Regional golf on the rise
Neangar Park Golf Club is no longer just one of Bendigo’s best-kept golfing secrets. With more than 53,000 rounds played in 2025, competitions running seven days a week and a growing reputation for quality, value and accessibility, this thriving regional Victorian club is fast becoming one of the state’s most impressive golf facilities.
Located in Eaglehawk, just minutes from central Bendigo, Neangar Park has long been regarded as a friendly, welcoming and enjoyable place to play. But in recent years, the club has taken significant steps forward, investing in its course, practice facilities, junior pathways and overall visitor experience. The result is a club that continues to attract strong support from members, local golfers, juniors, families, social groups and travelling players looking for an affordable and enjoyable country golf experience.
At the heart of Neangar Park’s appeal is a golf course that provides a genuine test for all standards of player. It is not a long course by modern standards, but that is part of its charm and challenge. This is a layout that rewards good course management, accurate approach play and a steady touch on and around the greens.
The course’s greatest defence is its putting surfaces. Large, undulating and consistently presented in excellent condition, the greens at Neangar Park ask plenty of questions. They can be generous in size, but finding the right section of the green is often the key to scoring well. Miss in the wrong place and a straightforward par can quickly become a difficult two-putt or a testing up-and-down.
For regular players, that creates plenty of variety from round to round. For visitors, it adds interest and character to a course that is very playable but never dull. Whether you are a low-marker looking to sharpen your game or a social golfer simply looking for an enjoyable day out, Neangar Park offers a balanced and rewarding golfing experience.
A major reason for the club’s recent growth has been the quality of its playing surfaces throughout the year. Regional golf clubs are often judged on consistency, and Neangar Park has worked hard to provide members and visitors with reliable conditions in every season. That commitment has helped build confidence among golfers, who know they can arrive at the club and enjoy a well-presented course regardless of the time of year.
More than 53,000 rounds in a year is a significant achievement for any regional club, and it reflects both the strength of the local golfing community and the appeal of the facility itself. With competitions available seven days a week, Neangar Park has created an environment where golfers can play when it suits, whether they are committed members, shift workers, retirees, weekend golfers or visitors passing through the Bendigo region.
Neangar Park Golf Club, a thriving club in regional Victoria and a one of the state’s most impressive golf facilities.
The club has also recognised that the future of golf relies on more than simply maintaining a strong 18-hole course. In recent years, Neangar Park has expanded its facilities to create more pathways into the game. The addition of a 12-bay driving range has been a major boost, giving golfers of all abilities a convenient place to practise, warm up before a round or simply enjoy a casual hit.
For established golfers, the range provides an important training facility. For newcomers, it offers a relaxed and accessible introduction to the game. Not everyone is ready to step straight onto an 18-hole course, and facilities such as driving ranges play an increasingly important role in making golf less intimidating and more enjoyable for beginners.
The development of a nine-hole short course, complete with bent grass greens, has been another important step in Neangar Park’s evolution. Short courses are becoming an essential part of modern golf facilities, and Neangar Park’s version has already proven valuable in attracting juniors, families and new golfers. It allows beginners to experience the fun of playing on-course golf without the time, pressure or difficulty of a full-length layout.
For families, the short course is a wonderful addition. Parents can introduce children to golf in a more relaxed environment, while juniors can develop their skills and confidence before progressing to the main course. For experienced players, it also offers a chance to fine-tune wedge play and putting, making it a useful facility for all levels.
The focus on juniors is particularly fitting for a club with such a proud record of developing elite talent. LIV Golf and Ripper GC star Lucas Herbert is one of Neangar Park’s most famous golfing products, having come through the club’s junior program before going on to success on the world stage. Australian PGA Tour player Andrew Martin is another outstanding player with links to the club’s junior pathway.
Both Herbert and Martin returned to compete in Neangar Park’s recent Pro-Am, held in December, creating a memorable occasion for the club and its members. For young golfers at Neangar Park, seeing players of that calibre return to where their journey began is powerful. It shows that regional clubs can play a major role in developing talent and that a pathway from local junior golf to professional success is very real.
While elite success stories are something to celebrate, Neangar Park’s broader strength lies in its accessibility. This is a club that welcomes golfers of all ages and abilities. Its facilities are designed not only for experienced club golfers, but also for juniors, families, casual players, social groups and visitors.
That welcoming attitude extends to group bookings, which are encouraged at Neangar Park. For golf groups travelling through regional Victoria, the club represents excellent value. With green fees at $45 for 18 holes, it offers an affordable round on a quality course in a region that continues to grow as a golf and lifestyle destination.
