The shine of an international audience might be a little overwhelming for any newcomer in the world of professional golf, but not for the team at Murray Downs Golf and Country Club.
For the longest time Murray Downs has been a spectacular challenge for any golfer at any level. It just needed someone to show the world the incredible offering.
Golf NSW spoke to CEO Greg Roberts about the planning and the pride in hosting the Ford NSW Open and how much it has meant to the region.
Golf NSW: We’re here with Greg Roberts, CEO of Murray Downs Golf and Country Club. Greg, you and your team have done a phenomenal job. We’ve heard a lot of feedback about the course over the last few days—international and national coverage—highlighting Murray Downs as a standout. Some even say that if it were a little closer to Melbourne, it would rank among the top 25 courses in the country. The course is absolutely immaculate. Tell me, how did you go about preparing the course for this week?
Greg Roberts: We were really honored to be given the opportunity to host this event, and the whole team has been focused on it for the better part of six to 12 months. Planning started early, so we’ve had plenty of time to prepare. Coming out of what was a cool winter, the team has done an amazing job getting the golf course to where it is now. From our event staff to the club staff, and even the 154 volunteers we have here for the week, everyone has been enthusiastic and eager to be part of it.
Many golfers have said the course is tricky, mentioning grain here and there that they had to consider. Was making the course challenging part of your strategy?
GR: We focused on risk and reward. The course is set up so that if you aim for the “tiger line” and get it wrong, you’ll be punished and lose shots. However, there are always safer options if you choose to bail out. Around the entire course, it’s about how much risk you’re willing to take on. If you take the risk and succeed, you’ll reap the rewards. If not, you face the consequences.
Tell me about your team. What advice did you give them for the setup, and how many people are involved?
GR: We typically have just 10 green staff and a mechanic in our regular team. This week, we brought in an additional five or six volunteers. Our mantra has been about focusing on the “one percenters”—the little things that make a big difference. We talked to the team three or four months ago about how even small, extra efforts would pay off over time. Instead of scrambling a week before the tournament, we ensured consistency and quality in the lead-up.
The team has done a fantastic job. Our new golf course superintendent, Paul Robinson, has only been here 12 months and has done an amazing job. He came to us from Cohuna, also on the Murray. Taking on a role like this was an opportunity too good for him to pass up.
The course has changed a lot over the past 10 years, with taller trees making it more challenging.
GR: Absolutely. A lot of credit goes to Ted Parslow, the original designer. The idea was that over time, trees would grow to block certain lines, increasing the challenge. While there’s plenty of fairway if you hit it, missing it leaves you with few easy shots out of the trees. The course design is well thought out, and we’re grateful for his vision.
What does hosting this event mean for the Murray Downs brand and your plans for the club?
GR: We’re incredibly proud to host this event, the third-richest in Australia, and to showcase such a high-quality course. As you mentioned, if we were closer to Melbourne, we’d be rated much higher. Visitors who come here are often amazed by how good it is. This event helps build our brand for the next five to 10 years, showing off the facility and the region. We hope more people will make the extra effort to visit.
In your strategic plan for the next decade, where do you see Murray Downs in terms of Australia’s top golf courses?
GR: We’re currently the top course on the Murray River, and we’d like to grow into one of the best regional courses in Australia. We’re not trying to be the number-one golf course in the country, but we aim to provide a high-quality service and experience that exceeds expectations.
The accommodation and course itself stand out compared to other options along the Murray.
GR: Exactly. It’s not that much further to travel, and when you get here, you’re playing on the best regional experience you can find—not just along the Murray but in regional Victoria and New South Wales.
Hosting this event has shown that the course can handle itself against the world’s best golfers.
GR: 100%. This course protects itself. Even with the best golfers in the world, they aren’t scoring 18, 19, or 20-under after two days here. The course has its challenges, and even top players like Cameron Smith have to work for their scores.
Finally, what’s your message to golfers considering a trip to Murray Downs?
GR: Whether you’re from regional Victoria, metro Victoria, regional NSW, or even Adelaide, you’ll be blown away by the quality of the course. It challenges all skill levels. If you’re a low handicapper, you can take the risky lines. If you’re a higher handicapper, you can opt for safer routes and still enjoy a fantastic experience. It’s a high-quality course with an interesting design, water features, and bunkers—a true test of skill.
Fantastic, Greg. Congratulations!
