Golf on the Murray River

 

Golf on the Murray

The Murray River flows over 2500 km beginning as a spirited mountain creek deep within the snow-capped mountains of the Alpine National Park, on the border of Victoria and New South Wales. Travelling through what is sometimes referred as “Legends, Wine and High Country” are golf courses like Thurgoona, Albury, Hume, Howlong and Corowa. From here golfers and holidaymakers can cruise into waters that quickly transform into a majestic waterway, with golf ports all along the way!

A rich agricultural region, the “Central Murray Waters” await with the river towns of Yarrawonga, Cobram, Barooga and Tocumwal all memorable stopovers. Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city and home of the 1956 Olympic games is the closest capital city to the Murray River and Echuca. Soon you will discover “Swan Hill & Country” were Murray Downs Golf Resort is located before cruising into the authentic “Murray Outback” towns of Tooleybuc, Mildura and Wentworth. Before the Murray River enters the Southern Ocean off South Australia, you will have also visited the river ports of Renmark, Berri, and Barmera that all playing host to some great golf courses on the Murray River.

For some 1880 km of its length, the Murray River forms the state border between New South Wales and Victoria. Settlements in earlier times sprang up on both sides of crossing points, creating the Murray phenomenon, the twin town. Albury-Wodonga was the first; others include Corowa-Wahgunyah, Barooga-Cobram, Echuca-Moama, and Robinvale-Euston. Because New South Wales was the first state to legalise poker machines, great golf courses and clubs were built on the revenue from pokies, attracting guests from Victoria in large numbers. This is why most golf resorts in this region reside on the New South Wales side of the Murray River.

The Murray River is joined by eleven major tributaries, of which the 2740km Darling and 1690km Murrumbidgee river’s are the longest. Four storages, fourteen weirs and five barrages at the rivers mouth regulate the Murray’s flow. Five power stations in the Murray River Region produce domestic and industrial electricity for the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and New South Wales.

Legends, Wine & High Country

This is the home of Thurgoona Golf Club, Commercial Club Golf Resort in Albury, Hume Golf Club, Howlong Country Golf Club and Corowa Golf Club - all notable golf courses. The region extending outwards 100km from these Murray River golf courses is legendary in more ways than one. Once the haunt of the Ned Kelly gang and the Man from Snowy River, the High Country in winter offers its snowy slopes and trails to cross country and downhill skiers. In summer, bushwalkers, horse riders and mountain bikers take to its scenic plains and trails. These great golf courses continue to attract the travelling golfer to the land of majestic ranges, over twenty-five great wineries, fertile valleys and pristine lakes and waterways. Graziers, agriculturalists and winemakers have all prospered here thanks to the rivers, rich soils and temperate climate.

Timber was first cut from the Murray’s river red gum forests over 150 years ago and fast became a ready fuel for the paddle steamers which passed what are today some of Australia’s best golf courses. Today the Murray is carefully managed for timber production, and to ensure there is enough habitat for many species of bats, possums, gliders, snakes and birds that rely on the trees for survival.

Central Murray Waters

Today, restored paddle-steamers ply their way past great golf courses cruising into the Central Murray Waters with the fertile heartlands of the Victorian wine producing Goulburn Valley nearby. Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort, Rich River Golf Resort, Cobram Barooga Golf Club and Tocumwal Golf Club populate this region that is renowned for power boating, fishing and championship golf.

An inland water playground, the “Murray Waters” are a mecca for a great play and stay golf experience with numerous on and off-course activities. They provide for a tempting year-round holiday, business and short break destination and are a must stopover when cruising the Murray River Region!

The Murray and Goulburn Rivers once flowed westward, parallel to one another, before the Cadell Tilt Block – an uplift in the land surface – dammed them and flooded a large area north east of present day Echuca, not far from the home of Rich River Golf Club Resort. River Red Gums soon invaded this waterlogged region and formed what now is the Barmah and Millewa state forests. Over time the Goulburn River carved a new course to the south, while the Murray captured the Goulburn’s original course.

