As a wise man once observed, they call the game 'golf' because all the other four letter words were taken. It's also an excellent way to ruin a good walk - the list of anti-golf jokes is practically endless. What's a golfer to do? Well, you could ignore the naysayers and stick to the golf courses, which Melbourne has on offer in spades.
There's the Royal Melbourne Golf Club and its
two courses, which deserve to be on any list of Melbourne courses. Is the East Course better - or do you prefer the West Course? Of course, you can take the best of both worlds and play the Composite Course, a combination of the greatest holes of both courses. The Composite Course was rated by Golf Digest as the sixth best non-US course in the world in 2007.
Hole three of the Composite Course.
For those who prefer a more casual atmosphere,
Yarra Bend Golf Course is a great place to wrap your hands around a club and work up a sweat. It's also home to a spectacular number of bats, which cling to the trees that line the edges of the course. Trying to hit them is discouraged but impressive if you succeed.
The
Eastern Golf Course offers a test of your short game, with an undulating landscape and a green that rewards accurate shots. The hills might be tiring but the course is worth it - in excellent condition and challenging for the beginner and expert alike.
The third hole of the Eastern Golf Course.
Huntingdale Golf Club, of course, is one of the most recognized courses in Australia. Host to the Australian Masters, it features tight fairways and is very long. Even with strong winds, Huntingdale is worth checking out (but if you're a beginner, it's probably better to cut your teeth at an easier and shorter course.)
This list barely scratches the surface of Melbourne's excellent golf courses. Got a favourite that hasn't been mentioned? Think one of these four doesn't live up to the hype? Share your thoughts in the comments - we'd love to hear from you.
