History & Course Overview
Yarra Yarra Golf Club is one of the most architecturally significant courses on the Melbourne Sandbelt. Designed by Alex Russell, the course traces its origins to 1926, when Russell formed a partnership with the legendary Dr Alister MacKenzie during his visit to Australia.
Over the decades, the layout underwent numerous refinements, but in 2016 the Club made its most important decision since relocating to the current site in 1927 — to restore the key architectural elements of Russell’s original design.
The restoration focused on re-establishing Russell’s strategic intent while respecting the evolution of the modern game. The goal was a course that challenged elite players, offered options and enjoyment for all golfers, and restored the architectural integrity that had been gradually obscured over time.
Yarra Yarra Golf Club features in several curated Melbourne Sandbelt golf itineraries, including the Melbourne and the Jewels of the Sandbelt itinerary, Melbourne Sandbelt and The Great Ocean Road itinerary, and the Melbourne Sandbelt and the Yarra Valley itinerary, allowing golfers to experience this architecturally significant course as part of a broader Sandbelt journey.
Renaissance Golf Design Restoration
To deliver this vision, Renaissance Golf Design were appointed to lead the restoration. Their work centred on “lifting the covers off” the course to reveal what had long been hidden beneath incremental changes.
Today, Yarra Yarra’s greens and bunkers are the defining features of the course. The greens are typically large, fast, and heavily contoured, featuring some of the most extreme slopes found anywhere in Melbourne. The bunkers are bold yet natural in appearance, blending seamlessly into their surrounds and playing an integral role in the strategy of each hole.
The result is a course that stands proudly alongside the finest Sandbelt layouts and is widely regarded as one of Alex Russell’s greatest achievements.
As Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design notes:
“Yarra Yarra is one of the finest courses designed by the esteemed Alex Russell and stands up extremely well in a neighbourhood noted worldwide for fine and unique golf courses.”
Services & Features
Golf Digest Ranking
Ranked 16th in Australia, Yarra Yarra Golf Club is consistently recognised among the country’s premier championship courses.
Highlights
Location & Access
Contact Information
Signature Holes
2nd Hole – Par 4
402m Men / 299m Women
One of Yarra Yarra’s classic long par 4’s, a long tee shot is required to set up a second shot to an elevated green.
Yarra Yarra’s 2nd hole is on of Australia’s best par 4’s. A long tee shot down the right side is required to set up the second shot to the elevated green.
The difficult second shot, played from a downslope, will require a decision on whether to attempt to carry the bunkers 40 metres short of the green or to lay-up. Bunkers are situated left and right of the green.
Golf.com rated the 2nd hole at Yarra Yarra in the Top 500 holes in the world.
“One of my favourite holes in golf. Love the little contour that steers a left-centre drive further left to make you go over the big mound of bunkers with your second.”
Tom Doak – Renaissance Golf Design
11th Hole – Par 3
168m Men / 136m Women
Yarra Yarra’s signature hole provides one of the toughest par 3’s you will encounter. A long iron approach to a narrow ‘Redan’ style green means nothing but a perfect shot will do.
With three tiers on this elevated green, only the best putting touch will provide success on this green.
Peter Thomson once stated…
“11th hole at Yarra Yarra should be regarded as a National Treasure.”
15th Hole – Par 3
149m Men / 117m Women
A mid iron tee shot to a narrow green. The green has a big tier running through the middle, so the trick on this hole is to hit the tee shot on the same level as the pin.
Depending on the wind and the pin position, this hole can play short or very long. Bunkers guard the front, left and right sides of the green, with no easy up and downs.
Course Information
Slope Rating: 132 (Men’s) / 128 (Women’s)
| Course | Par | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 70 | 6144m |
| Blue | 72 | 6100m |
| Red | 72 | 5309m |
