Best Golf Courses for Kids in Melbourne's Eastern Suburbs
Three council-run public courses across Croydon, Glen Waverley and Ringwood, each with structured junior coaching and clear junior green fees.
Melbourne's eastern suburbs have a run of council-operated public courses with structured, affordable junior coaching and clearly published junior green fees.
Dorset Golf Course — Croydon
Dorset Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-69 public course run by Maroondah Leisure, with a driving range, teaching pro and practice areas.
Runs MyGolf Junior Term Clinics (ages 5-12, up to 16, small class sizes) and School Holiday Programs (ages 8+, $35 per session), plus individual junior lessons from $65 for 30 minutes with PGA professional Darren Rowland.
Glen Waverley Public Golf Course — Glen Waverley
Glen Waverley Public Golf Course is an 18-hole, tree-lined parkland course beside Jells Park, running more than 45,000 rounds a year.
Runs a well-documented four-level junior pathway ("Shark to Tiger") for ages 6-14 aimed at building toward an official handicap, at $28.50 per 45-minute lesson (or a fortnightly $57 billing option), with a $50 enrolment fee and discounts for multiple children.
Ringwood Golf Course — Ringwood
Ringwood Golf Course is an 18-hole public course open seven days a week, also run by Maroondah Leisure.
Offers the same MyGolf Term Clinic and School Holiday Program structure as Dorset, plus clear junior green fees: $16 for 9 holes any day, well below the standard adult rate.
Which has the clearest junior pricing?
Ringwood's flat $16 junior green fee for 9 holes, every day of the week, is the simplest pricing of the three for a family wanting to just turn up and play.
At a glance
The 3 venues covered in this guide, side by side. "Junior program on file" means our directory holds specific evidence of a junior program, clinic or membership pathway at that club - not simply that children are permitted to play.
| Course | Holes | Type | Public access | Junior program on file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorset Golf Course (Croydon) | 18 | Full-length course | Public | Yes |
| Glen Waverley Public Golf Course (Glen Waverley) | 18 | Full-length course | Public | Yes |
| Ringwood Golf Course (Ringwood) | 18 | Full-length course | Public | Yes |
Compiled from our course directory records for the venues listed in this guide. Clubs change their junior offerings and access rules between seasons - confirm current details with the club before travelling.
How to read this
Public access is the column most worth checking first. "Public" means anyone can book a tee time. "Limited / conditional" means visitor access exists but comes with conditions - a member introduction, restricted days, or a booking window. "Private members' club" means casual visitor play generally is not available, and a junior would usually need a member connection or a place in a club program.
Every venue in this guide is a full-length course. For a child who has never played a full round, consider starting on the practice facilities or asking the club whether juniors can play a shortened loop, since a full 18 is a long walk for a beginner.
Before you book
3 of these 3 venues have a junior program, clinic or junior membership pathway recorded in our directory: Dorset Golf Course, Glen Waverley Public Golf Course, Ringwood Golf Course. Those are the ones most likely to have coaching, junior competition or a structured pathway rather than only green-fee access.
All the venues listed here are recorded as public access, so a parent can normally book without a member connection. Tee-time availability still varies, especially on weekend mornings.
Two questions are worth asking on the phone that club websites rarely answer clearly: whether juniors pay a discounted green fee when playing with a paying adult, and whether the club hires out junior clubs. Both make a first visit considerably cheaper, and both are common even at clubs that don't advertise them.