By ANDREW MARMONT
SITUATED within the coronary heart of ‘Cups’ territory on the Mornington Peninsula, Eagle Ridge doesn’t instantly stand out as a bucket-list {golfing} vacation spot like its extra well-known neighbours. However Jason Glanz, the membership’s Basic Supervisor, can nonetheless provide a novel proposition to golfers.
“I feel we’re in all probability seen as the worth place to play golf,” he says.
“All of these (native) programs cost greater than $100 for inexperienced charges, whereas we attempt to preserve the worth a bit of bit decrease, we provide a extra relaxed environment in comparison with the others and also you get extra worth for cash once you come and play right here.”
I can attest to the low-key vibe throughout my go to on a Friday morning. There are solely a handful of golfers about, all within the 25-40 age bracket, taking their time and having fun with the amenities. Whereas many of those top-100 native programs have strict costume codes and different extra conventional guidelines, Eagle Ridge overtly needs to draw a unique crowd.
“We’re a enjoyable place to come back and play golf. We are attempting to make it a spot that’s open to all people. It’s a difficult course, however we need to department out to youthful individuals and people beginning the sport.
“Golf has a stuffy feeling about it, however we’ve tried to open it up a bit of extra. We’re not as strict as a few of the different programs with our costume code and the best way we run issues,” Glanz mentioned.
THE COURSE
That’s to not say that Eagle Ridge has low requirements with its golf course. After I performed it, on a gentle Friday morning, the course was nonetheless in pristine situation.
In contrast with public golf programs nearer to central Melbourne, I discovered it simply one of many high {golfing} experiences. The fairways have been immaculately maintained, and the greens have been quick and agency regardless of being in the course of winter. There was loads of bunkering, which makes accuracy off the tee a premium.
The course has gone via two units of designs after Australian newbie golf champion Kevin Hartley’s authentic format in 1989, after which a whole redesign by Phil Ryan of Pacific Coast Design. His imaginative and prescient was for Eagle Ridge to change into the ‘Royal Melbourne’ of the Mornington Peninsula, including a fairway conversion to Santa Ana sofa and a brand new clubhouse.
How would you describe Eagle Ridge in comparison with the opposite golf programs within the area, we requested the membership’s GM?
“I feel the course format is fairly good,” Jason says. ‘I assume we’re a mixture of hyperlinks and parkland, with the again 9 being extra park-oriented. The entrance 9 has thedunes.
“All our par threes are fairly magnificent in the best way they’re arrange. The sixth gap particularly and the eighth gap are lovely with plenty of bunkering. The eleventh runs throughout the water. They’re in all probability the characteristic of the course.”
With a nod to its relaxed really feel, the par-three sixth has a hole-in-one problem, run by Ace Society. The prize is now $8,000 for anybody who can land an ace. Whereas there was reportedly a slew of hole-in-ones within the weeks main as much as the brand new promotion, there have been none since.
A YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC
Eagle Ridge is especially a public entry golf course, with 300 members from the Carrington Park social golf membership. Initially, most have been primarily older golfers however a marketing campaign to draw youthful golfers has paid dividends. Now the cut up is extra 50/50 with loads of under-40 gamers and junior golfers under-16 proceed to play totally free. There’s additionally a gaggle of speedgolfers who hit and run across the golf course on Friday mornings.
The membership is open for membership and most tee occasions can be found. There isn’t a ready listing, with the main target at Eagle Ridge on attracting the general public who need to play golf.
“The demographic enjoying the course is loads youthful, the 25-40 participant, in comparison with the native golf equipment the place many of the gamers are of their 60s and 70s,” Jason says.
“With the Beer Backyard opening a few years in the past to the general public, we get plenty of individuals coming who are usually not golfers and benefit from the beer backyard. It’s change into extra of an leisure place than only a golf course.”
I performed Eagle Ridge 5 years in the past. My lasting reminiscence was sitting exterior within the open-air seating space, watching the motion on the ninth and having fun with the view of the lake. It nonetheless caused the identical expertise in 2025 with a particular ‘nineteenth’ gap – a 60m island inexperienced that you simply play whilst you take pleasure in your lunch exterior.
Household features, birthdays and bucks and hens events usually use the amenities as a primary foray into golf, and to additionally benefit from the meals and catering. On the restaurant, you may get Parma’s, pizzas and schnitzels (the latter was scrumptious), and there’s a young children’s menu. Loads of native beers are on faucet too. Nevertheless it’s the atmosphere that brings golfers and non-golfers again.
“Stay music provides to the expertise,” Jason says. “There are ample alternatives to take a seat down and calm down after the sport. Within the previous days, the golfers would are available in and get a pie. However now they will are available in and revel in a meal whereas listening to stay music. Quite a lot of golfers return to the beer backyard. Plenty of golfers deliver their households too. It’s a healthful expertise.”
The membership is an avid supporter of native meals and wine. They not too long ago hosted the Open Brewery Bash, that includes native beer suppliers with activations on the course. There’s additionally an upcoming Dash Swing occasion, specializing in native spirits and wine producers, open to the general public as an ambrose occasion.
There are different additions within the membership rooms, together with an digital honour board which leads out to the adjoining Peninsula Beer Backyard.
The homeowners, the Chen household, have continued to take a position closely within the golf course and membership rooms since 2016.
“We’re making an attempt to make it a bit of bit simpler to play,” Jason says. “There are a variety of bunkers on the market that don’t have to be there. They’ve spent some huge cash on creating a few of the tees that weren’t nice and altering a variety of the bunkering across the par 3s.”
Different enhancements embody upgrading path works and their fleet of fifty golf carts, which all have GPS screens, Bluetooth audio system and plush seats.
Eagle Ridge additionally has Play and Keep packages with the close by Nepean Nation Membership.
With golf persevering with to increase and the membership attracting a various demographic, Eagle Ridge goals to stay a welcoming vacation spot for each locals and golfers from additional afield.
“I’d identical to to maintain making us extra open to extra individuals,” Jason says. “The Beer Backyard facet of the enterprise has dramatically grown from nothing to what it’s doing now. So long as that retains ticking alongside at that very same stage, will probably be fairly good.”
EAGLE RIDGE: FACT FILE
Handle: 215 Browns Rd, Boneo VIC 3939.
Contact: Cellphone: (03) 5988 2500.
Web site: www.eagleridge.com.au
Inexperienced charges: From $80 for 18 Holes and $55 for 9 Holes
Golf carts: $56 however usually run Seasonal specials the place carts are together with with Inexperienced Payment pricing.
Rent gear: Sure.
Observe amenities: Eagle Ridge has nets and a brief sport space that features a placing inexperienced, chipping tees and a 60-metre pitching gap.
Hardest gap: The 397m Par 4 third gap. You want accuracy and distance over a hill on your tee shot to keep away from in depth bunkering on the left.
Finest probability for a birdie: the par-5 ninth.
Don’t go away house with out it: an extended iron and a sand wedge.
Don’t miss: The well-known par-3 sixth.
Clubhouse amenities: A contemporary clubhouse together with the not too long ago re-opened Peninsula Beer Backyard, open Thursday to Sunday for lunch.
Memberships: The membership presents three membership choices— 5, six, and seven-day—with no becoming a member of charge or ready interval.
Professional store presents: The professional store has all of the choices a golfer wants, together with snacks, merchandise and attire.
Membership skilled: Jason Glanz doubles because the Basic Supervisor and head skilled. He’s been with the membership for 10 years and is accessible for personal classes and clinics