History tells us that Echuca’s long wharf, built on three levels to cope with the Murray River’s unpredictable and uncontrolled variations, welcomed over a few hundred paddle-steamers in a season, making it the largest inland port in Australia.

Swan Hill & Country - Heart of the Murray!

The Murray River is a slow passage. For its length, the Murray is one of the slowest rivers in the world. It takes a molecule of water up to eight weeks to travel from the Hume Dam at the foothills of the high country to the sea. Swan hill golf play and stay on the Murray could be idyllically matched to the flow of the magnificent Murray River – an experience like no other!

Our murray river golf resort at Swan Hill is nestled further up river from Central Murray Waters. A remarkable old bridge escorts you from Swan Hill in Victoria and into New South Wales. Here you'll find Murray Downs Golf Resort which that boasts the BEST Golf Course on the Murray River. Murray Downs Resort accommodation lies at this historic port in heart of the Murray River’s fertile agricultural region. With superb on-course Murray Downs Resort accommodation you will experience a stylish, welcoming township that offers golf travellers a warm Mediterranean climate and captivating mix of attractions, both historic and modern, including the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement.  Today resort guests can still enjoy a river cruise on the Paddle steamer “Pyap” or the “MV Kookaburra”.

 

Accommodation at Murray Downs

Whether you’re a golfer or not, you'll enjoy the peace and serenity of the surroundings. Accommodation at Murray Downs Golf Resort includes individually air-conditioned family size rooms, two bedroom units and self-contained apartments ideally suited to traveling Murray River golfers and holidaymakers.  Learn more about our different room types.

Read More >>     Book Swan Hill Accommodation Now!

As the earthen banks of the river glides past on your way into the Murray River outback territory, you realise how the pace of life was so different in the bountiful era of river trade now forever gone.

Murray Outback

Steaming towards the “Murray Outback” region you will visit a region of startling contrasts. This location is home of the Tooleybuc Sporting Club, Mildura Golf Club and Wentworth Grande Resort & Services Club. The Mediterranean-style climate, orange groves and vineyards lead you to the remarkable desert national parks along the upper reaches of the Murray River entering South Australia.

The “Murray Outback” region is noted for its abundant wildlife, native flora and aboriginal history.

Near the Murray River journeys end you will encounter South Australia’s Renmark Golf Club, Berri Golf Club and Barmera Golf Club and the Murray River National Park, which protects a large expanse of Murray River floodplain.

If your budget is something you must consider carefully then the Murray River Region is a good place to start a golf resort experience. Beautiful golf course surroundings, uncrowded fairways and friendly country atmosphere will help make your experience memorable and motivate you to visit frequently. If cruising and playing golf, it is only a short drive from one course to the next. At most times it is possible to step straight onto the first tee without the hassles of a long wait or booking days in advance.

It is wise, however, to book accommodation at golf resorts such as Murray Downs during peak holiday periods. We offer attractive golf packages that mean the whole family can affordably come along for the ride.

The experience of play and stay golf on Murray provides the opportunity to see and appreciate Australia’s greatest river and it’s unique landscape.

An exceptional climate all year round, the Murray River Region allows for some parts of this region to boast that they provide more hours of average daily sunshine than the Queensland Gold Coast. So it is easy to relax by the poolside or experience the great outdoors.

Whether you’re a seasoned golfing fanatic, occasional golfing hacker or humble beginner golf on the Murray at Murray Downs Resort in Swan Hill is a great experience.

Murray Downs Murray River Recipriocal Golf Clubs include Albury Commercial Golf Resort, Barham - cluBarham Golf and Sports, Cohuna Golf Club, Coomealla Golf Club, Corowa Golf Club, Mildura Golf Club, Rich River Golf Club Resort, Tocumwal Golf Club, Wentworth Services Golf Club and Wodonga Country Club.