Impasse over Royal Park’s eighth tee sparks calls for urgent fix

A long-running dispute over the eighth hole at Royal Park Gold Course has come to a head, with club representatives calling for urgent action to restore what they describe as the course’s “signature hole” to its former glory.

Bruce Sutherland, speaking on behalf of the four golf clubs based at Royal Park, used public question time at the City of Melbourne’s February 3 Future Melbourne Committee meeting to press councillors for a resolution.

“The stakeholder meeting with the clubs and the Melbourne City Council must be convened as soon as possible so the decision can be made and implemented that works effectively for us all,” Mr Sutherland said.

In a written submission to council, Mr Sutherland described the 123-year-old public course as a “gem” enjoyed by around 60,000 golfers each year, primarily Melbourne residents. He said the controversy stemmed from a decision in May last year to move the tee on the eighth hole to a temporary forward position.

The eighth runs alongside the Royal Melbourne Rehabilitation Hospital car park and Poplar Rd. Over the years, errant tee shots have damaged cars, prompting safety concerns. In 1983, following expert advice and consultation with stakeholders, a large protective fence was erected to prevent balls entering the car park and road. According to Mr Sutherland, the fence “fixed the problem”.

When that fence deteriorated, some damage reoccurred, but it was replaced with a significantly higher barrier in 2019. Mr Sutherland said there was “no evidence of any damage to cars or people subsequently”.

Despite this, the tee was relocated last year as a temporary safety measure following reports of golf balls leaving the course. Cr Gladys Liu told the February 3 meeting that the council had undertaken a safety risk assessment and moved the tee to reduce risk to park users and the wider community. The six-month review period ended in January 2026, with no further safety incidents reported.

However, Mr Sutherland argued the new position – located in front of the protective net – had reintroduced risk while undermining the integrity of the hole. In his submission, he described the temporary tee as “unsightly, poorly managed and almost impossible to put tees into”, saying it “ruins the experience of playing this iconic hole”.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece, who visited the course last July and has publicly praised its Peter Thomson-designed layout, acknowledged the issue at the meeting.

He suggested options such as upgrading the cyclone fencing to minimise risk while reinstating the original tee location but emphasised the need to properly investigate alternatives.

Mr Sutherland expressed surprise at some of the commentary, saying he was speaking at the request of the four club presidents and captains, and hinting at a breakdown in communication.

Council officers said improvements to irrigation, landscaping and seating around the tee area were planned, and that safety would continue to be monitored over the next six months while long-term options were considered.

For Royal Park’s golfing community, however, the issue is about more than turf and fencing. As Mr Sutherland put it, they are seeking a solution “that works effectively for players, the public and the City of Melbourne” – and one that restores a much-loved hole to its intended design. •