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

Not sure why but I had a feeling I would hate this course but after playing there I can’t wait to go back. As a 19 handicapper, this course is intimidating but it’s great fun and a great challenge.

Get it right and you’ll feel like a pro.
Get it wrong and your scorecard will take a battering.

We played after heavy rain the apart from a few mud puddles, the greens were sensational and the fairways immaculate. The bunkers are something else – you could get lost in them and they are a real penalty should you go in. That said, the fairway landing areas are generous.

The rough has obviously been thinned out – it’s certainly not gone but our group found our balls on several occasions. It’s still think though and you’ll need to be lucky to get a shot.

I really enjoyed my round. The course is a great test of golf with a good variety of holes. If you can stay straight, you’ll put in a good score and I like that quality – you can’t just blaze away.

I was way over my handicap but I also birdied the 16th par 5, so it goes to show what can be achieved when you put it all together.

The clubhouse was impressive too. Our round finished around 4:45pm and we enjoyed a beer or two overlooking the course. The staff were super friendly and our cart was clean with complementary tees and pencil a nice touch.

The housing is quite close on a few holes but having played Sanctuary Lakes, Settlers is a million times better. The housing seems much more discreet and does not distract from the course at all.

The price was very reasonable at about $75 for a round with half a cart. Probably a bit expensive for me as a regular haunt but as a twice a year treat, I’ll definitely be back.

PROS

• Course Condition
• Challenging
• Facilities

Cons

• None really

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• Devilbend Golf Club
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2. fergmoo | Rated | 21 Nov 2011 | Add A Review

Played here recently, the clubhouse facilities and staff were great. The course was in perfect condition, greens are extremely fast and undulating which makes this course a real challenge. Typical Norman designed course, lots of deep traps and even deeper rough however the fairways are generous enough for most levels of player. Great value at $65 midweek, definitely worth a look.

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• The Vintage Golf Club
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3. riversdale_naga | Rated | 05 Jun 2011 | Add A Review

Copped a flogging from recent rain, which is to be expected seeing as though it was built during a drought to handle a drought; not to deal with a month which has 19 days of rain.

This course will no doubt rise much higher than its current top 100 ranking, but it will take some work. Slight design changes and drastic conditioning improvements will see a much higher ranking. The practice facilities are fabulous, but could do with an improved short game area.

I wouldn’t suggest playing here for anything over $50 until the end of the year, but after that, she’s all good.

PROS

• Has potential
• Good design
• Great practice facilities
• Amazing clubhouse

Cons

• Rain slaughters this place
• It Cranbourne. Expect typical cranbournians
• Could do with improved short game area

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4. GPJ_Longdriver | Rated | 29 Nov 2010 | Add A Review

Played Settlers Run yesterday in blustery damp conditions in the 2010 ISG Invitational Open (golf day). Found the course to be a very intersting links style layout, with a good variation of hole lengths and design for each Par 3, 4, 5.

I managed to use every pretty much every club in my bag which to me is always a sign of a great golf course, however I also managed to use almost every golf ball too (which I’ll elaborate on shortly).

Despite recent downpours in Melbourne, including an almost tropical downpour the day before) the course was in great nick, with fairways draining remarkably well.

The greens were evenly paced, with lots of swales and good design qualities, but in the middle of a dry summer they would be lightening quick.

The rough – Set foot off the fairway and the rough is not just penal, it’s a firing squad. Three foot thick grass set 10 feet from the edges of the fairways, is just an excuse to sell extra golf balls in the pro shop.

Our fourball, of fairly reasonably able golfers managed to churn though about 16 lost balls between us, which leaves a sour taste in the mouth, and isn’t needed. The course itself is demanding enough without the soul destroying, frustration building consequences of drive after drive only must missing the fairway and having to hit a provisional, as you know your ball is lost forever.

While it was an enjoyable experience, thanks mainly to my playing partners, and not my golf, it is a course that I certainly wouldn’t rush to play again, as I don’t enjoy losing wind blown balls that only just miss the fairway.

