By Andrew Marmont
REGIONAL golf never felt so good.
Welcome to Warragul Country Club, where people from all over Melbourne and Gippsland come for the golf but stay for the friendliness and exceptional facilities.
Located 90 minutes southeast of the Melbourne metro, the club attracts many due to its exclusivity and range of services that cater for everyone. But it’s not just the birdies or the beer – the club gives off a friendly and welcoming vibe that instantly makes you feel at home. The facility is the envy of many other entertainment and sporting venues across Gippsland due to its impressive facilities. But it’s the quiet charm of the course and the people that make Warragul Country Club such a hit.
“We have a nice golf course and great facilities around it,” says Andrew Breeden-Walton, the club’s Chief Executive Officer.
“We have a cafe that is open seven days and a proper bistro where you can get a good feed and good value. It’s one of the better facilities around. We are always investing in the club itself. Hopefully, over time, it gets better and better. Our array of offerings is our big drawcard and a point of difference.”
When I played, it was a quiet Monday morning with freedom to choose a tee time. You were certainly made to feel welcome when you stepped into the pro shop and got a feeling for the course. There are plenty of golf carts available as well as the latest in golf gear, clothing and equipment. The bistro and bar were going through a major renovation – even though it was already at a high standard – and the club room facilities also were getting a makeover. These touches show how Warragul operate: proud of its uniqueness but always looking to improve.
The golf course
I grew up learning the game on regional golf courses in New Zealand, and Warragul Country Club took me back to these memories. Throughout my round, I saw a mixture of young golfers learning the game with Dad and older members enjoying the course. The par three 18th is a visual treat as you hit downhill onto a large sloping green surrounded by deep bunkers.
It feels like a parkland course with plenty of trees and enough fairway bunkers that make you consider your club choice off the tee. I whipped around in an hour and 20 minutes and had time enough to enjoy a friendly challenge with three of its experienced members on the last hole. They shared how enjoyable it was to play a course that gave them a good challenge but remained playable regardless of skill level or mobility.
There are some decent practice facilities – including a putting green and a large turf driving range – and the club has recently invested in an impressive Trackman simulator room for club fittings.
Course Superintendent Shaun Taylor is proud of the course design, which still retains its country charm.
“Even though it is a short course, the challenge is there,” he says.
“It’s very user-friendly. People play and are surprised at how enjoyable it is, whether you are in the Super Six or new to the game. The course is well-maintained and is a big community club.”
Warragul has hosted the aforementioned Gippsland Super Six competition over the past four years. It’s a televised event that has brought great exposure to the club, resulting in a surge in membership and green fee players. It’s scheduled again for 2026, along with a Pro-Am early next year. Taylor believes the club has been able to attract these marquee events as well as strong sponsorship with the likes of BMW because of the high-quality golf facility and venue.
A unique membership base
Warragul has a unique membership base comprised of both social and golf members. With 6,600 social members who enjoy the facility and over 1,000 golf members, this dynamic creates a welcoming atmosphere for new and future members alike.
“It is a big community club,” says Breeden-Walton.
“It’s the biggest club in town and is a very social club. A lot of members live around the course and have effortless access with their carts to drive down. It’s always busy.”
The club hosts 40,000 rounds per year, up from 20,000 pre-COVID. Membership has increased by another 500 over the past five years. It’s the work of the two golf professionals, Lee Dawes and Craig McIntosh, that stands out in getting more people into golf. The club offers a free four-month trial membership once golfers finish a clinic. More than 40 ladies have become members as a result, and competition days regularly attract 70-80 attendees.
What makes membership so enticing? Breeden-Walton says it’s about the overall experience members get at Warragul.
“We try to do value-add inside the clubhouse and give them an experience that is holistic across everything.
“They can tee off early, get some product off the pro shop, get on the course and play, get a coffee and a beer, then play the back nine and have lunch. A one-stop golf shop featuring a clubhouse and golf facilities: functions, bistro, sports bar. We offer a wide range of services. We are away from town, so we are a bit exclusive. We can do things at a high level, adding value that you couldn’t do if you were located centrally around Warragul or Drouin.”
The junior program is also impressive. The junior membership base has grown from 10 members to 150 in the last five years and the club makes it easy to join. For $80, juniors get a shirt and a free bucket of range balls a day. There are also weekly clinics, school programs and flexibility across the time sheets.
“A lot of the footy players come and play golf instead,” says McIntosh.
“Kids bring their mates. We encourage them and are flexible with the time sheet access. We try to make it so affordable that joining up is a no-brainer for their parents.”
The future
The club is about to sign off on a new OCM Master Plan, which includes significant upgrades to the greens and investment around the outside of the course. The management team have a long-standing relationship with the Geoff Ogilvy-Mike Cocking business and is excited about these improvements to elevate the golf experience even more.
What’s the future look like for Warragul Country Club?
“We want to be seen as an inclusive environment where we are encouraging members and society to be part of the club,” says Breeden-Walton.
“Personally, I love to see junior golf grow and increase our female attendance. These are areas for us to focus on. We’d like to continue creating a place where everyone genuinely enjoys playing golf. That’s our number one ethos.”
If you are looking for a destination golf trip in Victoria, then make sure you make time to play and eat at Warragul.
Warragul Country Club Fact File
Address: 41 Sutton Street, Warragul, VIC 3820.
Website: www.warragulcountryclub.com.au
Phone: (03) 5623 2135 or Pro Shop: 03 5623 2353.
Green fees: $45 for 18 holes for public players or $40 for 18 as a Member guest.
Golf carts: $45 for 18 holes.
Hire equipment: Yes.
Practice facilities: Warragul Country Club has a practice green, chipping green and a turf driving range.
Toughest hole and why: The 2nd hole. A downhill tee shot followed by an uphill approach to a well-elevated green.
Best chance for a birdie: The par three 18th. At around 110 metres downhill to a large sloping green, you’ve got a good opportunity.
Don’t miss: The excellent lunch and dinner options at the bistro.
Clubhouse facilities: The facilities include a lively bistro, bar, plenty of rooms for meetings and an on-site gaming area.
Memberships: The club offers Full Membership, Seniors, Under 25s and Junior golf memberships as well as the option to join as a social member.
Pro shop: The pro shop has all the offerings, including snacks, merchandise and apparel. There is also a Trackman simulator set up for club fittings.
Club professionals: PGA Professionals Lee Dawes and Craig McIntosh are on hand for 1-on-1 instruction, group coaching and clinics.
Australia's Golf News Leader, Inside Golf gives you in-depth coverage of Australian golf news, golf events, golf travel and holiday destinations, Australian and international golf course reviews, the hottest new golf gear and tips and drills to improve your golf game. Written by award-winning journalists, Inside Golf also features interviews with Australia's top professional golfers, the game's rising stars, industry leaders and golf equipment manufacturers. You can even win great golf prizes and equipment. It’s all in Inside Golf. FREE at Australian golf courses, driving ranges and golf retailers across Australia. 
