RACV Healesville Country Club

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An opportunity arose to play RACV Healesville Country Club, which is part of RACV Club in Melbourne, via my new membership of RACV Golf Club. I was quite surprised to find access was not part of the membership, but that is another story. My friend James and I decided this would be a course worth visiting.

Entrance to RACV Healesville Country Club

Located around seventy five minutes from Melbourne CBD, Healesville is located in the Yarra Valley, one of the major winery areas around Melbourne. For beer lovers, Healesville is home to the White Rabbit Brewery, which is worth a visit.

Clubhouse at RACV Healesville Country Club

The course was designed by Mike Clayton and Mike Cocking. There is also a short 4 hole course, which unfortunately due to weather, we did not have time to enjoy. This is especially good for beginners or the family to have a hit on.

The mens locker room

Course map of RACV Healesville Country Club

Facilities available are quite modern allowing you to prepare in comfort before the game or freshen up after.

RACV Healesville Country Club scorecard

Unfortunately on my first visit some of my photos were deleted from this outing due to camera issues (long story). After playing again in September 2017 I have updated the first two holes and a couple of others along the way. This should be apparent with different lighting and fairway conditions.

Hole 1 – 328 meter par 4

To start the round is a short par 4 which doglegs to the right and plays uphill. A safety net runs beside the first tee to prevent balls finding the accommodation, which is a little off putting, but a necessity for safety. To the turn is around 150 meters, so and iron can be safely used, otherwise a left to right shot around the large trees are necessary.

Looking back from the first green

Hole 2 – 134 meter par 3

A medium size par 3 which plays up hill.  The green complex has a bunker slightly short of the green, which helps to play mind games on distance. The safest miss is short right, allowing full access to all pin positions. anything left has to deal with a large slope back onto the green.

Looking back from the second green

I had my first experience of playing golf in hail on the second green, luckily only small ice balls were to fall, bringing a nice icy chill to the mornings event. These photos are obviously not from that visit.

Hole 3 – 335 meter par 4

The third plays from an elevated tee, with trees running the full length on the left and most of the right.

Raised 3rd green

The green for this hole is raised on all sides, seeing anything slightly off line roll away. There are few undulations throughout the putting surface.

Hole 4 – 176 meter par 3

The longest and hardest par 3 on the course, plays down hill.  Slightly intimidating from the tee it is all about committing to the right club. Very picturesque from the tee box with hazards along the front and trees left and rear.

Bunkers and water protect the 4th green

A small stream runs along the front of the green, with a few bunkers thrown in to protect the right side. A large spine divides the middle, sloping away on either side to the edge of the green.

Hole 5 – 351 meter par 4

The weather cleared up, well at least for a while once we reached the fifth.  This is the longest par 4 on the course with a slight dogleg to the left. A ridge through the middle of the fairway has bunkers to the left, which can be reached off the tee. Unfortunately our group hit in the wrong direction from the tee as it is shared with the seventh. I will blame my playing partner for that as he was first to hit.  Not only did he miss the seventh fairway but had absolutely no shot to come back once we discovered the issue.

Narrow 5th green

This green is quite long and narrow and built into the slope of the land.  The left has large slopes leading away from the green, whilst the front sees almost a false front. A bunker is located to the right, but the main issue is trying to hit the putting surface, which has gentle slopes throughout. This was one of the best designed holes on the course and was a true challenge.

Hole 6 – 302 meter par 4

The first of the five short par 4 holes, measuring around 300 meters or less. Definitely one where there is risk reward value. Tree lined along the right side, the left opens up quite a bit, with a bunker located left, along with a few scattered trees which sees the fairway narrow around 100 meters out.  Hit beyond these and there is an open expanse of fairway, but not the correct line to the green.

Another narrow green at the 6th

The ideal line to the green would be center of fairway or right, as this is a long narrow surface. Anything left off the tee sees a smaller target area to hit, with a solitary pot to navigate. There are some small undulations to cater with on the putting surface.

