The Murray Downs 2024 Review
When you are travelling along the Murray, you see billboards advertising Murray Downs as “the Murray’s Best”. You might think that is a statement up for debate with some of the more eastern courses along the river pushing forward their bragging rights. However after you play there and the conversion happened by my third hole, this is the best course along the Murray. Also it is not even close!
A history linked to Swan Hill
Murray Downs is actually the name of the large sheep property on the NSW side of the river that had been operated by Kidman Reid since the 1860’s. Work began on a new golf course during the Norman inspired golf boom in October 1988 and the course was open in March 1991. Ted Parslow, the designer who also designed Rich River, Gailes in Queensland and Gungahlin Lakes in Canberra, worked on the basis that there should be an individual strategy for the hole from each tee whether it be the blacks or the reds.
Your golf experience at Murray Downs starts when you walk through the passageway under the club house. Past the proshop and out onto the manicured lawns and gardens of the practice putting and chipping greens. There are nets and a driving range close by and the front and back nines radiate out from this area. You feel that you are at a proper country club.
Two different nines
The front nine starts off with a usual shortish par 4. At 316m it may seem simple but the layup tee shot must find the correct line to avoid waiting fairway bunkers. The next two holes are a strong par 3 of 178m and and a slightly uphill par 4 of 378m. This frontside nine goes through mulga trees and at times you feel that you could be playing through the Melbourne sandbelt.
The next few holes “up the ante” beginning with the 525m par 5 4th . It slithers it’s way in between bunkers and mulga and opens up to a well bunkered green. For good measure a lake intervenes in front of the green for the over-ambitious layup. The next hole is the signature hole of the course, the par 3 195m 5th. Off the black tees it is a long shot across a lake to a redan shaped green that narrows as it goes away from you. If you carry the water, you also must carry the bunkers that surround the green.
At Murray Downs you must choose your tees wisely. There are four sets of tees and as a guide only hit off the black if you can fly it past 200m (the course measures nearly 6200m). The next hole illustrates that with a large fairway bunker uphill from the tee blocking the entrance to a wide fairway. It is so much easier if you can hit from the tee and carry that bunker. The 385m 6th still has a challenge with a long shot to well bunkered green . However like a lot of the holes at Murray Downs , the bunkers are set back from the green’s edge, really only there to catch the badly mistimed shot.
The back nine opens up but also involves more water. The 10th is a fine par 4 dogleg of 350m which starts the circut well but the next three holes “seal the deal” when it comes to a final judgement of the merits of this course. The 11th, a par 3 of 125m is an exquisite hole with a tee shot to a heavily sloping green.
The slopes on the greens can be deceiving and difficult to pick up from a distance. My tip for a long putt is to park your buggy or cart level with the flag and check the slope around the hole. It can be difficult to see that after you walk back to your ball.
The 12th hole, a par 5 of only 464m may seem a birdie chance but options from the tee can define your success. You can try the more narrow paths away from the fairway bunkers to give you a clear shot of the green but the drive right must carry the lake edge 240 metres away! Closer to the bunkers and trees will block a fairway wood and you will need more loft to clear. Another heavily sloping green could leave you with some awkward downhill putts.
The 13th is a tough, uphill 385m par 4 where you will require height to carry the traps that surround the green. The 16th is a uphill par 5 that gives you an angled tee shot over a lake which you must decide how much you can take off. The 17th is a scenic 360m par 4 where a good tee shot can still leave you with tricky shot to a raised green surrounded by a lake.
As you came back up the hill for the last time with the 405m par 4 18th, you may feel the course inspired you to be at your best. You may not have succeeded but I bet you will feel exhilarated to try again the next day or at least soon.
Trying a bit harder out at Swan Hill
The country club and the resort has probably suffered from it’s perceived isolation. Too far from Melbourne or eastern NSW compared to the other fine courses around Yarrawonga I have heard said. But recognition is coming back. This year the course has rightfully returned to the Australian Golf Digest Top 100 courses and it will hold the NSW Men’s Open with Cameron Smith playing, in November.
But I get from the excellent service you receive from the proshop and the hospitality staff , the fine quality food available in the clubhouse and the quality of the conditioning of the course, that they are aware they have to work a bit harder out at Swan Hill. It is effort well spent.
We can put a stay and play package that includes staying at 3.5 star apartments at Murray Downs Resort or you can be accommodated only 4km away in Swan Hill. Another choice is to pick off Murray Downs from your accommodation in Echuca. It is only a 1.5 hour trip up there. Check out our itinerary ideas on our Murray River tour page.
