In my defence, the course was perhaps a week or two away from officially opening back in 2006 and, in my eagerness to get a glimpse of this latest addition to Victoria’s Yarra Valley golfing landscape, I missed one of only a few temporary signs showing the way.
I didn’t realise it was a fair old excursion out to the 1st tee from the clubhouse. Conservatively I’d say it’s a journey of at least 800 metres along a cart path, over a bridge spanning a narrow section of the snaking Yarra River to where you will find the 1st tee of the Henley Course.
Once you cross that bridge, hit your opening drive and head off down the fairway while watching as the layout slowly reveals itself, you realise it was definitely worth the trek.
The Henley was the second course built at The Heritage, which was the brainchild of tournament David Inglis – who had helped establish The National GC a few years after founding the Australian Masters tournament.
Inglis partnered with doctor, best-selling author and businessman, Dr John Tickell, who had already developed the then known Hyatt Regency Coolum Resort on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Integral to the success of The Heritage was signing Jack Nicklaus to design two signature courses across the 730-acre property dominated by river flats on both sides of the Yarra River. One course, the St. John, would lie south of the river, while the second, to be called the Henley, would be to the north and venture into more dramatic terrain. Off course, high-end residential estates were built, as was an impressive clubhouse and boutique hotel.
The dramatic 447-metre par-4 16th is all downhill to the putting surface. PHOTO: Brendan James.
Nicklaus created the St. John Course and proposed a routing for the Henley, which would be well away from the residential development. It took nearly seven years before the Federal Government approved the construction of the course within its environmental living guidelines.
Rather than pay the fee for another Nicklaus signature course, Tickell commissioned Melbourne-based course architect Tony Cashmore, who had already earned many plaudits for his work at The Dunes and Thirteenth Beach. It was a great decision as the more natural and wilder looking links-style Henley layout provides a significant point of difference to the sculpted manicuring of Nicklaus’ St.John Course.
As you might expect with holes laid across river flats, water and wetlands dominate the scene for most of the front nine. But Cashmore’s fairways are generously wide, while the greens are large and receptive so the water hazards can easily be avoided with good ball-striking.
The current owner has made a significant investment in both courses in recent years, particularly in terms of their presentation, which now fully complements the wonderful designs. This was endorsed by both courses finding their way back into Golf Australia magazine’s Top-100 Courses for 2024 after years in the ranking wilderness. The St. John was ranked at No.97, while the Henley grabbed No.88 in the list – its highest ever ranking position.
Bunkers line the driving zone on the short par-5 2nd hole. PHOTO: Brendan James.
“It is routed much closer to the Yarra River, on a more undulating parcel of land than the neighbouring course. With water in play on many holes, and a more rural, natural setting than St. John’s, Henley is an enjoyable place to play,” Top-100 judge Matt Mollica commented.
Fellow Top-100 panellist Tony Lachlan added: “While the Henley does boast some lengthy holes, it does not solely rely on length to create a challenge, and playing to the edges of the wide fairways to set up an easier follow up shot is what Tony Cashmore’s design encourages.”
There is plenty of strategy built into Cashmore’s creation. The par-5 2nd hole is a fine example. At 445 metres from the blue markers, the green is easily within reach for the longer hitter but getting the best line into the putting surface requires a tee shot that skirts by the massive fairway bunker cutting into the driving zone from the left. This is the best position to work a shot onto the green and avoiding a pond that is lurking short right. That said, club selection – for your second or third shot – needs to be spot on to not only dodge the water, but also stay out of the three expansive bunkers left and long of the green.
The first par-5 on the back nine – the 470-metre 13th – leads you away from the river flats and into the biggest elevation change to be found across The Heritage property and to the edge of the Warrandyte State Forest. The climb from the 13th tee takes you through a valley towards a kidney-shaped green. Again, skirting a crop of four bunkers left of the short grass will leave the best playing line up the hill to the perched green, which lies beyond four large sandy hazards.
The gradual climb to the highest point on the course starts at the par-5 13th. PHOTO: Brendan James.
While the climb to the highest point on the course is a gradual one, the descent back to the river flats is far more dramatic as you play the most memorable hole on the layout – the 447-metre par-4 16th hole. It plays significantly shorter than the scorecard suggests as the hole plunges straight downhill from the tee, with a slight left-to-right camber. While it may play shorter, the real challenge here is putting a good strike on your approach shot from a steep downhill lie into a green where deep bunkers hug the right edge. The 16th is a controversial hole and it is one that you will either love or hate. Personally, I don’t mind it. It’s different and different doesn’t always please the masses.
It is 18 years since the Henley Course opened for play and, having recently visited the course ahead of the Top-100 Courses ranking being published, it is easy to see why our judges reckon it is looking and playing better than at any stage since 2006.
In years gone by, I couldn’t justify including the Henley in my Top-100 list simply because the conditioning didn’t match the standard set by the designs and, in fact, at different times the work of Cashmore and Nicklaus was being compromised by the presentation. But not anymore.
The turf quality has improved dramatically during the past five years, while a major overhaul of all the Henley Course bunkers during 2022 and 2023 – where capillary concrete was added to improve drainage – has also raised the standard of presentation to a quailty worthy of a Top-100 Course.
FACT FILE
LOCATION: Heritage Ave, Chirnside Park, Victoria
CONTACT: (03) 9760 3200
WEBSITE: www.heritagegolfclub.com.au
DESIGNER: Tony Cashmore (2006).
PLAYING SURFACES: Bentgrass (greens), Wintergreen couch (fairways).
COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Jason Newman.
PGA PROFESSIONALS: Michael Dean (head professional), Sean Crowe.
GREEN FEE: The Heritage is a private member’s club but interstate golfers with a Golflink number can contact the club to arrange a tee time.
ACCOMMODATION: The four-and-a-half star Yarra Valley Lodge adjoins The Heritage and offers well-appointed guest rooms and at least half the rooms enjoy a view across the St John Course. Lodge guests are welcome to book tee times.
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