The ideal is to play the three best courses on the Murray regardless of location, a rigid stipulation in my mind, but one that I am tied to. Vic Public access rankings are the guide, although I've been told I may change a course if I honestly believe differently.

I believe Murray Downs is number one, but then it gets a bit subjective. Cobram Barooga Old, Tocumwal Presidents, Yarrawonga Murray and Rich River West all have claims. I would go with Cobram and Rich River (partly for location advantage over Yarrawonga too). What do those of you who are Murray gurus think?

I would go with Cobram and Rich River  

which would get my vote too... Although I can't claim to be an expert as I only have the word of friends to go on.

Golfgirl :wink:

TT,
I've played almost every course along the Murray, so I can help.

Yarrawonga Murray and Cobram-Barooga Old are around the same in my mind.

I agree with Murray Downs at number one in terms of conditioning, aesthetics and design.

Nightlife would be better at Rich River (Echuca) and they have 36 holes to choose from. Early TWP stamp (heavily) on one 18, and it's not too bad.

I'd forget Tocumwal and the Lakes course at Yarrawonga...

You'll have fun anywhere by the sounds of it.

Matthew

Rich River definitely...I think the TWP redesign is the West Course I think...

TT,

Concur with Murray Downs throw in Rich River (east) and Cobram.

Played all Yarrawonga (54holes) some 6 weeks ago and it wasn't in very good nic poor maintenance practices.

If your travels take you past Barham drop in and check out the changes... reports are very positive after some earlier hicups...

 

If your travels take you past Barham drop in and check out the changes... reports are very positive after some earlier hicups...

hiccups...try a full blooded choke. The course need to have the Heimlich Maneuver initiated !

ttitheridge

,
<startoftravelplug>
Mate if you need a hand with the travel, we will be launching our travel section very soon but can organise the trip for you now. Contact us at travel@iseekgolf.com if you are interested

J
ISG

<endoftravelplug>

TT,

I do an annual Murray trip with the boys and whilst I haven't played Murray Downs I have heard only good reports. After it the best two are Yarrawonga Murray which is one of TWP's better efforts and Cobram/Barooga Old which is good fun with a couple of excellent holes. Yarrawonga has the best accommodation.

Tocumwal is average and Rich River West the best of the two reasonable tracks there. Corowa is worth a look, particularly the original 18. There are a couple of holes at Tocumwal which reappear on the new at Cobram... who said you can't use a template :-)

JJ

TT,
 There are a couple of holes at Tocumwal which reappear on the new at Cobram... who said you can't use a template  :-)
JJ

There is one hole at Cobram that reappears at Commonwealth as well. :?

There have been some earlier threads debating pecking order of Murray courses. Intersting reading. Murray Downs was the consensus number one pick with Cobram Old just seeming to edge out Yarrawonga Murray for number two. If you play those three courses, not only do you get three good courses but an interesting mix of styles. Personally I much prefer Cobram Old to Yarrawonga Murray and I have come to the recent conclusoin that Cobram New is a bit underated. The front nine is routed really nicely thogh the back nine is a bit crap.
If you play the older 18 holes at Toc then they are quite good but unfortunatly they mix the nines up most of the time so you play 9 holes of the old course and nine holes of the new course. I know the members like variety but I think this is total crap and disrespectful the the courses-Very Disjointed.

I think it's easy to choose the 3 best and most have already mentioned them.
1. Murray Downs by so far it's not even a competition.
2. Yarawonga Murray, a great Course (Get the Curried Scallops for Dinner, it's worth the trip for them alone!)
3. Cobram Barooga Old.

Just thought I'd drag this one back to the top after the visiting Yarrawonga for the annual golf fest on the weekend.

Yarrawonga is the clear leader on the Murray for accommodation with two new blocks of additional rooms opening recently. They are large and well appointed and all open onto either the lawn or a balcony.

The golf courses are also getting better. The Murray Course was better than I had remembered and was in good condition. It is one of TWP's better efforts and whilst it is nothing extraordinary it at least is from the pre "signature TWP bunker" era. It's solid rather than excellent but is let down by some uninspired par 3's and the 7th, a short par 4 with the fairway bunkering at odds with the greenside bunkering. I've played all the Murray courses aside from Murray Downs and only Cobram Old is better in my opinion.

The Lakes Course had improved considerably from my last visit and was a pleasant surprise for all of us. At lot of work has been done on fairways and greens and it was it excellent condition. The terrain is better than the Murray with good use of the couple of little hills. Again nothing extraordinary but good fun and different in character from the Murray.

Best of all Yarrawonga is just awesome value, with a three day golf weekend, accommodation and meals all coming in under $200.

JJ

Course quality only, don't know about accommodation etc.

Murray Downs
Rich River
Cobram Barooga (old)

JJJ,

Glad they are improving the conditions on the Lakes Course. I never thought it deserved to play second fiddle to the Murray course as much as it has in the last ten years. I agree, the Murray course definetly rates behind Murray Downs and Cobram Old but along way ahead of the rest (although I only played Rich River once about 8 years ago.)

I'm there with you Jeffrey in the pecking order of Murray courses.

I think Rich River is probably number four.

I've played Murray Downs, Rich River (36) Yarrawonga (36), Cobram (36), all in the last three years. The Lakes at Yarrawonga wasn't too bad from memory, but not top three on the murray rota.

MM

1. Murray Downs
2. Cobram Barooga (Old)
Daylight
3. Rich River (West)
4. Yarrawonga & Border (Murray)
5. Yarrawonga & Border (Lakes)
6. Cobram, Barooga (West)
7. Tocumwal (Presidents)

Sorry, but another two games in September at Yarrawonga Murray has reminded me that this course is 18 tees, 18 greens, some fairways, gums and some bunkers. Nothing distinguishing about it at all to me.

I forgot, I havent played Thurgoona? Has anyone played it and where would you rank it?

Thurgoona is pleasant enough. Not super high quality design or conditioning, and the raised enormous greens get monotonous. But I'd happily go back if I was in Albury. I prefer Howlong. Shortish, but very enjoyable.

Jeffrey,

Tony is correct, Thurgoona suffers from having a lot of greens built on their own burial mounds. I played there earlier in the year and it was suffering mightily from the drought but at other, greener, times it's been OK. Not the worse course I've played but not something I'd rush back to. I'd rate it somewhere around Rich River East in the second tier.

JJ

I have been touring the Murray for the last ten years with a group of keen golfers from Qld and as most of them would rate the Yarrawonga Murray as a real treasure
I personally would rate the back nine of the Lakes course as the best challenge with the 12th hole Par 3 having one of the best greens I have played

jack

Murray Downs is a clear winner, IMO. Followed by Cobram Old Course (a real belter), and then you could raffle the others, including Yarrawonga Murray, Rich River, Corowa (at it's best in Spring), and even my own Thurgoona (although construction work on the grounds and clubhouse are a bit of deterrent at the moment).

JMO

Oz

Living on the Murray I have played a few of these courses recently and, most over a period of time. I agree with the general concensus on Murray Downs being #1 but then it evens out somewhat but I think Yarawonga (Murray) and Cobram (Old) would be next but if you do get further east give Howlong a go.

Short, narrow and flat but none the less a quality course.

I note the mention of Thurgoona. If you're going to Albury, play Albury golf club, far superior to Thurgoona as a course - Thurgoona markets itself better because of its affiliation with a Sydney club. Albury's greens are the best outside a capital city.