Hole 7 – 348 meter par 4

By far the hardest on course, this hole plays much longer than it suggests, as it is all up hill.  The hole has a slight curve to the right, with dense trees lining the left and a narrow tree line up the right.  Hitting the fairway here is critical and if you can stay to the right. making the hole shorter.

Large 7th green

The putting surface on the 7th is quite large, but tricky at the same time.  Large undulations are found either side through the middle, seeing the green slope back towards the front, or sloping away towards the rear. A par here is well earned.

Hole 8 – 423 meter par 5

Playing from an elevated tee, the longest par 5 on the course is definitely reachable in two. The fairway slopes in towards the middle from either side of this tree lined fairway. A large bunker is the main obstacle located on the right of the fairway, which is the shortest route to reaching the green.

Crucial decision on the 8th fairway

From the fairway you have the big decision to make. Those long enough can attempt to attack the hole and reach the green, which has water running along the length and bunkers towards the rear. There is the option to play to the right of the water to large landing area, which leave a pitch back to the green, or play to the left on the fairway leading up to the putting surface. This is much narrower to find however.

Long narrow 8th green

Another green which is quite narrow and long, but has some tricky undulations. Those laying up to the safe area to pitch into the green, can face having to deal with tricky pin positions, especially if on the ridge towards the rear. Very impressed with the green complex, especially on how it deals with the different lines coming in from the approach.

Looking back along the 8th hole

Hole 9 – 287 meter par 4

Another short par 4 finishes off the front nine. The ground along the fairway slopes slightly down to the green and also towards the right. Trees lining either side are in play as well as a fairway bunker located to the left. Finding this would leave an awkward approach shot.

The 9th green

The green has been built into the slope of the land, leaving a large bunker located on the right.  A strong false front is also encountered repelling any approach not quite getting the right length.

Hole Marker and pin flag

Hole 10 – 130 meter par 3

Starting the back nine is a medium length par 3, where play is over a gully. It is also where the weather turned bad again for a few holes, with quite heavy rain. This hole has three large bunkers protecting both sides of the green. Anything slightly short will roll back down the hill leaving a pitch shot back up the hill.

Quite large 10th green

There is plenty of the putting surface to land your tee shot, the big question is will it be in the right portion of the green. I had the agony of watching my ball spin back and roll down slope in the middle of the green, leaving a very long putt to the rear. The front of the green is quite narrow, with it opening up the further you move towards the back.

Hole 11 – 163 meter par 3

One of my pet hates is playing two par 3 holes consecutively. Unfortunately this is what happens at the 11th. A longer par 3 with scrub and trees to the left and a group of trees near the green on the right, although the area just beyond opens up a little, making it appear a lot tighter than it actually is.

Deceiving Bunker on the 11th fairway

A bunker is located left and short of the green, deceiving the naked eye of the distance required to hit the ball. The putting surface here generally slopes to the right, but there are some small undulations around the fringes.

Hole 12 – 265 meter par 4

Moving to the shortest par 4 on the course as well as ranked the easiest hole, this plays from an elevated tee to the fairway. The fairway is quite wide but narrows slightly towards the green. This is certainly a hole which can be reached from the tee, but there are the risks.  Finding the trees will soon turn this into a scramble to make par. There are also a large bunker on the right approach to the green (which was either being repaired or under construction on our visit), making this a necessary carry to reach the putting surface in one.

The 12th green

A false front protects the front of the green, leading to a larger slope away down the fairway. Another trap also can be found left, protecting any pin positions on that side. The putting surface has some gentle slopes to contend with. A hole leaving you with a big smile or disappointment.

Hole 13 – 141 meter par 3

A hole which doesn’t really look all that appealing, but I quite like the design.  Anything left of the tee will find trouble and difficult to make the approach to the green, due to rough ground or the traps on this side.  There is a gentle rise to the green which angles away to the left.  There is plenty of room to bail out on the right leaving an easy chip.

