History

From its earliest days in 1898, The Yarra Yarra Golf Club has been a part of Melbourne's history. Then, members played over a rough nine hole course in Eaglemont (now part of the city of Heidelberg) dodging grazing sheep. This was the very land painted by Arthur Streeton in the seminal work of Australian art, "Golden Summers" (1889). Ahead of its time, women were equal members with men at its inception.


Above: Yarra Yarra members first played over land at Mount Eagle
depicted in Goldern Summers, the 1889 painting by Arthur Streeton
(of the famous Heidelberg School of artists) and typical of Australia.

 

As the metropolis expanded, the club was forced to move to its own land in Rosanna (1911) was renamed "Yarra Yarra" (in aboriginal language, flowing flowing") after the river nearby. In 1927, the necessity to find better golfing land led to the purchase of the present site in East Bentleigh.


 

The primary architect of this renowned "sandbelt" course was Alex Russell who, in 1926, had formed a partnership with the famed Alister MacKenzie during his brief visit to Australia. Today, it remains substantially the same as the original layout and, like all great golf courses, has stood the test of time.

Left: Alex Russell, the primary designer of the Bentleigh course.

Right: Dr. Alister Mackenzie

Hundreds of people attended the official opening of the course and Mediterranean style clubhouse in February 1929. Then and now, Yarra Yarra Golf Club presents a warm and friendly ambience in a setting unequalled among Melbourne's golf courses.

Left: The finished Clubhouse in 1929. The Professional shop's is under the flat roof on the right.



Many of the world's greatest golfers have competed in tournaments over the course- from Walter Hagen, "Babe" Didrickson, Joe Kirkwood, to Peter Thomson and then Johnny Miller, Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch to Karrie Webb, Anika Sorensten, Jan Stephenson, Rachel Teske, and Robert Allenby and Stuart Appleby (both of whom launched their professional careers from their membership as amateurs at Yarra Yarra).





Left: Robert Allenby, 1994 Australian Open Champion, soon after becoming a professional golfer.

And one of the greatest golfers of the 20th century, Gary Player, won his first substantial professional purse at YYGC in the 1956 Ampol Tournament. In the Foreward written for the Centenary history of Yarra Yarra, "From Eyries to Eagles", Gary Player said, "The prize money not only provided me with a big enough balance to return to South Africa and marry Vivienne but, in retrospect, provided me with the basis for a successful career in professional golf."

Today, the course still ranks as world standard. In Tom Doak's "Confidential Guide", a review of the architecture of the best courses on the planet, the four par threes at Yarra Yarra are rated seventh (and Yarra Yarra is the only course in this category in the southern hemisphere). The 11th hole (described by Peter Thomson as a "national treasure") is invariably in the experts collections of the best 18 holes in Australia.

 Left: Gary Player, winner of the 1956 Ampol Tournament


In February 2007, the multi million dollar re-furbished Clubhouse was opened.  The first-class facilities ensure Yarra Yarra retains its standing as one of Melbourne's leading prestigious private golf clubs.

 

Anyone who walks the fairways and corridors at Yarra Yarra, enjoys an experience with the spirits of those great amateurs, professionals and members who have gone before.