1. clubcaptain | Rated | 01 Jan 2012 | Add A Review

Played Ranfurlie last week. I had heard a bit about the track and was looking forward to the round. The course was disappointing. Very busy and slow. The design is questionable. Fairway bunkers were too far from the tee or so far out of the line of play they were irrelevant. They are nice looking with wispy edges and would look great in a coastal environment, but seemed out of place in the sparse farmland environment. A nicer and more cost effective approach may have been to have less bunkering. The greens have some tough slopes and pin positions which made it tough if you didn’t know where to hit it. My overall opinion was it was bland and poor design. I don’t need a championship layout to enjoy my golf. Just a solid pleasant looking place that offers some memorable moments. This didn’t meet either of these criteria. I never felt like I was on a golf course. I don’t know how it could be rated in the top 100 courses in Australia.

2. VH5150 | Rated | 03 Oct 2011 | Add A Review

Played today with no one around. Greens were cored and terrible to putt on, very bumpy! rained heavily on Saturday and some fairways were still wet under foot, but quite playable. Bunkers were in good condition. The wind rips through this course as the trees are few and far between. I agree with other reviews that the layout is bland with repetetive long par 4’s.Hard to miss a fairway as they are all quite generous, the rough swallows balls so don’t bother looking!Some interesting 2 tiered green complexes but not enough variety in hole design in my opinion. Doesn’t want to make me come back.

3. Golftime | Rated | 20 Dec 2010 | Add A Review

This is a good course but for the money you can play a better course with more a interesting layout.It’s a pitty that other really good links courses are so close.

4. Cash_Converter | Rated | 23 Jun 2010 | Add A Review

Thought I’d try to set the record straight after reading the Ranfurlie reviews on this site.

Whilst everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I would suggest that most of the reviews below are a long way off the mark.

The fairways are wide at Ranfurlie but that doesn’t mean you can just stand there and blast away, there are preferred lines in to the greens on EVERY fairway. The trouble is, to reach these areas you must take on some kind of hazard or danger. If you pull off the correct shot you are rewarded with an easier approach to the green. However if you wish to play safer from the tee and hit to the larger areas you may find yourself with a more difficult 2nd shot. The bunkering is attractive and thoughtfully placed. The green complex’s are fair yet have subtle breaks which are hard to read. The 4 longer holes all run in different directions to allow some relief when the wind is blowing hard and the par 3’s are all completely different and require a great deal of thought into what club to hit and where to aim. They make a great set of par 3’s. 2 of the par 5’s are reachable in 2, one has a giant tier in the green making the putt for eagle a little harder whilst the 8th green slopes away from the fairway making holding the green with your 2nd shot a triumph. The 18th is the only blind shot on the course yet is a beauty. The green complex on 9 is as good as they get in my humble opinion.

Sure the rough can be tough but as everyone has pointed out, you would have to hit a pretty average shot to get into it as there is a lot of fairway between you and the gnarly stuff, if you hit it that badly you deserve to be punished!

Ranfurlie is a great test of your golf, it’s unlike a lot of courses as there are very few trees yet this does not distract from it’s beauty. The golden rough, the green fairways and white sand, the course gently
rolling over slightly undulating land make it a spectacular place to play golf.

I would imagine that some of the reviewers would benefit from playing there with a local and having their eyes opened to be able to see what they are obviously missing.

If anything Ranfurlie is underrated, not over rated but then again, some people cant see the forest for the trees.

I would bet my bottom dollar that the poor reviews come from players who love Eagle Ridge. Each to their own, opinions are like backsides, everyone has them and some of them stink.

5. Josh12342 | Rated | 07 Sep 2008 | Add A Review

Its a great links style course it need better fairways and greens, apart from that its a wonderful course.

