On Par – All about golf in Australia

Overview
Yarra Bend Golf Course is one of the closest courses to Melbournes CBD. Only 15 minutes drive from the city, the course is busy most days of the week. Part of the Yarra Bend Park, the course follows the Yarra River with holes following the bends in the river.


The par 3 7th Hole

The Layout
The Par 70 Yarra Bend layout isnt long, measuring 5,538 metres but what it misses out in length it makes up for in the need for accuracy. Whilst the river doesnt come into play at all, large gum trees line all of the fairways with a number of drives needing pinpoint accuracy. The clatter of golf balls into trees is a common sound on the course. The layout is fairly undulating with holes heading downhill to the river, then uphill towards the clubhouse. A number of bunkers dot the course, though they have inconsistent lies and are often unraked, but then they are a hazard!

Condition
Given the amount of traffic that this public course gets, Yarra Bend is always in very good condition. As at January 2010, the course is in excellent condition. The fairways are well grassed and great to hit off, off fairway is penalised by improvising shots through trees. Closer to the green, some of the rough has been grown deeper providing a nasty penalty for missed greens. The greens themselves are firm and fairly fast. There would be private courses around Melbourne that would struggle to compete with the conditioning of Yarra Bend at the moment.

Favourite Holes

After a reasonably easy opening hole, the second hole is a dogleg left with a partially blind drive over the hill to a downhill green. The drive needs to be just right of the trees gaurding the left corner of the dogleg. The second shot to the downhill green is tougher than it looks. Anything left is gone. Par here is worth it.

Yarra Bend has three short holes that all point roughly Southwest, following the Yarra river. The 7th is my favourite of the three, 148 metres to an elevated green, anything short will run back down the hill. Almost an Augusta feel to this hole (replace pines with gums!)

The 8th is a short 333 metre par 4 requiring an accurate drive (suggest dropping the driver to a 3 wood or an iron), the fairway is very narrow almost claustrophobic with the second shot needing an equally accurate shot to the green. Rated 8 for good reason

The penultimate hole at Yarra Bend has ruined many a good round. The 159 metre par 3 sits on the side of a hill with a steep drop to the right of the green. Anything right will kick down the hill and most likely finish under a large tree! Long or left of the green can take advantage of a friendly kick off down to the green.

The Word
Yarra Bend has always been a favourite track for a round of golf after work. Ive blogged about a few rounds played at the course recently and raved about the condition of the course. The summer twilight green fee deal is also a bargain, nothing better than 18 holes at ‘the bend’ on a balmy summers evening. Yarra Bend will never make the list of Top 100 courses in the country, but its a great public course and well worth the visit. Best value golf in Melbourne

Course details
Yarra Bend Golf Course
- Par 70
- 5,538 metres
- Address: Yarra Bend Road, Melbourne
- Proshop: (03) 9481 3729
- Bookings and Green Fees