5. Muppet1 | Rated | 19 Mar 2010 | Add A Review

Played Settlers Run two weeks ago. Staff are exceptional and the facilities are first class. Not being a huge fan of Norman design courses I was plesently surprised by the course design. Stick to the fairways and the course is not too difficult but leave the fairways and reload straight away. Fairways and greens were exceptional with a good responsivness and true roll on the greens.
Only concerns I have was with how penalising the rough is – although the fairways are quite generous. The other concern was the quality of the bunkers which were not consistent and either too much or not enough sand each time I was in them.

Give it a couple of years and it will be well worth the trip to Settlers.

6. Francie | Rated | 17 Mar 2010 | Add A Review

I played at Settlers Run for the first time today. As I was unloading my clubs from the car a young staff member approached some others and enquired if they would be needing a hire push cart or motorised cart. He then also suggested to the two visitors, who had beers in their hands, that they would not be allowed to drink alcohol on the course.

A quick look in the bar and pro shop suggests that money has not been spared but there appeared to be a limited amount of golf equipment for sale. While we were waiting to get the go ahead to tee off I watched the young pro shop staff member with a towell going around to some bags and wiping the club heads of our clubs. (Now that is sevice)

As I hadn’t played there before I found it was difficult to judge how far I needed to hit to land in the safe areas. The bunkers were obviously at the areas of the landing zones so it’s very much a thinking style course. We played off the "gold" tees and as the wind was a fairly strong northerly, some holes could have been manouvred with a iron or fairway wood off the tee.

If I play there again in still conditions I will leave the driver in the bag a bit more.

Fairways were very lush which reduced the roll off the tee. The grees were firm but receptive with well struck shots but didn’t need too much of a strike to reach the holes. The greens are undulating with a lot of slopes, which allows for some treacherous pin positions if they were used.

Overall very happy with it’s condition and layout. Would play there again, if given the opportunity, but at $50 (with my golf group) I wount be rushing back every week.

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7. Hawkers2008 | Rated | 26 Nov 2008 | Add A Review

Played Settlers Run recently.

For me its a very in-Norman like Norman design. Its the only Norman course that I have played that is very sympathetic to needs of the less skilled players.

Its a very nice track with lots of good holes and yet its much less memorable than the four other Norman efforts that I have played. I think that its a course that will improve with time and it will be a good course to be a member at.

The fairways were a little patchy but that will get sorted out in time.

8. Rodger_Davis | Rated | 17 Nov 2008 | Add A Review

It is extremely difficult to shoot low scores at Settler’s Run. The greens were the fastest I’ve ever played on. They could be likened to hardened mud which had a faint tinge of green spray paint on them. In parts, you only had to breathe on your ball to see it roll 10 metres and off the green and into a ditch.

The rough was brutal. A shot which misses the fairway by a few metres is as good as lost on the majority of the course. And the rough is that disgusting knee-high weed kind, similar to that found at Growling Frog and the 13th Beach Creek Course, only worse.

On the positive side, the course was generally well designed, mainly on the back nine, with well positioned bunkers and some water. All the fairways were very good. The 17th and 18th Holes were standouts for me.

There still seems to be a fair bit of development going on with this course, particularly on the front nine. There are a number of roped off areas and some big mounds of dirt. You also have to trek through the aforementioned weeds to get to the black markers on a number of the holes. Overall you get the feeling that the course is only half finished.

If you like courses that are difficult and severely punish any slightly erroneous shot, this may be the course for you. The brutal rough, lightning fast greens, high price and incomplete development detracted considerably from my experience.

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9. MrNoisy | Rated | 22 Jul 2008 | Add A Review

I played Settlers Run not long ago, It was a little wet in spots but overall it was in great condition. The greens were among the best around for this time of year. The rough was penal but not overly so unless your way off line and in the hay. Bunkers although new and a bit soft are nice and fair. No real signature hole but once it has time to settle in i believe will be rated among the best in the area.

PROS

• Condition
• Greens
• Practice Facilities

10. ipwood | Rated | 16 Jul 2008 | Add A Review

Played Settlers Run today and was slightly disappointed overall. The course has obviously been opened a little too early and will benefit enormously from another summer.

