1. TheBigDog | Rated | 09 Nov 2008 | Add A Review

A hidden Gem of a course. About 50 minutes drive from the city this course although short will test golfers of all standards. The holes are interesting to play with some spectacular views. The par 3 13th and 18th are especially fun to play. The fairways are very tight and wayward drives can quickly turn into big scores. Whilst the conditioning of the course is no royal melbourne you will certianly walk away from a very enjoyable and interesting round of golf.

2. dandeman | Rated | 20 Oct 2008 | Add A Review

one of the best and challenging short courses around. on paper looks easy but playing it is a different story. awesome layout which feels like a mini augusta. its well worth the travel out to the sticks and play this great little course! fav holes 2,5,8,9,11,13,16 & 18

3. LadyDaiwa_aka_josh | Rated | 01 Sep 2007 | Add A Review

If it were possible, Emerald golf and country resort should be framed and put on display for the world to admire. A breathe of fresh air, picturesque views, but on top of this, a more than modest golf course even the serious golfer will find challenging.

In the heart of the Dandenong’s (roughly 45mins from the CBD), the golf course is located in the little known township of Emerald. The course boasts a 90 year old heritage, and unlike inner suburban golf courses where trees are lacking and holes are jammed packed together (resulting in rewarding stray tee shots) Emerald is quite the opposite. The skinny fairways and thick tree lines continuously puts your driver to the test hole after hole, and the challenging greens are placed strategically in order for your approaches to be pin high perfect.

Although not a particularly long course (interestingly split 12 and 6), the vast hills and slopes make it more than enough to contend with. I most enjoyed the par 5 11th, Mr’s Mac’s chunky beef pies after 12 holes!, and the entire entourage of par 3’s (especially the 13th and 18th). Though be aware, for the ‘weak’ hitters and faint hearted alike, make sure you pack your hybrids as you will definitely demand them for some of these challenging par 3’s.

An absolute pleasure to play, do yourself a favour and check out this gem of a course!

4. THEGREENMACHINE | Rated | 01 Sep 2007 | Add A Review

Located only a short scenic drive outside metro melbourne, emerald is an untainted gem that should be filed under “must play” for all serious and social golfers alike.

The fairways are thin, the trees thick, the greens small but above all else the aesthetics are more than just a little pleasing and the course never boring. Bring your mates who tink they are the second coming of Tiger Woods and it just may turn their flat track 79’s into 90+’s, as they quickly become: Tiger-in-the-Woods.

It’s hard to pinpoint favourite holes, on such a magnificent course, but if I were to, I’d say the post card-esque 2nd, 11th, 16th and 18th were worth the minimal greenfees alone and when the friendly pro shop staff serve you with a smile, it’s hard to not feel like you’ve gotten away with daylight robbery in paradise.

So don’t let the location fool or deter, if you want a true test of golf, without the dipleasure of fairways bordering freeways and loads of obnoxious staff-bag wheelers, take the trip to Emerald. You wont regret it.

THEGREENMACHINE

5. whiffo | Rated | 24 Jul 2007 | Add A Review

I was introduced to golf in the 60’s at Emerald Golf Club, had my wedding reception at the Clubhouse in 1982, remember my father as President in 1972, and my mother as madam Captain the same year.

I recently sojourned for a round after the passing of both my parents, and though I feel the “club” has moved on, the beauty and layout will trouble to be challenged by most courses in this country.

When we played in the 60’s, it was a short, 9 hole course, then, I think, expanded to 13 holes in the 70’s, and expanded to it’s current 18 hole layout in the 80’s.

Being clay-based, the fairway lies can be challenging, but I adore the bell-bird applauded drives, the necessarilly accurate irons, and the true greens.

The 2nd is the ultimate short-course challenge, the 8th is a hoot, the 11th is a hole from Heaven, the 13th (the original 1st)is a haven for platapus’ in the creek, the 16th is a gambler’s dream, the 18th is a classic par 3 finishing hole.

Visit this course and “enjoy the serenity”.

ALSO LIKED

• Broadford Golf Club
• Cowes Golf Club
• The Heritage Golf & Country Club (Henley)
• The Heritage Golf & Country Club (St John)

6. murphy | Rated | 15 Jun 2005 | Add A Review

Emerald Golf Club is a hidden gem. Located an hour east of the Melbourne CBD, it boasts some of the most picturesque holes I've seen in a golf course in this country.

The par 5 11th is my favourite - as you come over the hill after a long tee shot, you then hit your approach towards the green over a long valley, with the mountains in the distance providing a magnificant backdrop. The par 4 2nd is also a ripper - while drivable in one (for the long hitters), the pond right at the front makes it a big gamble. A couple of the par 3s are also special - while I'm usually a bit miffed with a par 3 to close out the round, the 18th here is a long way from disappointing.

There is no doubt that my favourable impression of the course is based largely on its aesthetics. You can really lose yourselves in the environment and forget that you're only an hour from the city. But that is not all that this course has to offer. Many of the fairways are tight and the greens small, making precision play a must. There are numerous short dogleg par 4s which require you to place your ball rather than just banging it up the fairway. While short in comparison to most modern course lengths, it is a 'smart' course which will punish you if you're off your game.

Unfit golfers be warned - this course is very hilly - your calves will know they've played a decent game by day's end. But despite the course's ability to tire you, it will also treat you to one of the best rounds of golf you'll find in a public course in this state.

7. oriongolf | Rated | 01 Feb 2005 | Add A Review

Emerald Golf Course is a picture, luring the unsuspecting Metro-Golfer into a true test of Golf, up in the Hills of Melbourne. The Course demands that you bring your 'A' game, for a wayward shot will be severely penalised. They have had a Pro-Am recently for which the Pros were all tested with some scores in the 80's.

Except for the 1st, 9th, & 11th Holes the fairways are very tight and you best brush-up on playing straight 3 or 5 woods or even Iron tee-shots...rather than Driver...otherwise bring a bag of balls...

Par Threes...are testing...the 13th & 18th cross over a severely sloping gorges with a creek at their base...

The 15th is a drivable Par 4 - but be warned - Take 4 or 5 Iron from the tee or a 6+ can happen real quick!!!

A 4 putt on the 16th green is not uncommon and can swing games with a slippery downhill sloping green...

My favourite hole is the 17th - with a row of Pines lining the fairway and a slightly elevated tee area to a tight fairway and tighter green - Not quite Augusta but close!