6. sasha | Rated | 03 Sep 2008 | Add A Review

We played Ranfurlie as a test to decide if we would join the club. The sign on the front gate said rated in top 50 course in Australia so were were expecting a great round and really looked forward to the day. The day we played the course was in poor condition, with greens very bumpy and weeds growing in and around the bunkers. The rough was short in spots and out of control for in others. A number of holes had bare lies 10 m off putting surface. the course looked scruffy and uncared for on most holes. The course layout is very boring, with every hole straight no variety.The par 3’s are good holes and the only enjoyment on course. The course would suits a golfer who sprays a bit as fairways are very, so wide its hard to miss fairway unless you go bad, so we didnt loose a ball, there is no reward for shorter straight shots here, which is disheartening.

The wind at ranfurlie is unbelievable, there is no protection as we had earlier at park course. at the end of our round, after we were wind swept and cold we decided to go into the grand club house for afternoon snack. we could only get a drink, not even a sausage roll. Despite the fact that members had played earlier that day the place was deserted. No way not worth the money to join here, there are better options. The course is lucky to be in top 150 in Australia. Massive dissapointment for what we expected would be a great course. definitely not playing here again.

7. leroy8888 | Rated | 10 Jun 2008 | Add A Review

Pretty much echo the previous reviews. Generous fairways for those mishits but stray too far and the rough will cause you trouble getting out (if you can find your ball). Condition of course is quite good now with soft and uniform fairways and true greens. However the layout is uninspiring and there are better options out there for the price. Worth playing if you haven’t before.

8. Shreksm | Rated | 27 Feb 2008 | Add A Review

Very exposed to the wind, quite a bland/boring layout. Rough is almost impossible to get out of. In a word demoralising! Won’t be back

9. scenicpeak | Rated | 12 Oct 2007 | Add A Review

Fairways now not so good. Rough is a hazard if you reach it, not only for losing your ball but also for snakes. The ball is guaranteed to bounce 10ft on the greens as well. Ordinary.

10. grnis200 | Rated | 16 Jan 2007 | Add A Review

I read the reviews but still expected more. But in all honesty, Renfurlie disapointed.

Although the course is in perfect condition, it just seems a little bland.

There are plenty of public courses that rival or better Ranfurlie for course deisgn and player challenge.

We played on the way to Cowes, but enjoyed Cowes much more.

NB: Friday afternoon and it was just drinks available at 5pm. There was hot food throughout the day I believe.

11. pauldavies | Rated | 28 Sep 2005 | Add A Review

The generous fairways are probably the best feature of this course, after that it's fairly bland. The 18th hole, howevr, does remind me of the 18th at Moonah Links (Open course), which makes it quite a hole.

The layout of the course is not overly imaginative and there appears to be no trees planned between fairways to break up the open expanse of land. The greens were dead slow, but very true and reasonably easy to hold with approach shots. Fairways are very good.

One major criticism was the lack of facilities. I played on a Tuesday and couldn't even buy food other than snack lines or canned drinks. Not even a pie or coffee. Might as well have vending machines and an honesty box!!

Yes, it's a private course, but it really lacked atmosphere in my view. Pleasant round of golf as we were the only foursome on the course, with just a few other singles or pairs. Weather wasn't a factor, but I'd hate to have a gale blowing balls into the rough. There are few reference points for wayward shots and the rough is tough. I know of several women who hate it.

12. tigertee | Rated | 20 Aug 2005 | Add A Review

Would appear as though the public are now allowed on this previously members only course. Incredibly generous fairwaiys with good grass coverage, rough is tough and greens good. Not many trees and hard to establish a reference point up he fairway to track down wayward balls. Bunkers were good quality although placement of some fairway bunkers was a bit strange.

Really enjoyed the holes around its perimeter, holes in the middle area were not as impressive; lacked imagination.

Pace of play was excellent, a refreshing change to the snails pace a Amstel.

The club house looks like a big ordinary BV house (that's not finished upstairs). The archietect could have dug a little deeper in to the inspiration section!

A little road signage would also be good.

Overall enjoyable, I'll certainly be back.