1. TheDivotMaker | Rated | 15 Aug 2011 | Add A Review

Played here yesterday for the first time in about 10 years. Weather was really nice so got to see the course playing well!

I didn’t mind the lay out. I especially enjoyed holes 11-16, on the other side of the road to the club house. They were, IMO the best parts of the course. Although the 18th is a nice finishing hole.
Some good shorter par 4s that can produce good scores if you’re game enough to have a crack. 9,11 & 13 are perfect examples of risk vs reward holes. Hit the drive properly and birdie or better is a real possibility. I hit the green in one on 11, but 3 putted… Good times. Miss hit the drive on these holes and double bogey or worse is on the cards.
No really long holes, but plenty of strategy required.

Course condition was good. Greens were good to very good and fairways were fair to good. The tee’s were in pretty ordinary shape. Most of them were bare and in need of a break from traffic. Thought the bunkers were generally pleasing to look at, in good locations that brought them into play, and they played well. The guy I played with is a bit of a regular there and said that the club has put a bit of effort into repairing them. All in all, $30 for 18 holes is probably about right.

2. Gotoday1 | Rated | 16 May 2011 | Add A Review

Played "the Goon" early morning on a weekday. Back nine is better than front in that there are more intersting holes. I like the 11th but always lose a ball trying to go the gorilla over the water to the green. Putting on the impossibly sloped 13th green is fun when the pin is placed on the bottom half of the green. Course was in pretty good condition, greens resonable and fairways firm under foot. From my experience this course copes pretty well in the wet weather and is only 30 mins up the road from Melbourne’s inner north. Probably a bit too forgiving of waywardness to be a true test but good fun course. Not too busy.

PROS

• Good in wet
• Not too busy
• Wide open fairways so you can really open up

3. Dan_Geroos | Rated | 31 Dec 2010 | Add A Review

Played here 31 Dec 2010. Fairly good course that had a lot of staff attention to maintaining the course as it is pretty exposed when the wind gets up which results in the fairways being very dry. Lots of holes have water features which makes for interesting play although they don’t make the course too challenging. Bunkers were poor with many overgrown or full of water. $20 for 9, $27 for 18.

PROS

• Good course with interesting water features

Cons

• Bunkers
• Exposed location meant that fairways and greens were dried out

Also Liked

• Woodend Golf Club
• Trentham Golf Club
• Growling Frog Golf Course

4. Ronk | Rated | 10 Nov 2010 | Add A Review

Stinger81, had a chuckle, your review is quite humourous. Dont agree on the pies issue, thought they were average, limp and contents were not the required temprature. However i will move on…

Played the course sunday just gone, apart from the wind really enjoyed playing the course. We saw some storms coming so didnt get the chance to play the last two holes but till then was wrapped. Hadnt played there for years, the par 3’s are excellent. Some rat kids im sure stole my ball a couple of times but id be hypocritical to have a big go at them because taking someones ball off a green as kids and hiding behind a tree and seeing the golfers bemusement at not seeing there ball where it once was… childish but hilarious, these are the things you do as a kid though…

The long par 5’s are challenging, and some good par 4’s where you can get your score back if your hitting them shizen-houzen (it was the winds fault)

Will happily play again in summer.

PS that hole number 12 (with the valley, wineries, and great view to the left) a sensational hole. Challenging on a still day id say!

PROS

• Great value for money
• Long
• Greens in terrific nick
• The glamourous 11th hole with fountain of life
• Could get good at this course with practice
• Heaps better then Keilor

Cons

• substandard meat pies
• balls going mysteriously missing
• the valley of DEATH on the 12th (if your a traditional hooker or slicer of the ball)
• the greens of LIFE

5. Biscuits | Rated | 02 Nov 2010 | Add A Review

Played this course yesterday and overall was impressed with the condition given the heavy rains of the past week.

This course has a good variety of holes. Really enjoyed the holes which incorporated water. Nice par 3s.
The greens here were excellent- private course quality.
Fairways were green but clay based and grass wasn’t of private course fairway quality.
The course was very green which is probably due to the wet winter we’ve had in Melbourne this year. Overall course condition was very good.
Paid a green fee of $27 which I thought was great value.
The course is about 15 mins past the airport. It was easy to get to on the Tullamarine Freeway.