Falling away behind the 13th green

The putting surface narrows towards the rear, at which point the ground starts to slope away, but is quite long. A small undulation is found on the back section, but overall, not much contour. Most enjoyable on this hole is the lines of play, being able to see what the correct line is and difficulties for taking a different route.

Hole 14 – 341 meter par 4

After three four shortish holes to start the back, we gain some length with this par 4. A medium length hole, this plays fairly straight but down a gentle slope most of the way to the green, although there is a slight hill half way along. The landing area for the tee shot is quite wide, although longer hitters might start finding the narrower part of the fairway.

The narrow 14th green

From the fairway the green appears very narrow, which doesn’t help with traps either side encroaching. The slightly raised putting surface is reasonably flat.

Hole 15 – 421 meter par 5

Playing the second of the short par 5 holes, involves another elevated tee. Big decision here is what side of the fairway to play as a creek runs up the middle of the fairway to the green.  Playing to the left is a shorter route, but is a much more difficult area to land the tee shot.

Marco playing out of trouble on 15th

Our playing partner Marco chose the wrong route, well actually hit too good a tee shot and ran out of room to be more precise. The only way from here is playing out sideways.

Well Protected 15th green

From the fairway, no matter what side you are on, a creek has to be carried to reach the green. There are some larger slopes towards the back of this large putting surface to contend with for rear pin positions.  A scenic hole but short hole, leaving you with quite a few decisions to make along the way.

Hole 16 – 125 meter par 3

Getting to the shortest par 3 on the course, the hole plays fairly flat from tee to green, with the exception of the part that falls away into the stream. A left to right shot is favoured here with the green angling away to the right.

The well protected 16th green

If you carry the stream (which you should) there is a large green to land the shot. The putting surface is reasonably flat with a small undulation in the middle portion of the green. Towards the right rear section, the green falls away down a gentle slope.

Hole 17 – 298 meter par 4

Coming to the penultimate hole, this has a slight dogleg to the left, if you follow the fairway. Playing over the bunker will shorten the hole but could leave you with difficulties in the approach if you land in the sand, or too far left on a hill of scrub. The right side of the fairway has a water hazard for half the length, or long hitters will have to contend with driving through the fairway and potentially out of bounds.

Undulating 17th green

The approach to the raised green must contend with a large false front, having any shot short roll back down the slope of the green onto the fairway. Rear of the green also slopes away dramatically for any shot slightly long.

James putting out on the 17th green

Hole 18 – 304 meter par 4

Play from the final tee is all up hill on this par 4, making it longer than the distance suggests on the card. A bunker in the shape of an upside down ‘Y’ split the fairway, leaving a few different sections to land your tee shot. Which section should you be in? Well that really depends on where the pin is, as another bunker sits at the front of the green. This fairway probably had the worst condition throughout the whole day, being very patchy.

Multi tiered 18th green

It is critical to land in the correct portion of this large green, due to the significant level changes in each tier. Being above the hole is definitely not ideal. A strong finishing hole to an interesting course.

In summary there was quite differing opinions on the course between my playing partner and myself.  James did not really like the course at all, which didn’t help matters when he played up the wrong fairway on the 5th-7th tee box.  That would be my strongest dislike of the course as it was a little confusing. Overall though, considering the weather we encountered, I felt the course had some great strategy on many of the holes, subtle as some of those might have been. One of the shorter courses on the top 100 list, the freedom of some wide fairways and different options available to play the hole were great. Quite interesting with the perception of Michael Clayton hating trees, as there were plenty of them on this course, so that myth is busted.

The condition was great in most places, considering the amount of rain that had been received, but there certainly where some sections requiring some growth. Certainly would not hesitate to play the course again if the opportunity arose. I was a little confused that this was a private only course however, not knowing how any course this far out of the city can survive without public green fees. I am a member of the RACV Golf Club and we do not even have access on a general basis. Interested to see how this pans out in the long run.

How to play RACV Healesville:

1. Be invited by a member
2. Be an RACV golf member