Bendigo and its surrounding areas have plenty to offer visitors, from history and culture to food, wine and accommodation. For travelling golfers, Neangar Park provides another strong reason to include the region on the itinerary. It is a course that can be enjoyed by a broad range of players and a club that delivers the relaxed hospitality country golf is known for.
A 12-bay driving range has been a welcome and popular addition at Neangar Park.
The addition of 20 new Club Car Tempo lithium golf carts with GPS capabilities has further improved the experience for members and visitors. Modern cart fleets are an important part of any progressive golf operation, particularly for older golfers, travelling groups and players who prefer or require motorised transport. The GPS capabilities also add convenience and course knowledge, helping golfers navigate the layout and manage their rounds more effectively.
These improvements reflect a club that is looking forward. Neangar Park has not simply relied on its history or its existing member base. It has continued to invest in facilities that broaden its appeal, strengthen participation and position the club for long-term growth.
That growth is already evident in the increased number of juniors and families beginning their golfing journey at the club. In a sport that is constantly looking for ways to become more inclusive, accessible and family-friendly, Neangar Park is providing a strong regional example. By combining a quality 18-hole course with a driving range, a short course, junior pathways and affordable green fees, the club is creating multiple entry points into golf.
For members, this means a vibrant and active club environment. For visitors, it means a facility that is easy to enjoy. For the Bendigo region, it means a golf club that continues to contribute to local sport, tourism and community life.
Neangar Park Golf Club is a club on the move. Its course is beautifully presented, its greens provide a genuine challenge, its facilities continue to improve and its commitment to juniors and families is helping secure the future. Add in strong competition fields, outstanding value and a welcoming regional atmosphere, and it is easy to see why Neangar Park is earning wider recognition.
A deserving choice as Inside Golf’s Club of the Month for August, Neangar Park Golf Club represents so much of what makes Australian regional golf special: quality, character, community and opportunity.
For golfers planning a trip through central Victoria, or locals looking for a club that offers far more than just a round of golf, Neangar Park Golf Club should be high on the list.
More information:
Neangar Park Golf Club
7 Averys Road, Eaglehawk VIC 3556
Pro Shop: (03) 5446 8223
proshop@neangarparkgc.com
www.neangarparkgc.com
Neangar Park to host WPGA qualifying event
A week of professional golf in the Bendigo region in Central Victoria, highlighted by the Australian WPGA Qualifying School, is set to bring together a collection of quality male and female professionals from around the country.
Scheduled to kick off on Monday, December 14, Bendigo courses will host five pro-ams, a number which represents considerable growth after only two events were staged in 2024.
However, while the pro-ams will be keenly contested, so too will the 36-hole WPGA Qualifying tournament, an event featuring a field of aspiring golfers taking their first steps into the professional ranks.
“The WPGA Tour of Australia is so excited to be bringing our annual Qualifying Tournament to Neangar Park Golf Club, and I would like to say a huge thank you to GM Danny McGrath and the Board for making this possible,” WPGA CEO Karen Lunn said.
“The Qualifying Tournament is a hugely important event for our Tour, and over the past few years it has been so exciting to watch players come through this event and go on to feature regularly on our leaderboards, and for some to progress further on to some of the major women’s tours.”
Lucas Herbert is one of Neangar Park’s most famous golfing products.
McGrath and the Neangar Park club were looking forward to hosting such a significant event on the WPGA Tour schedule.
“Neangar Park Golf Club is incredibly proud to have been selected as the host venue for the 2026 WPGA Qualifying School,” McGrath expressed.
“Welcoming some of Australia’s most talented female professional and amateur golfers to Bendigo is a significant milestone, not only for Neangar Park but for golf throughout the region.
“We look forward to working closely with Karen Lunn and the WPGA Tour and welcoming players, officials and spectators to what promises to be an outstanding week of golf in December.”
The WPGA qualifying school tees off on Monday, Tuesday, December14-15, with the Neangar Park Pro-Am to follow on Wednesday, December 16.
Leading Australian professionals Lucas Herbert and Andrew Martin, who both hail from the Bendigo region, took part in the Neangar Park Pro-am in 2025.
The post REGIONAL CLUB OF THE MONTH: Neangar Park Golf Club first appeared on Inside Golf. Australia's Most-Read Golf Magazine as named by Australian Golfers - FREE.
Article Link: https://www.insidegolf.com.au/course-reviews/victoria/regional-club-of-the-month-neangar-park-golf-club/