6. stinger81 | Rated | 25 Aug 2010 | Add A Review

When my mates first told me that we were going to Sunbury to play golf I was a little worried. The only decent thing I had ever known to be any good in Sunbury was a 1994 VL Turbo Interceptor that had been rumored to have done a 11.4 second quarter mile down at the illegal drags in Laverton.
However I was pleasently suprised that the Sunbury community has built an equally impressive golf course without need for a turbo charged engine. The golf course is designed lovely with some challenging holes and daunting bunkers. The meat pies in the pro shop were some of the best meat pies I have ever experianced. On a negative note this course is a mud pit in winter, therefore next time I come back here I am bringing some bikini clad women for some mud wrestling.

PROS

• Good layout
• The greens were in impeciable condition
• A nice challenging golf course

Cons

• Crossing a busy highway during peak hour to get between the 1st and 2nd holes is not an ideal scenario
• Its located in Sunbury
• I cannot stress enough how disappointed I was that this course is located in Sunbury

Also Liked

• Melton Valley Golf Club
• Sunshine Golf Club
• Kooringal Golf Club

7. horner34 | Rated | 14 Mar 2010 | Add A Review

Played here Friday.

I think the fairways still have some improving, especially front nine but a good winter and they will be great but that’s only in patches, the rest was good. Overall they were nice to hit off.

The greens were cored so I didn’t get the flat stick out, my putting is bad enough.

The front nine is ok some good holes made better with some well placed bunkers. But the back nine was great. So many holes that were a heap of fun the par 3’s over the water and bunkers, flying the damn around the dog leg. I had a ball.

I will be back a lot.
I’m excited in the promise this course has.

Oh buy the way I only payed $25 for 18 midweek

8. cricketmstr | Rated | 13 Dec 2009 | Add A Review

I played this course for the first time in about 12 months only recently. Given it was a day after it rained I can take into account that the course might not have been at its best. But overall I was very disappointed, especially after paying $25 adult price for 9 holes mid-week. I think we got ripped off to start with or there may have been a serious error. It seems a bit strange how concessions pay $16 for 9 holes, a $10 difference seems a bit drastic. They used to have the prices clearly shown and they gave $2 back for returning the bucket, not anymore.

What really hurts this course at the moment are the trenches. I have no idea what they are for, maybe to prevent bad flooding, but they are strong enough to stop the ball when it’s rolling. They also often trail through key areas on the holes such as around the greens and mid-fairway. Although they are tolerable, they are very slippery as my mate found out when he fell on his backside into the mud! Hopefully they’re only temporary but a notice about them would be nice.

Also Liked

• Woodend Golf Club

9. seano24 | Rated | 04 Dec 2009 | Add A Review

played there today and loved it. Despite the tenches that plague the fairways and the random puddles of water, this course is in fantastic condition. Greens are lightning fast and run true and there is good growth around the place. I used to work here as a greenskeeper but have not been back in 10yrs. It definitely won’t be another 10yrs. I’ll be back very, very soon and will be bringing friends with me.

PROS

• great growth, fast greens, challenging layout, very well maintained.

Cons

• trenches in the fairway not grown over yet.

10. BarryW | Rated | 04 Nov 2009 | Add A Review

WOW…..Goonawarra sure has improved since last summer. With its new watering system and new lakes, its better than it previously was. I look forward to joining there in the new year.

11. Spindles | Rated | 21 Oct 2009 | Add A Review

The last review was correct. In April it should have been closed. But 6 months later much better. Fairways are back to their original quality pre-remodelling, greens good. Remodelling growth is doing well. All needed now is for top dressing on trenches to grow. Come November should be great. In a year will be fantastic.

12. Wookieanderson | Rated | 30 Apr 2009 | Add A Review

I grew up in the area playng this course on a weekly basis, having moved away I had not played it at all for about a year or so.

