Best golf courses: Around Melbourne

Around Melbourne: the table below provides brief details about the top golf courses in this country or region. Each golf club has been visited and/or researched by Where2Golf. Click on the course name below to discover more. The course ratings below range from 5 highest, to 2 lowest. They attempt to provide an indication of the golfing experience you might expect at the course (based on its design, condition and surroundings). Hover your cursor above the Rating Key for the rating definitions.
4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Various

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Original design by Victor "Vic" East (1920); various later modifications by Herbert L. “Cargie” Rymill, W.L. Spicer (1927), Joe Kirkwood, Alex Russell, Alister MacKenzie (1931) and Sloan Morpeth.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Jones II, Robert Trent

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Melbourne
Thomson, Peter

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Peter Thomson, Mike Wolveridge & Ross Perrett

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
On application
Melbourne
Various

Visitors?

On application

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Several contributors have evolved the course design, including Club Professional Sam Bennett (1921), Charles Lane (Club Capt 1923-33), Sloan Morpeth (Club Secretary 1930-62) and Kevin Hartley (1992).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Wkends restrictd
Melbourne
Berriman, Sam

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Sam Berriman

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Cashmore, Tony

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Tony Cashmore & Associates

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Norman, Greg

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Greg Norman designed the 27-hole layout at this site (2015).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Marsh, Graham

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Graham Marsh

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Maxwell, David Myles

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

David Myles Maxwell

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Pacific Coast Design

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Current course at Lilydale (opened 2014) designed by Pacific Coast Design (lead architect Phil Ryan).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Marsh, Graham

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Graham Marsh

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Clayton, Michael

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Michael Clayton and Michael Cocking redesigned the existing course in 2009.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Rsrt guests only
Melbourne
Cashmore, Tony

Visitors?

Rsrt guests only

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Tony Cashmore in consultation with Nicklaus Design.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Rsrt guests only
Melbourne
Nicklaus, Jack

Visitors?

Rsrt guests only

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

A Jack Nicklaus Signature Course

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Alison, Charles

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Original design at this location by Charles "Hugh" Alison (1941). Subsequent improvements by Jack Newton, Graeme Grant & John Spencer (1998).

5-PLUS: In the world’s elite - has few peers; one of our top-rated 5s!
Not weekends
Melbourne
Soutar, Dan

Visitors?

Not weekends

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Original design by Dan Soutar (1923). Bunkering improvements by Dr Alister MacKenzie (1926).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
(Closed in 2018)
Melbourne
Cashmore, Tony

Visitors?

(Closed in 2018)

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Tony Cashmore

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
MacKenzie, J.B.

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Original design by J.B. MacKenzie (1908). Later improvements by Dr Alister MacKenzie (1926). Dick Wilson (USA) designed new holes in 1960 when a few original holes were absorbed by a school building project.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Perrett, Ross

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Ross Perrett

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Thomson, Wolveridge & Perrett

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Peter Thomson, Mike Wolveridge & Ross Perrett

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Thomson, Wolveridge & Perrett

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Original design by Peter Thomson, Mike Wolveridge & Ross Perrett; significantly reworked by Tom Doak (2019).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Oliver, Gordon

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Gordon Bernard Oliver (Scottish golf course architect who lived in Australia).

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Norman, Greg

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Greg Norman Golf Course Design (lead designer Bob Harrison).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Jones II, Robert Trent

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Robert Trent Jones Jr.

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Morpeth, Sloan

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Original 11-hole course laid out by Scottish/Australian architect Gordon Bernard Oliver (1924); extended to 18 holes (1926). Using only a few holes from the existing course at the time, the current North and South courses designed by Sloan Morpeth (1967-69). Later improvements by Michael Clayton (2001), and a major renovation by Michael Clayton & Mike Cocking (2017).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Morpeth, Sloan

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Original 11-hole course laid out by Scottish/Australian architect Gordon Bernard Oliver (1924); extended to 18 holes (1926). Using only a few holes from the existing course at the time, the current North and South courses designed by Sloan Morpeth (1967-69). Later improvements by Michael Clayton (2001), and a major renovation by Michael Clayton & Mike Cocking (2017).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Various

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Original design by Jock Young (1925). Extension from 14 to 18 holes by Jack Howard & Sloan Morpeth (1955). Later improvements by Michael Clayton (2000).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Clayton, Mike

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Mike Clayton

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Russell, Alex

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Alex Russell (1930)

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Unknown

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Russell, Alex

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Alex Russell, with Mick Morcom in charge of construction. The East course opened for play in 1932.

5-PLUS: In the world’s elite - has few peers; one of our top-rated 5s!
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
MacKenzie, Dr Alister

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Designed in 1926 by Dr Alister MacKenzie. Working with Alex Russell and Mick Morcom (Head Greenkeeper), the course opened for play in 1931.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Norman, Greg

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Greg Norman Golf Course Design (lead designer Bob Harrison).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Thomson & Perrett

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Peter Thomson & Ross Perrett designed both courses: North (2004) and Champions (2008).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Rsrt guests, O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Appleby, Stuart

Visitors?

Rsrt guests, O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Stuart Appleby

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Norman, Greg

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Greg Norman Golf Course Design (lead designer Harley Kruse).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Scott, J.D.

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

J.D. Scott (1929)

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Berriman, Sam

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Sam Berriman

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Morcom, Vern

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Vern Morcom

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Doak, Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Tom Doak

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Cashmore, Tony

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Tony Cashmore

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Faldo, Nick

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Tony Cashmore in consultation with Nick Faldo.

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Weekdays only
Melbourne
Meader & Damman

Visitors?

Weekdays only

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Existing course laid out by William Meader (Founder) & Oscar Damman (Club Captain) when Club moved to Cheltenham (1923). Bunkering improvements by Dr Alister MacKenzie (1926). Further improvements by Michael Clayton (2001).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Banks, Rowley

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Original design by Rowley Banks and J.D. Scott (1913). Professional golfer Sam Bennett completed the 18-holes three years later. Further improvements by Mick Morcom (1928).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
O/seas & I/state
Melbourne
Russell, Alex

Visitors?

O/seas & I/state

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Original design at current location by Alex Russell (1929).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Melbourne
Watson, Ross

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Melbourne

Designer

Current course in this location designed by Ross Watson (2008).

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Tournaments

The Sentry: known for many years as the Tournament of Champions, the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opener gets underway on Kapalua’s Plantation course (Jan 2-5). Chris Kirk defends.

Tournament of Champions: the LPGA Tour’s 2025 season is launched at Lake Nona with the their Tournament of Champions (Jan 30-Feb 2). The 2024 edition gave Lydia Ko her 20th LPGA Tour title.

Who's Who

Attahya Thitikul: also known as “Jeeno”, the Thai golfer won the LPGA Tour’s 2024 CME Group Tour Championship … and an eye-watering $4 million, the richest first-prize in women’s golf.

Rory McIlroy: scooped the 2024 European (DP World) Tour season-long Order of Merit title, joining Seve Ballesteros as a six-time winner of this prestigious award.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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