Less than one hour's drive north of Melbourne is the historic township of Woodend, and only the a few hundred meters away, just past the main street, is the local golf course, Woodend Golf Club. It lays claim to being the hilliest golf course in Victoria so we went along to see if there was any truth to that.
Woodend Golf Club has been around for a very long time and celebrated its centenary in 2008. A par-67 from the white tees and a par-68 from the reds, it's a short course but hardly a pushover. The small greens are tough to find, and your legs will feel the full effect of the terrain.
Like so many regional Australian courses, it doesn't need a big budget to present well. During our visit, we had a chat to Woodend's course superintendent, Grant Davies.
"[I] took on the role as the superintendent seven years ago," Davies said.
"Volunteer staff mainly, I'm the only employed staff member here so a fair bit of upkeep for one bloke but we've got a little army of chaps that help us out. Love the job, always wanted it since I was a kid."
The views of the Macedon Ranges from Woodend are a treat, so too are the exotic pines and other species of trees throughout the course.
And the atmosphere at the Club is very relaxed. There is a membership of close to 140 and an impressive cohort of canines including Davies' little white dog named Henry who follows him around the golf course.
"He's probably my apprentice," Davies said.
"Some say he's my super. He kicks around with me on the golf course during the week."
The signature hole at Woodend is the dramatically downhill par-three 11th (pictured at the top of the article). It features a massive drop from tee to green, the likes of which you won't find almost anywhere else. It plays 164 metres from the back tees and your tee shot will hang in the air for what feels like an eternity.
If you find yourself in the Macedon Ranges, consider a short detour to Woodend Golf Club.
