The Jeparit Golf Course is a very interesting ‘little’ golf course, with the emphasis on ‘Little’. At 4374 metres, par 65, you would think that this course couldn’t offer much in the way of challenge, on the contrary.
Due to it’s location the course is a Sand Scrape Course, which is unfortunately only open mid autumn to mid spring. The course is maintained by members and is at its best in August-September.
The course is set in and around several bends of the Wimmera River, with nine of the eighteen holes originally carved from out of the dreaded Lignum bush on the river flat. (4th hole – 7th hole and 14th hole – 17th hole) This nasty little bush is very capable of keeping any stray ball a metre or so above the ground, which makes accuracy on these holes of high importance.
The course consists of eight par 3’s and only one par 5, the 439 metre 13th, which follows a very long sweeping right hand bend in the river and is quite capable of claiming the ball of anyone who tries to cut corners. The hardest rated hole on the course is the 402 metre 1st, anything right on this hole is OOB as the boundary fence runs only a couple of metres away from the edge of the fairway. Both the 1st and the 327m, par 4, 2nd pose problems for any right hander who has trouble stopping the ball going right, this can also be exacerbated by the prevailing westerly/north westerly breeze.
Two of the more picturesque holes on the course are the 132 metre, par 3, 3rd and the 293 metre, par 4, 14th. Both drop down from elevated tees into the river flat, with the sand scrape on the 3rd protected by gum trees at the front and left, as well as salt bush to the rear.
All in all, this is a great little course when at it’s best, but it can get very dry early and late in the season. Although a long way from anywhere it is well worth playing a round if you get the chance.
The club offers a Mixed comp on Sundays and a Ladies comp on Wednesdays.