The good aspects of the course were the greens which rolled beautifully and will also get better as the weather improves and the fairness of the course. The driving areas are generous and the penalty for missing the fairway or first cut is reasonably severe. Can’t get much fairer than that.

The bunkers are currently far too soft, particularly in the faces and walls, with any ball entering on the full almost certain to plug.

The one overriding feeling I left with was that although the undulating land lends itself to a nice track, there wasn’t a WOW factor or standout memorable hole that makes it a must return track.

11. codger7 | Rated | 08 Jul 2008 | Add A Review

I really enjoyed this course. After a few days of rain before we played, the new fairways were a bit soft and carts not permitted on the day. This problem will vanish after another summer of growth as the fairways will be mature enough to cope. Instead of the cart, we were given a lunch voucher each and the service and food was great.

Due to the wet weather and young turf, we had preferred lies, but this only came into play on the occasional low spot. The greens rolled great and the layout was quite good offering plenty of scope for different playing levels. Bunkers were well placed for risk Vs reward strategies and not over the top as some of these new courses tend to do.

Rough was not too tough and although a penalty, balls were usually found. Not as tough as I expected.

Has all the attributes to be a top course, just needs time to grow.

I’ll be back. It is definitely around a 4.5 star course. Easily the best in this region.

PROS

• Greens rolled well
• Well Designed Layout
• Variety of Tee options
• Very friendly and accomodating staff

Cons

• Needs another growing season under its belt

12. ajd100542 | Rated | 18 Feb 2008 | Add A Review

I played Settlers Run on the weekend and was very impressed. We had the opportunity to play through a corporate offer, and the $85 asked for was expensive, but probably not overpriced. The clubhouse is wonderful and so are the staff, but down to the golf.

As we arrived we where greeted by one of the staff, and his words still ring in my ears….”do not hit it in the rough!” It was brutal, once you are off the second cut, the bracken and long grass made it impossible to hit. I actually banged it out of the grass into a bunker to make it easier!

The bunkers are wonderful and soft, the tees and fairways are new, but still played well. The greens where interesting, being lighting quick in one direction and slow the other, however where all true.

I recommend people play this course, but do not go off the fairway.

PROS

• Lovely layout
• Brtual rough

Cons

• Brutal rough

13. bencam | Rated | 03 Dec 2007 | Add A Review

This course is straight from the Norman/Troon golf mould I saw at The Vintage. Main difference between this and The Vintage is the terrain allows for more creative flow of the holes which has been done quite well by Norman.

Like all courses in the area wind is a major factor in difficulty and the rough is just plain brutal right now. In chatting to the staff they advised the rough had already been thinned a little though I’d bet it will be thinned out much more in future to appeal to the masses and speed up play when patronage levels increase – it was very quiet when I played on a Sat morning.

All in all a worthwhile visit – just ensure you’ve got your long game accuracy tuned …. or pack plenty of balls for reloads !

PROS

• Flowing layout uses land well
• Large and quick greens
• Mutliple tee options cater for most levels
• Excellent Clubhouse, driving range and other facilities

Cons

• Growth still immature ... will improve with age no doubt
• Brutal Rough

14. Ifonly | Rated | 15 Oct 2007 | Add A Review

As I am lucky enough to work at Settlers Run, I had the special privellige to play the course prior to its opening in mid October 2007. Settlers Run plays over 6,600m from the Black Tee’s, and has 4 Tee’s on every hole to suit all levels of golfers. The most surprising aspect is the undulation of the land that Greg Norman had to work with. Settlers is a Links Style Course, and sure to become one of the top tracks in the Country. If you want to find the best greens, you can’t go past Settlers. Whilst Settlers Run is part of a limited residential development, the housing does not detract from the quality of the lay-out. One of my favorite holes is 17, it is a par 4 (287 m from Gold Tee) with a choice of laying up – or taking on the water and going for the green. The lay up option is flawed if there is no wind, as water lurks on both sides of the fairway. Settlers Run is a must if you ever get a chance to play it, there is not one hole that lets it down.