Login / Register
Cheltenham Golf Club is a nine-hole course in Cheltenham, about 30 minutes south of central Melbourne and within Melbourne's Sandbelt golf region. The standard layout plays to par 35 and measures approximately 2,755 metres for one circuit, with a single par five and two par threes. The compact property occupies roughly 40 acres and uses alternate tee positions so the nine holes can be played twice for a longer round.
Cheltenham Golf Club traces its origins to local residents who began campaigning for a course in Cheltenham Park during the late 1920s. The club began in 1930, and Victoria Golf Club curator Frank Lennox together with David 'Jock' Whillans laid out the nine-hole course, which was ready for play in 1936. The club remains open to public green-fee players as well as members.
The course is a 9-hole sandbelt golf course. It plays to par 35, 2,755m. Designed by Frank Lennox and David (Jock) Whillans, the course originally opened in 1936. It is open to the public. On-site facilities include Golf Shop, Electric Cart Hire, Golf Club Hire, Pull Buggy Hire, Clubhouse, Function Facilities.
Cheltenham's course emerged from a prolonged local campaign over how public parkland should be used. In 1926, prominent Cheltenham residents and businesspeople met to discuss creating a golf club on what the club describes as largely wasteland within Cheltenham Park. Early supporters contributed a guinea each, while much of the initial work was carried out through working bees and voluntary labour.
Local historical records show that the idea was debated extensively because the proposed course would occupy public reserve land. An enthusiastic group formally met at the Soldiers' Hall in July 1927 and elected officers for an embryonic club, although council initially rejected the use of the park for golf. Permission was later obtained to use part of the reserve, and volunteers began clearing and preparing the ground.
The club records its formal beginning as 1930.
The established nine-hole layout was created with assistance from neighbouring Victoria Golf Club. Cheltenham's official history credits Victoria curator Frank Lennox and David 'Jock' Whillans with laying out the course, which was ready for play in 1936. The restricted site dictated a compact routing; the modern course occupies roughly 40 acres and uses alternative tee positions to allow golfers to play the same nine physical holes twice.
Its sandy Sandbelt setting, narrow corridors, bunkering and relatively small overall footprint place greater emphasis on accuracy than length.
The club acquired part of Victoria Golf Club's former seven-court tennis area in 1939 for a clubhouse site. Its development was interrupted by the Second World War, after which the organisation was revived largely through the efforts of returned servicemen and their wives. The club says course improvements have continued over subsequent decades, accompanied by an ongoing program of planting native trees and shrubs.
The compact boundaries remain an operational constraint. In 2025 and 2026 the club implemented temporary changes to reduce the risk of golf balls leaving the property, including playing the ninth as a temporary par three and periodically shortening the fifth to a par three.
Cheltenham has a notable record of developing professional golfers despite its short nine-hole layout. The club identifies Geoff Ogilvy, Matt Griffin, Paul Skinner and Tom Power-Horan among players who progressed to PGA professional careers. Independent course publication Top 100 Golf Courses currently places Cheltenham 76th in its Victoria ranking and specifically credits Frank Lennox with the original design.
Cheltenham remains a member-based club while providing public tee times. The club states that membership exceeds 680 and that substantial numbers of green-fee golfers use the course. Public green-fee bookings are currently restricted to nine holes, with men normally playing from blue markers and women from red markers.
Its position beside some of Melbourne's better-known private Sandbelt clubs gives it a different role in the district: a compact course with public access on land that has been associated with community recreation for almost a century.
No conditions reported yet
to report conditions
Help other golfers by uploading photos from your visit.
| Fee Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday | ||
| Adult - Weekday 9 Holes | $39 | Current published weekday adult green fee. Public bookings during green-fee times are limited to 9 holes. A 10% surcharge applies on public holidays. |
| Weekend | ||
| Adult - Weekend 9 Holes | $43 | Current published weekend adult green fee. Public bookings during green-fee times are limited to 9 holes. A 10% surcharge applies on public holidays. |
| 9 hole | ||
| Senior/Concession - 9 Holes | $35 | Valid ID required. A 10% surcharge applies on public holidays. |
| Junior Under 16 - 9 Holes | $30 | Valid ID required. A 10% surcharge applies on public holidays. |
| Twilight | ||
| Twilight - 9 Holes | $30 | Year-round twilight rate. Available from 5:00 PM during daylight saving and from 3:00 PM outside daylight saving. |
Prices are indicative and subject to change. Contact the course to confirm current rates.
Help other golfers by sharing what the course was like when you played.
