The Barwon Heads Golf Club

Location
Barwon Heads, Geelong & Bellarine, Victoria
Address
Golf Links Road, Barwon Heads VIC 3227
Course
18 holes · Par 70
Visitors
Visitors welcome
Weekday green fee
$250 (18)
Phone
+61 3 5255 6255

Book a tee time · Club website · Club course guide

About the course

The Barwon Heads Golf Club lies among the dunes between the Barwon River and Bass Strait at Barwon Heads. Golf began in 1907 on a nine-hole course in paddocks at Challis's farm, laid out by Geelong families who holidayed in the village. In 1919 members decided to move to a new links nearer the coast, laid out by Victor East and playable from 1921, and the heritage-listed clubhouse opened in December 1924. The club was the first country club in Victoria and an early example of a golf club offering accommodation. Neil Crafter and Paul Mogford refined the course in 2005, and the clubhouse reopened in September 2025 after a restoration, with 19 guest rooms.

The links plays to par 70 and measures 5,886 metres from the black tees, 5,591 metres from the blue and 5,252 metres from the red. It is not long, but hazards, subtle slopes and wind change how it plays from day to day. Couch grass dominates the fairways in summer and Poa annua in the cooler months, and the Poa greens are prepared every morning. The drive from the 7th tee crosses a public road, and the short par-3 13th was named among Australia's most iconic holes by Golf Digest in 2011.

This is a private club. Green fee play is sometimes available to non-members on Mondays and Fridays and after competitions from Tuesday to Thursday, at $250 on weekdays and $300 at peak times when available (weekends, public holidays and 26 December to the Australia Day weekend). Guests staying in the clubhouse get priority tee times on most days. Book by phone, enquiry form or online. The on-course dress code requires collared shirts, tucked in for men, tailored shorts or trousers and soft spikes; denim and cargo shorts are not permitted.

A separate par-3 course, redesigned by Crafter and Mogford in 2008, is open to the public daily from 7.30am outside competitions, at $15 for adults and $8 for children, booked before play. Members and guests can use a short game practice area of almost a hectare, the golf shop opens every day except Christmas Day, and signed-in green fee players can dine in the clubhouse.

Green fees

Green fee play sometimes available Mon, Fri and after competitions Tue to Thu; peak (weekends, public holidays, 26 Dec to Australia Day weekend) $300; clubhouse accommodation guests get priority tee times; separate par-3 course

Planning your round

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