1. engo | Rated | 30 Apr 2012 | Add A Review

Love the course, great fairways and bunkers. I’ve stayed and played it several times and it has always been in great nick. The wife and I played in a couple of members comps in feb 2012 and we were made most welcome.
The on course accomodation is very comfortable and friendly, the club house can get packed at dinner so get in early or you can wait a long time to get fed.
The next trip will be a boys weekend and im looking forward to it.

PROS

• Great condition, good layout.

Cons

• long way away

2. q-tip | Rated | 18 Sep 2011 | Add A Review

Measures 6197m Par 72 (black tees) with four par 3s ranging from 127-194m, ten par 4s ranging from 311-406m and four par 5s ranging from 457-525m. A few holes have tiger tees a little further back from the black tees.

I know the rankings of Australia’s courses are an imperfect way of measuring architectural merit, as Australian Golf Digest (March 2010) ranks Murray Downs #83 in Australia and #1 along the mid-section of the Murray River, but they are a reasonable guide to use.

Course has wide, couch fairways with medium-to-large sized bent grass greens with subtle undulations. There is rye grass around the the green surrounds with a mostly short tree-lined fairway layout. A very good variety of holes here with 80 bunkers on the entire course with water coming into play on numerous holes.

FRONT NINE highlights include: the 525m straight 4th (index 5) but the flag is not visible from the tee as the fairway undulates with 2 fairway bunkers off the tee and another 150-165m out from the green on the right with water 20-80m short of the green guarded by 3 bunkers; the 194m 5th (index 1) with a teeshot over water to a green guarded by 6 bunkers and the 385m straight 6th (index 3) with an uphill teeshot over a crest with a fairway bunker on the right then the green becomes visible with an accurate approach to a green with 3 bunkers.

BACK NINE highlights include: the 460m straight (but slightly split fairway) 12th (index 16) with the green blocked by trees from the tee with water on the right off the tee with 2 fairway bunkers and green guarded by 4 bunkers; the 472m dogleg left 16th (index 12) with water on the left to a green which plays slightly uphill from the end of the water hazard to a green guarded by 4 bunkers; the 376m slightly ownhill straight 17th (index 2) with 3 fairway bunkers off the tee to a front-right sloping green guarded by water rightside and short right and 4 bunkers and the 406m slight dogleg right 18th (index 4) with 2 bunkers on the dogleg with another 5 bunkers around the green.

Course access is about 5km south-east of Swan Hill on the NSW side of the Murray River. Swan Hill is a city of around 10000 people.

Played here 16/09/2011 with $40 green fees and although the greens were cored within the last 2 weeks I was impressed with the course conditioning and challenges which are amongst the best along the Murray River. Highly recommended.

3. ARN | Rated | 04 Aug 2010 | Add A Review

I’m just back from playing this course 4 times in 4 days. We go there and stay at the Resort next door with a group. Thoroughly enjoyable course to play. The only problem at present is that re-seeding has been done on the perimeter of a number of greens which can make for tricky approach shots.

PROS

• great layout
• excellent accommodation options

4. Muppet1 | Rated | 06 Nov 2009 | Add A Review

Played it last week in September. This was a HUGE disappointment for me had been looking forward to playing it as had fond memories of it from when it first opened. Planned to play two rounds here after one I decided not to play the second due to the condition of the greens. Unfortunately the timing was bad and the greens had been scarafied and not cut for some time (approx. 5mm grass on them) made the large greens almost unplayable due to the slow speed.
As for the rest of the course great layout, beautiful fairways but the disappointment of the greens didn’t warant the trip.
By all means play Murray Downs maybe the best course on the Murray but make sure it is in good condition before you go as it is along way to another course.

5. rockatansky | Rated | 29 Jul 2009 | Add A Review

Played it last week july 09. Course itself is in awesome condition (fairways tees rough etc) but i have seen the greens looking better. some were not very well grassed (rolled mud almost you could say) but at this time of year with chilly weather & frosts this has to be expected. Doesn’t alter the play of the course in any way though. Bit warmer weather & i’m sure the dance floors will be back to normal!

6. jimandr | Rated | 21 Feb 2009 | Add A Review

I can update the condition of Murray Downs after playing it last week.

It is an oasis in the middle of a drought-ravaged desert. All things considered, it is in very good condition.

