forestresort.com.au

Hole Information

Forest Resort is situated on sacred land of the Dja Dja Wurrung People. An Indigenous Land Use Agreement was finalised on 25 June 2006 between Forest Resort and the traditional land owners, the Dja Dja Wurrung People. This is the first time such an agreement was successfully negotiated between traditional owners of the land and a golf course owner.

To signify the importance of the traditional owners each of the holes were named after important symbols of the Dja Dja Wurrung People.

Hole 1 - BOLEANG

The drive is played from an elevated tee to a gentle valley. The second shot is played uphill to a green terraced into a hillside.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Boleang (Bat) is a special symbol of the Dja Dja Wurrung. Boleang is the messenger for the clans and its presence always was a warning to Elders and children of certain dangers.

Hole 2 - NALDERUN

The drive is played across a ridge sloping from right to left. The green is located in an amphitheatre with a steep down-slope beyond.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Nalderun (all together) is the symbol of communication, strength and solidarity. The main foreground figures represent the protectors of the clans in the background.

Hole 3 - LARR

A challenging Par 3 with a pond short to the left of a green well below the teeing ground and guarded by two large bunkers beyond.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Larr (Camp) is a symbol of traditional camp site and clan groups. Heavy dot represents an elder of each clan, the guardian and spokesperson.

Hole 4 - YEPENE

The drive is played from tees adjacent a small ornamental pond, to a steeply upward sloping fairway with more than ample bunkering to catch wayward drives. The green is obscured near the top of the ridgeline and is sympathetically concave to help the approach shots.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Yepene (Corroboree) is a ceremonial custom performed regularly amongst all clans locally and nationally. Figures are symbolic of communication, unity and strength.

Hole 5 - GHEERARNAL

A strong Par 5 played across a ridge sloping from left to right. The fairway is wide but presents two fairway breaks to encourage strategic planning. The green is slightly elevated, compact and contoured at the rear.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Gheerarnal (Perch) is a native food source located in all fresh water streams and lakes in Dja Dja Wurrung country. An important part of the clans diet.

Hole 6 - MUNNAR-KAREEK

Another Par 5, this time downhill from the tee and continues sharply uphill on approach to the green. A spectacular gateway to the green has to be negotiated through the virtual canopy of trees. This hole can prove to be a test of nerve.

Dja Wurrang meaning - Munnar-Kareek (Huntsmen) this symbol depicts the importance of survival. Elder and student with Dja weapons hunting native game as part of initiation.

Hole 7 - GOORA

A sublime Par 4, dog-leg to the left. It is within easy reach of everyone in two shots and drive-able at times for the strong player. The long oval shaped green will appeal to the thinking golfer. An old mine shaft complements the scene at the rear of the green.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Goora (Kangaroo) is a native food source. Flesh is a major diet (no cholesterol) and other parts such as bones, sinews and claws for ceremonial and hunting implements.

Hole 8 - BARRAMUL

A magnificent Par 3 to an obscured green. You can see most of the pin and the green feeds the ball left to right on landing. Set in a perfect sheltered area the hole was built by nature and is pure and simple Australian bush-land golf.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Barramul (Emu) is a native food source. Flesh is a major diet (no cholesterol) with fat used for preservation of hunting implements and medicinal purposes and feathers for ceremonial purposes.

Hole 9 - BUNYA

One of the most spectacular tee shots on the course. Playing back toward the hotel with the fairway far beneath the elevated tee it beckons and it's tempting going for an all out drive. Just mind the large bunker to the right and the ever present overhanging gum tree limbs.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Bunya (Ring Tail Possum) is a native food source with skins used for making cloaks for weather conditions. Each pelt was sewn together with incised symbols on clean side representing maps of clans country. Up to 50 pelts were used on each cloak.

Hole 10 - YOURKOON

This dog-leg left Par 5 again commences from an elevated tee. The hole is not daunting in length but a well positioned pond short left of the green will see plenty of passers by and passers in. Two large deep bunkers await the water shy at the back of a large green that is beneath fairway level.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Yourkoon (Goanna) is a native food source with oil used for weapon preservation and medicinal purposes.

Hole 11 - TARRIEN

This steady uphill journey will require accurate shots from the tee and a positive approach to a green that is deeper than many others at Forest Resort. Set amongst native gums and wattles it is a must hit fairway from the tee.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Tarrien (Moth) is a native food source and also used at certain time of year for ceremonial festivals.

Hole 12 - WEERAP

This narrow driving hole presents an exhilarating second shot to a plateau green with deep bunkering to the left. Be sure to give the second shot height to carry all the way into the middle of the large green.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Weerap (Cod) is the largest native fresh water fish and food source for diet in all major rivers and lakes in Dja Dja Wurrung country.

Hole 13 - WOOROOMOOK

A great example of the quality of the site and the strong finish you are about to enjoy. Spectacular scenery beyond the green guarded, yet again by water. This is a pure breathtaking example of golf in the tranquil Aussie bush.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Wooroomook (Tortoise) is a native food source for diet and shell used for water and eating utensils. Claws are often used for implements.

Hole 14 - YOYLANIL

We go to another level in this challenge. A drive to a bottlenecking fairway, then a dog-leg to the right. A second shot to a sand guarded, but a benign green set in a tight corner is your reward for a drive in play. A hole you could drop into any world top 100 course.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Yoylanil (Echidna) is a native food source with quills used for cultural necklaces and ceremonial meetings.

Hole 15 - WYCHARARNG

More challenge and amazing scenery. An elevated tee to a generous fairway with most shots bumping to the left on landing. A massive lake is to be carried on the approach to a green that will hold the ball well. Of course, you can take the narrow "safe" way home alongside the lake to the left. But look out, it's narrow along there.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Wychararng (Platypus) is one of the oldest living native species in the world today. Claws and bill are often used in ceremonial practices.

Hole 16 - WIRRIMUL

A steady uphill par 5 with a narrow pathway to the green. Deceptively long on the approach it is a hole that will yield birdies with accurate play and sound putting on an exposed green.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Wirrimul (Owl) is a mythical nocturnal bird feared not only by Dja Dja Wurrung but other tribes. The owl is regarded as the messenger of bad times such as of death.

Hole 17 - MINDYE

The last of the memorable downhill shots Forest Resort is famous for. This time the green is set low with plenty of shade, water and sand for your final one shot examination. On this occasion the distance is lesser but the accuracy is a premium.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Mindye (Snake) was a large mythical snake that possessed great evil powers. Mindye was feared by the Dja Dja Wurrung and also the Murray River clans.

Hole 18 - BORA

Your final test is over a strong distance and gently uphill. The hotel beckons beyond the green but first you need an accurate drive and a long carrying second shot from a gentle upslope to a green cambering from left to right and back to front. Club yourself to the top of the pin.

Dja Dja Wurrang meaning - Bora (Ceremonial Ground) is the most powerful symbol not only accepted in Dja Dja Wurrung country but nationally and internationally throughout other indigenous cultures. The symbol is the age old immemorial concentric circle meaning the circle of communication. In short it also represents growth and respect.