Melbourne golf: The courses that are not booked out this weekend
They’ve been inundated with bookings – but there’s still a handful of Melbourne’s golf courses you can play at this weekend. Here’s where you can still snag a tee time.
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Golf is officially back in Melbourne.
Scores of regular players have flocked to courses around the city since Wednesday morning to get their fix after coronavirus restrictions were lifted by the State Government.
Courses have been inundated by bookings – and many along the famous sandbelt in the south and southeast are off limits to members only.
But for casual players looking to get out on the greens this weekend, there’s still a bit of hope if you act fast and get in touch with your local club.
The Leader has done the hard work and ringing around for you – so if you’re looking for a game in Melbourne’s north and east, here’s where you can go:
OUTER EAST
Bad news if you’re keen to hit the greens at Ringwood Golf and Croydon’s Dorset Golf in Maroondah – more than 500 bookings were made in five hours earlier this week.
The courses are fully booked until Tuesday, but you can reserve your spot for a game from Wednesday, May 20, by phoning both courses.
Kilsyth’s Eastwood Golf Course is booked out for members over the weekend and into next week, with only a few spots left for the public to have a game on Monday.
In the Yarra Valley, Yerring Meadows had only a handful of spots left for the rest of the week and Lilydale’s Gardiners Run course is fully booked this weekend, but spots are available from Monday.
Waterford Valley Golf in Knoxfield has a handful of spots available on Friday, but the rest of the weekend is fully booked.
The best bet for golfers could be the Waverley Golf Club in Rowville, with a few spots still left for non-members to have a hit on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
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EAST
Whitehorse golfers will have to head further from home, with Vermont’s public Morack Golf Course fully booked this weekend.
Wattle Park Golf Club is one of the few public courses with some openings in the east – with timeslots available in the afternoons throughout the weekend.
Burnley Golf Course also has a handful of tee-off times left on Sunday, but call first to check availability.
Malvern Valley’s public course in Malvern East is jam-packed, with Wednesday or Thursday the earliest opportunity for people to book in their rounds.
Staff at Oakleigh Golf Course in Chadstone, the Glen Waverley Golf Club and Freeway Golf Course in Balwyn North did not answer calls.
NORTH
Northcote is the place to go for golf diehards in Melbourne’s north.
Northcote Public Golf Course has spots available on Saturday afternoon and for most of Sunday, while a bit further away, Craigieburn Golf Club has a few openings from 3.15pm for a Sunday afternoon swing.
The news isn’t great elsewhere though – Glenroy’s Northern Golf Course is fully booked into early next week, along with Rosanna Golf Club and Yarra Bend in Fairfield.
But solo players could be lucky to get a game at Rosanna from 3pm if they contact the club.
Royal Park’s voicemail was full, while Riverside Golf in Ascot Vale and Bundoora Park Golf Course could not be reached.
SOUTH
Cheltenham welcomed back golf with a record number of bookings on Wednesday when it opened nine holes for players.
This weekend will see a return to competition golf and a normal schedule, with players able to play through a full 18-hole round.
Bookings are still available for Saturday and Sunday mornings, but with glorious weather forecast, twilight times are booked out.
Sandringham Golf Course is also open to the public with times availble on Saturday afternoon for a nine-hole round between 1.15pm and 3.30pm.
Sunday is more open, with times available for a nine-hole round between 7.22am to 3.15pm.
At Victoria Golf Club in Cheltenham only members are permitted to play, with tee times available from 7.30am to 3pm.
But the club is only allowing members two rounds per week for the first four weeks back from the playing ban, and they cannot play on consecutive days.
The Dunes Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula is open to the public and members and is taking bookings of four.
On Saturday guests can book from 12.40pm onwards for a round of 18, or from 10.30am onwards for a round of nine.
Sunday has more availabilities for the nine hole round, but is filling quickly.
Mornington Golf Club has bookings available all weekend, for nine holes or 18.
18-hole rounds are available from 1.30pm to 6.30pm, while nine-hole rounds are available from 1.30pm to 5.30pm.
Mount Martha Public Golf Course is fully booked until Monday afternoon.
Flinders Golf Club is open to members on Saturday, while the public can book times online for Sunday.
Albert Park Golf Course is “chockers” all weekend, with bookings right through today, Saturday and Sunday.
But from Monday things should be back to normal and players can book online.
NEW ON-COURSE RULES FOR GOLFERS
* One person per cart booking.
* Bunker room and bar closed.
* Club facilities still closed.
* Play and go.
* No congregating on the deck or around other areas.
* No drinking in the car park.
* Social distancing rules apply at all times.
* No touching flag poles.
* No raking bunkers.
* No cash transactions.