Exciting times are ahead for Yering Meadows Golf Club, in Melbourne’s Yarra Valley, with the club undertaking rapid change under the watchful eye of Mike Clayton’s design company Clayton Devries Pont and Kruse Golf.
There’s 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 driving 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,” Clayton said.
“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) on the course.
Clayton’s new company emerged after the Covid lockdown.
Work has continued apace at Yering over the last six months with the course undergoing significant change.
As well as removing the bunkers, the intended playing lines from the original design have been restored.
Course superintendent Tim Vegt said the changes to the course are already making a huge difference.
GreenSpace Management is overseeing exciting change at Yering Meadows in the Victorian Yarra Valley.
“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,” Vegt said.
In another exciting development, GreenSpace Management has joined the team at Yering.
One of Australia’s foremost golf management companies, GreenSpace has been responsible for some of the country’s most innovative golf initiatives, with Yering Meadows the first 27-hole golf course the company has managed.
“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 Peter Vlahandreas, managing director of GreenSpace.
GreenSpace will be overseeing all operations for the owners at the club and work is well underway to deliver services to members and public access golfers.
“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,” said Lucy Jiang, Yering’s General Manager.
Yering Meadows provides outstanding value membership opportunities, as well as seven-day public access golf and a 320-metre green grass driving range. Also featuring a clubhouse that rivals the best, it seems like a good time to return to Yering Meadows for another round or to play it for the first time.
Croydon Golf Club re-located to its new home at Yering in June 2008.