By David Luis Rosanna Golf Club is not in Rosanna. The address is 54 Cleveland Avenue, Lower Plenty, in a valley where the Plenty and Yarra rivers meet, about 25 minutes from the CBD.
It is a members’ club with a river on the 11th, a dam on the 18th and a history of floods and fires. It is open to members and accompanied guests only, and it scores 3.9 out of 5 in our Rosanna Golf Club review.
GCR Score: 3.9 / 5
Verdict: A solid, scenic local members’ course, but you need to belong or be brought along.
Best For: North-east Melbourne members, younger golfers, coaching clients
Think Twice If: You want a pay-and-play tee time or a published price
Last Reviewed: 11 October 2026.
At a Glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | 54 Cleveland Avenue, Lower Plenty VIC 3093 |
| Course Type | River-valley, clay-belt parkland |
| Holes | 18 |
| Course Length | 6,211m (directory listing; tee not stated) |
| Green Fees | Not published; members and accompanied guests only |
| Visitor Access | Guests must be accompanied by a member |
| Membership | Eight categories; fees by enquiry |
| Dress Code | Not confirmed from public pages |
| Founded | 1937 formed; at the present site since 1965 |
| Phone | +61 3 9431 1033 |
| Official Website | Rosanna Golf Club |
All prices are Australian dollars. Rosanna does not publish green fees or subscriptions, so none is quoted here.
Course Overview
The club history page traces roots back to Eaglemont Golf Club in 1898, then a stint as Yarra Yarra at Rosanna in 1912. The club was formed in its current guise in 1937, and H. V. Morcom designed the new course.
The present course opened on 139 acres at Lower Plenty in 1965, declared open by Governor-General Sir Dallas Brooks. It is not the Sandbelt Yarra Yarra, so do not mix them up.
Trouble in the club’s past is part of its charm. A drought in 1967 and 1968 meant hand-watering greens, floods in 1971 closed the course for eight days, and a 1974 electrical fault destroyed the clubhouse and its files. The clubhouse was rebuilt in September 1975, according to the club history page. Renovations in 1994 and 2013 brought the facilities up to date.
Standout Holes
The first hole is a gentle opener of 322m from the black tees. It heads downhill with a right dogleg, a dam on the left and out of bounds on the right.
The sixth is a par 3 of 154m from the black tees, and it plays longer into a southerly. The green is deep, so reading the pin is tricky.
The 11th is a 390m par 4 with the river running the whole right side. A right-to-left drive sets up the approach, and a back-to-front green is waiting.
The closer is a par 5 of 461m from the blacks, played over a dam. A good drive makes birdie possible, but the river lurks left and a bunker sits about 80m short of a two-tiered green.
Green Fees and Visitor Access
Rosanna is reserved for members and their guests, and guests must be accompanied by a member. The club runs a guest registration system through its member portal.
There is no public green fee listed. If you know a member, ask them to register you and check what the guest rate is.
Membership
The membership page lists eight categories. They are Full, Full 25 to 39, Full 18 to 24, Junior 12 to 17, Cadet, PGA, a Forward Tee Program for women and a Clubhouse category for people who want the social side.
Prices, joining fees and any waiting list or open/closed status are not published. The page says a proposer must be a current financial playing member of at least six months, and it does not say whether the books are open or closed. Email admin@rosanna.golf and allow up to three business days for a reply. Our guide to how to pay the joining fee and any waitlist deposit explains what to ask, and what 83 Australian Golf Clubs Actually Charge gives a price benchmark.
The age-based and cadet categories suggest the club is trying to get younger players in. That is a good sign for long-term health.
Course Conditions
The club describes itself as gaining a reputation as one of Victoria’s premier clay-belt courses. Clay can be soft after rain and hard in a dry January.
Improved drainage and extra water storage came with the modern upgrades. I would still check conditions after a wet week.
Facilities
- Refurbished clubhouse with a restaurant and bar overlooking the course
- Driving range and putting green
- Golf shop and a team of coaches
- Dining and events packages
Best Time to Visit
Autumn and spring suit this valley. March to May is mild, and September to November is when the turf is fresh.
Winter can leave the low holes damp, and high summer heat brings firm, dry clay. Avoid the days straight after a big storm if you can.
How to Get There
The club is at 54 Cleveland Avenue, Lower Plenty, roughly 25 minutes from Melbourne CBD. It sits near the Plenty and Yarra river junction in the north-east. Parking is on site.
Dress Code
I could not confirm a dress code from the public pages. Plan on neat golf attire and soft-spike shoes, and check with your member host.
Who Is Rosanna For?
This club is a good fit if you live in Heidelberg, Eltham, Greensborough or Doncaster and want a friendly local with a decent course. The cadet and age-based categories help younger golfers.
Skip it if you want a destination round or a public tee time. Rosanna is a members’ club first.
Nearby Alternatives
- Box Hill members club as another eastern suburbs members’ club.
- The Eastern Golf Club at Yering for a larger private option out at Yering.
- the Royal Melbourne benchmark for the benchmark Sandbelt test.
See all north-east Melbourne and wider Victorian reviews for more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can visitors play at Rosanna Golf Club?
Not on their own. The course is reserved for members and their guests, and guests must be accompanied by a member. Guests register through the club’s member portal, so a member needs to arrange it. No public green fee is listed.
Where is Rosanna Golf Club?
It is at 54 Cleveland Avenue, Lower Plenty VIC 3093, in the valley where the Plenty and Yarra rivers meet. The drive from Melbourne CBD takes about 25 minutes, and the club has on-site parking. The club is not in the suburb of Rosanna.
How long is Rosanna Golf Club?
A directory listing gives 6,211m for the 18 holes, without naming the tee. The club publishes hole yardages for black, white, gold and blue tees, so check the scorecard for your tee. The par 5 closing hole measures 461m from the black tees.
What membership categories does Rosanna Golf Club offer?
The club lists Full, Full 25 to 39, Full 18 to 24, Junior 12 to 17, Cadet, PGA, a women’s Forward Tee Program and a Clubhouse membership. Fees, waiting lists and open/closed status are not published online. Applicants need a proposer who has been a financial playing member for at least six months, so email the club office and allow up to three business days for a reply.
Who designed Rosanna Golf Club?
The club history credits H. V. Morcom with designing the course. The current Lower Plenty site opened in 1965 on 139 acres, and renovations followed in 1994 and 2013.
Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- River and dam hazards give the course a clear identity.
- Eight membership categories including cadet and clubhouse.
- Hole-by-hole yardages published for four tees.
- Coaching, golf shop, driving range and dining on site.
- About 25 minutes from the CBD.
What Could Be Better
- Members and guests only, with guests accompanied.
- No green fees or subscriptions published.
- Clay soils can stay soft after rain.
- Flood and fire history shows the site’s exposure.
- No standout design pedigree.
Final Verdict
Rosanna Golf Club scores 3.9 out of 5. It has a pleasing river setting, a few memorable holes and a decent facilities list. Our review methodology explains the scoring.
It loses marks for closed access and zero published pricing. For a local who wants a friendly club, though, it is worth an enquiry.
See how it stacks up against Australia’s best in our Best Golf Clubs in Australia roundup.
Author Note
I score suburban members’ courses on setting, design and access, and I deduct points when a club publishes no prices.
Last reviewed: 11 October 2026. Rates and access can change; confirm directly before travelling.
