130-132 Victoria Rd,
Lilydale, Victoria 3140
Office
+61 (0)3 9739 7522Pro shop
+61 (0)3 9739 7522Fax
+61 (0)3 9727 1212Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Luke Bower (PGA, Head Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Predominantly open parkland. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Open countryside.
Designer:
Current course at Lilydale (opened 2014) designed by Pacific Coast Design (lead architect Phil Ryan).
-37.732168
145.345797
43 km NE of Melbourne CBD.
Gardiners Run
Gardiners Run Golf Course was built to provide a new home for the golf section of Chirnside Park Country Club. With their previous course squeezed into a smaller space and surrounded by housing, the Country Club members realised a long-held ambition when they moved to a more spacious and rural environment in 2014.
The new course, with its more modern and challenging design, opened for play in May 2014 under the name Gardiners Run. The course is a predominantly open parkland design, which makes use of former quarry workings. With plenty of stylish bunkering, and attractive small lakes and ponds also in play, every hole lays down its own unique challenge.
Chirnside Park Country Club retained eleven acres of the former site, which is where the club's keno lounge, Tab facilities, bowling greens, tennis courts, and fully licensed bistro and function facilities are located.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends; more restricted at weekends.
Must book in advance.
Soft spikes or runners only. Walking permitted at all times. Golf carts are available to rent (subject to weather conditions).
Excellent
Gardiners Run takes its name from John Gardiner (1798–1878), a pastoralist and banker who took out the first grazing licence in the area. Located on the banks of the Yarra River, his 15,000 acres of cattle grazing land were known as Kangaroo Park.
A Swatters Directory dating from 1849 contains a list of occupants on Crown land in the district of Port Phillip; one parcel of land established in 1837 bears the name ‘Gardiners Run.’ John Gardiner eventually sold off his assets in Australia and returned to England, but his name lives on in the name of the golf course.
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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