Royal Park Golf Course
- Location
- Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria
- Address
- 11 Old Poplar Road, Parkville VIC 3052
- Course
- Par 66 (9 holes played twice)
- Visitors
- Open to public
- Weekday green fee
- $33.80 (18) · $25.40 (9)
- Phone
- +61 3 9387 1326
Book a tee time · Club website
About the course
Royal Park Golf Course is a nine-hole public course at Parkville, just north of the Melbourne CBD between Carlton and Brunswick, beside Melbourne Zoo. It is owned by the City of Melbourne and managed by GreenSpace Management with YMCA Victoria.
Golf began here in 1903, when local players met at the Parkville Hotel, formed a club and built an 18-hole course on land leased from the Royal Park Trustees, with the first hole near the Burke and Wills cairn. The course was cut to nine holes in 1911, and in 1923 the tram line now used by route 58 was laid through it. It is the only course in the world with both a tram line and a train line crossing it. Mick Ryan, the 1932 Australian Open winner, started playing here, and Peter Thomson joined as a 13-year-old junior in 1942 and won the club championship in 1946. After a fire destroyed much of the clubhouse in 1970, the course became fully public in 1971, and the present brick clubhouse and pro shop were built in 1973. Stormwater filtered through the neighbouring Trin Warren Tam-boore wetlands irrigates the course.
The course suits newcomers and still tests experienced players. It is open from 6.30am to 7pm daily, with online bookings up to 28 days ahead; groups of eight or more book through the golf shop. Adult green fees are $33.80 for 18 holes and $25.40 for nine, with student, senior and junior rates, though some rates are not offered on weekends. Cart hire is $47.60 for 18 holes and $31.80 for nine, and clubs with a buggy are $22.20. Social clubs hold tee times on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday mornings.
There is a short game and putting practice area, a golf shop with PGA professionals offering lessons and club fitting, and a licensed clubhouse for social and corporate golf days.
Green fees
Some rates not available weekends/public holidays; cart $47.60 (18), clubs $22.20
Planning your round
- How to book a tee time in Australia
- Green fees in Australia: what a round of golf costs
- Do you need a handicap to play golf in Australia?
Nearby golf courses
- Northcote Public Golf Course (4 km)
- Riverside Golf and Sports Centre (5 km)
- Studley Greens (5 km)
- Yarra Bend Golf (6 km)
- Albert Park Golf Course (7 km)
- Medway Golf Club (8 km)