Bouncing back as a premier golfing destination in the Yarra Valley
IT is absolutely fantastic when new life is breathed back into a great golf course.
Yering Meadows Golf Club was hailed by all the pundits when it was built as the re-located Croydon Golf Club in June 2008.
There was much fanfare surrounding the opening.
And rightly so, with the new course situated on 330 acres in Victoria’s picturesque Yarra Valley region and designed by the renowned course architect, Ross Watson.
Watson’s 27-hole layout had it all. It featured pristine legend couch fairways and bent grass greens. The first 18 holes opened to players in June 2008, with an additional nine holes (19-27) debuting the following year.
The course was arranged into three unique 18-hole configurations: Nursery, Valley, and Homestead. Each course seamlessly integrated into the natural landscape and enhanced the beauty of the countryside. Watson’s thoughtfully placed ponds and wetlands were considered key architectural features and presented strategic challenges on nearly every hole on the first 18. Their presence was more subtle across holes 19-27.
The large green complexes were considered both inviting and challenging, with varying elevations to test golfers’ skills. It seemed to be the perfect blend of natural beauty and strategic design.
It came as no surprise then that Yering Meadows was immediately embraced by golfers within the Yarra Valley and surrounding metropolitan suburbs.
But over the years, a series of events resulted in large scale operational challenges, changing the Yering Meadows Golf Club outlook.
However, it’s new owners had a different plan and set to work on a bold plan of revitalisation.
Enter GreenSpace Management, a golf management company which seems to quickly become Australia’s go to golf management company for innovation and change management solutions.
GreenSpace boss Peter, Vlahandreas is excited about the company’s vision for Yering Meadows.
“Our role is to re- establish Yering Meadows as a premier destination for golf in the Yarra Valley,” he said enthusiastically.
“Our experienced team are hands on throughout all facets of the club’s operations; building solid foundations within all touch points and creating better experiences for members and green fee players.
“Yering Meadows will no doubt return to the Top 100 courses in the country, and we’re well and truly on our way.
“It’s an exciting time to be working with the owners at Yering Meadows’.
One of Australia’s foremost golf management companies, GreenSpace has been responsible for some of the country’s most innovative golf initiatives.
And taking on a Club of this size is right in their wheelhouse.
“The Yarra Valley is a really special place and we’re thrilled to be working with Yering Meadows Golf Club. Our experience in delivering modern and innovative outcomes will set the club up for a sensational next phase of its life in the region,” said Vlahandreas.
“GreenSpace will be overseeing all operations for the owners at the club and work is well underway to deliver outstanding service to our members and public access golfers.”
As well as involvement from Greenspace, the club is undertaking rapid change on the course, under the watchful eye of Mike Clayton’s design company Clayton Devries Pont and Kruse Golf.
There is no shortage of expertise on the ground with the design team also joined by turf expert, John Sloan, back in the industry after a long absence, and well-known golfer, Lukas Michel, on the tools and operating machinery.
“There was nothing wrong with the original design (by Ross Watson).
The brief was to design a championship golf course and that’s what he did. The bunkers were superbly shaped and drained very well.
“But the course was simply too difficult, especially for the higher markers,” said the design company’s principal, Mike Clayton.
“We’ve filled in about 60 bunkers on the 27 holes. I think there’s about 30 left on 1 -18. There were too many bunkers when you take into account all the water hazards and wetlands on the course.
“We’re also opening the course up to reintroduce the strategic intent of the original layout”
The Ross Watson designed Yering Meadows golf course, which is undergoing a revamp with Mike Clayton and his design company Clayton Devries Pont and Kruse Golf.
Clayton’s new company emerged after the Covid lockdown.
Work has continued apace at Yering over the last 12 months with the course undergoing significant changes.
In addition to removing the bunkers, the intended playing lines from the original design, grassing lines throughout have been reviewed to enhance the layers enjoyability of the course.
Course superintendent, Tim Vegt, said the changes to the course are already making a huge difference.
“The golf course is already showing signs of its former self when it was a staple in the top 100. The team at CDP have been brilliant to work with and we’re all excited to see what we can uncover over the next period at Yering Meadows.”
Yering’s GM Lucy Jiang said: “The next chapter of our journey with CDP and GreenSpace is very exciting for our club. Our appointment of industry renowned professionals has been a critical step in restoring Yering Meadows as a premier golf facility.”
Yering Meadows provides outstanding value membership opportunities, as well as seven-day public access golf and a 320-metre green grass driving range and clubhouse that rival the best.
It seems like a good time to return to Yering Meadows for another round or play it for the first time.
Yering Meadows Golf Club
178 – 180 Victoria Road, Yering, Victoria
ym.reception@yeringmeadows.com.au
Phone: (03) 9738 9000
Badds gets ‘life’ at Yering Meadows-Croydon Golf Club
For Australian professional star Aaron Baddeley, his was a golfing journey which began at the Croydon Golf Club before course would make the move to its current site at Yering Meadows.
Baddeley was a child prodigy, winning the Croydon Club Championship as a 14-year-old, before going on to claim two Australian Open titles, the first as an amateur in 1999 in beating Greg Norman and Nick O’Hern by two strokes, then in defending his title 12 months later after turning professional.
Having qualified to play on the PGA TOUR in 2003, Baddeley is now coming to the end of his 21st year in the US. He has won four times on the PGA TOUR and on eight occasions in his professional career.
In recognition of his golfing achievements, Croydon-Yering Meadows made Baddeley a life member in 2000, with his name featuring on the honour boards adorning the walls of the current club house at Yering Meadows.