The course itself is everything other reviewers have said. A terrific course.

7. themoose | Rated | 22 Jan 2009 | Add A Review

Top notch. A must visit if up this way. Green fairways and the water in the lakes is back. Great 4th and 5th hole (long par 5 with water at the back of the green followed by a long par 3 with a big water carry depending where the tee is set). Right up there with the best courses in the country.

8. gohawks | Rated | 30 Aug 2008 | Add A Review

Played this course last week, best value stay and play packages along the Murray – given that this course is the best on the Murray. It is currently in fantastic condition, water and sand everywhere. I played it 10 years ago and was pretty impressed, now it is just WOW.

9. rubs | Rated | 13 Mar 2008 | Add A Review

Played this course recently and rate it as one of the best in the land. The course was in perfect condition and looked extremely green considering the difficult times with no rainfall. The greens were true and fast and the fairways were in great condition. The lake bordering the 4th and 5th and the lake on the 15th have been emptied for water use. This course it very enjoyable and the staff were great. Can not wait to come down for another week soon.

10. jase27080 | Rated | 29 Jan 2008 | Add A Review

Played the course 3 weeks ago and it’s the best I’ve ever seen it. The fairways were green and lush (not one bad lie), and the greens were receptive and true.

A challenge for both the low & high handicapper, you’ve just got to play this course!

11. cradifrip | Rated | 03 Dec 2007 | Add A Review

This Golfers heaven is arguably the BEST in Aussie.I have played in every State in Aussie and no course beats the challenge and beauty offered in the red dirt oasis of Murray Downs.Once a year I enjoy a pilgrimage along the Murray River.It started with just 2 of us in 1995 and has grown to next year being 12 on a mini-bus.Each year we introduce the new inductees to this golf course and the comments are always WOW can we play this course again.You can have all your grossly Overpriced Resort courses on Gold Coast.Agreeing with the comment above best par3 in aus, Par 3 5th 208m Fade ball left to right coming in off bunkers on left but don’t slice there’s water tee to green on right.A lot of water around course with some big bunkers of river sand and lovely fast but true greens,Heaven on a stick,March can’t come soon enough.THE Bexta

12. ronrat | Rated | 31 Aug 2006 | Add A Review

They had the tees right back when our group of 20 hit it for a long weekend. Made for some very high scores. The greens were a little hard and I didn't see one divot but I played the last 2 days with out losing a ball. I walked for the 54 holes (and won't do it again) but the spas and bars were well used when we finished. Fantastic set up and the course layout was excellent. We will be back.

13. tigertee | Rated | 13 Dec 2004 | Add A Review

Yep, this course is everthing that the reviews below have said. Great for the serious golfer and friendly enough for someone who's game is developing without getting beat up. Loved every thing about it, even the sub-zero temps for the early birds where the frost builds up to 1/2 inch thick under your shoes. Just a tip here, tap off the ice with your putter before going on the greens, it will prevent a lot of indentations.

14. leemickelson | Rated | 29 Sep 2003 | Add A Review

This course is a must play for the serious golfer. It is a stern test without being overly brutal. Water comes into play on many of the holes however there is always a "bail out". The greens are large and undulating which emphasises the need to have your short game on song. The par 3 5th is a classic. It requires the tee shot to carry 200m plus over water to reach the putting surface. This course is always presented in immaculate condition with the fairways more than comparable to anything on the famed Melbourne "sandbelt".

15. andrew14966 | Rated | 19 Jul 2003 | Add A Review

Good condition & beautiful atmosphere make this course a pleasure to play anytime. Gentle sloping land & plenty of water make for a great challenge.

The 5th is a tough par 3, playing very long from the back markers.

Be aware that many of the green side bunkers are set away from the edge of the green by a few metres, so you often have more room than you think.

16. korned108 | Rated | 28 Jan 2003 | Add A Review

This course is awsome.

The fairways are perfect, the greens are true.

From the back tees it is one hell of a challenge.

This course has one of the best par 3's I have ever played. The 5th from the back tee is a huge 208 meters. Now it might not be the longest in the country but is all over water from tee to green.

For the not so brave there is a little bail out area to the left but you still need to be careful of bunkers. This course is a true test of ones ability and with cheep green fees. I'll tryst you will be going back for more.