I was recently invited out by a social club and heard that the course had had some remodelling done and i was eagerly awaiting the new developments. What i saw was nothing short of DISGUSTING!!! this course should be closed until the irrigation work is complete.

Every hole on the front 9 had several mounds of Mud (a foot or so wide and a foot or side HIGH) running the length of each hole! It was almost unpplayale.

As a new person to the group I persisted not wanting to look snobby or precious but this was by far the worst I have ever heard of let alone seen with my own 2 eyes.

The back 9 had clearly had this work completed a month or so earlier but was still in terrible condition.

The positives
- Very few for a start
1: Extensive bunkering on the back 9 making some holes more difficult
2: lakes on 10&18 made significantly bigger
3: Lake on 11 much bigger need to carry water now no matter what.

I will be back because i love this course it was where i grew up playing but it is INSANE to be charging people $30 to play there even if it is a Saturday.

I hope the social group president asked for a refund as they had mentioned it before we left.

Any members here??

How do others feel about this??

Also Liked

• Growling Frog Golf Course

13. slyne | Rated | 07 Feb 2009 | Add A Review

I play this course on a weekly basis usually every Sunday! As i must say it is in Fantastic condition (front 9).. green fairways, nice greens… like it always has been, BUT DO NO PLAY THE BACK 9!!!! Extensive works have taken place on the other side of the road after playing the 10th hole. I believe new pipes are being laid for sprinklers and etc.. New bunkers are being dug so at the moment its abit of a mess. Alternatively you can play the front 9 twice as a result of the revamp of the back nine

14. acebuy1980 | Rated | 03 Jul 2008 | Add A Review

I play Goona’s on a regular basis (last time was 2 weeks ago) and i must admit everytime I go there it just gets better and better. The course condition is immaculate for a public course. The course is well designed, it makes you think strategically and good choice of clubs is needed. No problems in going back for a long time. Two thumbs up.

Also Liked

• Yarra Bend Golf Course

15. cpace33 | Rated | 13 Feb 2008 | Add A Review

This is one of the best public course close to Melbourne the greens & fairways are in very good nick the only down side I could find was some of the tees were not up to scratch apart form that it was a very nice course to play, I will be coming back.

16. billybassos | Rated | 12 Feb 2008 | Add A Review

I played this course on monday 11/2/08, tee’d off at 8am and was surprised by how many people were waiting behind me to tee off. This is a realy nice course, i can see why people say it is great value for money. The layout is quite challenging and doesnt realy favour the long hitters like so many modern courses, good placement off the tee is key to a good round, i often found myself reaching for an iron or fairway wood off the tee, a real thinking mans course. The only thing that detracts from the course is the placement of the public tee’s, in some cases in front of the ladys markers. Good bunker placement brings sand in to play off most tee shots. The fairways were quite long to protect from the current druoght which didnt give much roll off the tee but twere nice to play your aproach shots. All in all a very nice course at a very nice price

Also Liked

• Eynesbury Golf Course
• Gisborne Golf Club
• Moonah Links (Open)
• 13th Beach Golf Links (Beach)

17. no3jabbs | Rated | 07 Oct 2007 | Add A Review

I have played this course a few times now and i really like it. It is a real easy course with big greens and few bunkers and is fairlay short off the front tees but it is a good course.

18. parman | Rated | 30 Jan 2007 | Add A Review

I played this course in early January while on holidays and had a great time. Started out well, but the length of the course(combined with hot day) got me in the end. Greens were nice despite dry conditions and found the locals to be very friendly. Will recommend to my friends and play again next time im passing thru.

19. ajd100542 | Rated | 31 Oct 2006 | Add A Review

I play with a few hackers where we try and play different courses throughout Melbourne. Always on the look out for a nice track we played Goonawarra on the weekend.

This is a beautiful little course, where the use of a wide selection of clubs is necessary, most of all the putter. These greens are the toughest I have ever seen, if you can put here, you can put anywhere!

Don't get me wrong, they are as true as true, and I loved them, just my score didn't.

The rest of the course was excellent except thre things. The sand was...not really sand, difficult to find a level tee and in our worst drought ever the spinklers where on with pooled water on the fairway!

