Yarra Yarra
One of the classic names of the Melbourne sandbelt, Yarra Yarra is an Alex Russell design from the late 1920s, built by the man who partnered Alister MacKenzie in Australia. A par 72 of about 6,155 meters at Bentleigh East, it is celebrated for some of the boldest, most heavily contoured greens in the country, and a restoration that has returned the course to its original character.
Photo: Yarra Yarra Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Yarra Yarra belongs to the great sandbelt fraternity, the cluster of classic courses on Melbourne's sandy southeast that includes Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath and Victoria. The club traces back to 1898 and moved to its present Bentleigh East site in 1927, where Alex Russell, the 1924 Australian Open champion and MacKenzie's design partner in Australia, laid out the course that opened at the end of the decade.
It is a par 72 of about 6,155 meters, and its calling card is the greens: large, fast and among the most extreme in contour anywhere in Melbourne, demanding precise approach play and a deft touch with the putter. The bunkering is bold yet natural, woven into the strategy of every hole, and a careful restoration begun in 2016 has stripped back the decades of tinkering to reveal Russell's original intent. It is private and understated, but for the connoisseur it is essential sandbelt golf.
Yarra Yarra Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- Late 1920s
- Designer
- Alex Russell
- Type
- Sandbelt heathland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,155 m
- Green fee
- Members
Designer, era, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Yarra Yarra Golf Club and leading course databases: the club moved to its present Bentleigh East site in 1927 and the Alex Russell course opened at the end of the 1920s, a par 72 of about 6,155 meters. A restoration of Russell's original design was begun in 2016. Yarra Yarra is a private members club with no published public green fee; any visitor or guest access is arranged through the club. Always confirm access directly before planning a visit.
The holes worth the trip
Yarra Yarra is a masterclass in sandbelt strategy on firm, fast turf, where the bunkering dictates the line and the greens dictate the score. Russell routed the course to use the natural fall of the land, and the bold, sand flashed hazards sit so naturally they look as though the wind put them there.
It is the greens that define the round. They are large, quick and heavily contoured, with some of the most severe slopes on the entire sandbelt, so the approach must finish on the correct tier or three putts loom. The premium is on controlling the ball into the green and reading the subtle borrows, classic thinking golf rather than a test of raw power.
The 2016 restoration returned width, recovered lost bunkering and sharpened the green surrounds, so the course today plays much as Russell intended. A round here rewards the player who plots a route and works the ball, and it sits comfortably among the sandbelt classics that make Melbourne the finest concentration of golf in the southern hemisphere.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; any visitor or guest play is by arrangement, generally on limited weekdays |
| Green fee | No published public fee; any guest or visitor rate is arranged through the club (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Contact the club well in advance; an introduction or a sandbelt golf specialist helps secure a tee time |
| On the day | Walking is the tradition on firm sandbelt turf; caddies and carts can be arranged; pace and etiquette are expected |
| Getting there | Bentleigh East in southeast Melbourne, about 30 minutes from the city centre |
| Best months | October to April for the warm, dry sandbelt season when the turf runs at its firmest |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Yarra Yarra is private and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit with the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in central Melbourne or along the bayside suburbs, both within easy reach of the sandbelt clubs and full of excellent hotels, dining and the wider attractions of one of the world's great sporting cities.
For a golf focused stay, the bayside suburbs around Black Rock and Brighton put several of the sandbelt courses on the doorstep. It is an ideal region to build a multi course pilgrimage around, pairing Yarra Yarra with Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath and the other classics of the sandbelt.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Yarra Yarra Golf Club.
Build a Melbourne golf trip
We secure the Yarra Yarra tee times where access allows, pair them with the best of the sandbelt and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Yarra Yarra Golf Club questions
Who designed Yarra Yarra and when did it open?
Yarra Yarra was designed by Alex Russell, the 1924 Australian Open champion and Alister MacKenzie's design partner in Australia. The club moved to its present Bentleigh East site in 1927 and the course opened at the end of the 1920s.
What is the par and length of Yarra Yarra?
Yarra Yarra is a par 72 of about 6,155 meters, played on firm Melbourne sandbelt turf and celebrated for some of the boldest, most heavily contoured greens in Australia.
What makes Yarra Yarra special?
Its greens are among the most extreme in contour on the entire Melbourne sandbelt, and a restoration begun in 2016 has returned the course to Alex Russell's original design, restoring width and bold sandbelt bunkering.
Can visitors play Yarra Yarra?
Yarra Yarra is a private members club with limited visitor access by arrangement. There is no published public green fee, so contact the club well in advance and confirm access directly before planning a visit.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, era, par and yardage verified June 2026; access verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.