I will definately play there again, a very pleasant outing.

20. sumo97 | Rated | 11 May 2005 | Add A Review

This course is very good value for $24.00. Good, challenging layout. Have to consider your drives carefully and hit high lofted approach shots into the greens. Fairways are fair to good. Greens are a bit slow, but smooth. Precaution...Some holes look fairly easy, but can be very costly if you hit an errant tee-shot - namely the 240m short par 4 and the 18th hole.

21. chickens | Rated | 14 Dec 2004 | Add A Review

Just updating my old review (April 2004)

Played again just last month, and this course is coming along nicely - it has really blossomed since the club took control of maintenance, etc.

Still in very good condition, improvements are coming along - new pine trees to punish the slicers a bit more, and hopefully they'll get along to fixing those couple of wonky tees. This course has the potential to be a top class club, no kidding.

Very good course, great value at $22 a round!

22. korned108 | Rated | 18 Jul 2004 | Add A Review

I love playing this course. It's a course were you need to think your way around. Hole like the 7th can be a real challenge when playing into the wind. My personal favorite hole is the 12th, a very tight hole out of bounds left trees right, drivable if you put a good stroke on it. I would go have a hit around goonawarra.

23. chickens | Rated | 28 Apr 2004 | Add A Review

I played this course quite regularly (at least twice a year) over past 3-4 years, and always felt it had potential going to waste, as was stated in previous reviews.
When Spotless were running it, the greens were a bit dodgy, fairways were dry & patchy, & the bunkers were awful - some had next to no sand in them & some were hard as rock (seriously - I bent the shaft of my wedge in one).

First time I played there this year, in January I was amazed - the course was in absolute tip-top condition. Completely green, immaculately tended fairways, very good, quick greens, & and the bunkers were almost too playable, so vast was the improvement.

Now, on the layout - this course has always been regarded as slicer's heaven & a hooker's hell (the 12th & 13th holes typify this reputation - if you slice it your in rough/bunker/next fairway; you hook, your OOB at the bottom of a cliff). Now they've planted some pine trees (only young one's, mind) in between holes 1 & 2, which will stiffen things up when they grow!
The only other thing that needs fixing is some of the teeing grounds, which are 'humped' on some holes.

Overall, this is now a real good track, with the potential to become a great one.

24. ebebbe | Rated | 01 May 2003 | Add A Review

Given it's length; scenic views and interesting design Goonawarra has always struck me as a course that had a potential to be one of the best in/ near metropolitan Melbourne.

Sadly for many years this potential was wasted.

Happily now the course is under the management of the Goonawarra Golf Club and there are signs this potential may be realised.

Recent signs of improvement include - more sand in the bunkers and keeping the grass out; a better grass coverage on the fairways;quicker greens and the planting of trees ( albeit small ones) that will grow to penalise sliced shots from the first and second tees.

As the course is public access there is a need not to make it too tough - the bunkers are kept relatively shallow - as slow play is an issue ( the course penalises hooks severely and is long).

In summary, a fair test of golf on a course of some quality at a value price. Well worth a visit.

25. tapele | Rated | 02 Dec 2002 | Add A Review

Goonawarra Golf Course is quite a good course except for those with a hook... Virtually all the danger is to the left, particularly the par 5 12th. Out of bounds down to the valley all the way along the right hand side.

Some of the holes have a resonably hard surface on the fairways making the difficulty of the shots greater for avid, but hacker golfers such as myself and my partner :-)

Favorite hole is the 10th, a short par 3 110mtrs off the womens tee with an elevated green, guarded by two large bunkers on each side of the entrance to the green.

My partner prefers the 6th, par 5 reachable in two with a good tee shot (250 mtrs+) for the big hitters, cutting the left hand corner over the trees (slight dog leg left and the slight dog leg right to the green.

The course is under going extensive additions and anyone who has not played the course in the last few years should give it a go once again... The greens are in far better condition as well as the overall course generally.

New carts are also now available for hire.

Pro shop is of reasonable size with typical pro shop pricing... Advice is quite good.