A round of golf is not always about playing 18 holes, nor is it about tough challenges and breaking handicaps.
Golf is meant to be fun and you don’t have to search too far to find a short course – whether it’s a nine-hole layout, an all par-3 course, even a two-club pitch-and-putt – that offers plenty of affordable golfing fun.
Here, we’ve short-listed the 50 short courses from around the nation where you will have a great time with friends and family no matter how good their game is.
TASMANIA
BOUGLE RUN
Bougle Run (pictured above) only officially opened for play six months ago and is already regarded as one of the best short courses in the world.
The 14-hole layout – consisting of 12 par-3s and two short par-4s – is already proving as popular as its older siblings, Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm.
Designed by Lost Farm creator Bill Coore, Bougle Run is all about fun golf for players of all abilities as it twists and turns over and through dramatic sand dunes.
One of the highlights of a Bougle Run round is the first of the two par-4s. At 253 metres, and slightly downhill, the 4th is easily reachable. The tee shot must carry a scrub-filled chasm to reach the fairway, which is littered with bunkers on a direct line to the receptive right half of the green. You can, however, play left off all the sandy trouble, but it will leave a more difficult short pitch to the flag.
Forward tees, even on the 4th, were specifically created to allow novices and beginners to play the hole with a putter. Brilliant!
Green fee: $70 (14 holes).
FLINDERS ISLAND
Covering rolling and sandy terrain, the Flinders Island course enjoys picturesque views over Bass Strait to the west and the island’s rugged interior to the east.
This links layout is a wonderful design – kneaded and pushed into shape primarily by Mother Nature – that is well-exposed to the wind adding plenty to the challenge. Apparently, the layout – which runs primarily north and south with some sharp doglegs – has only been parred (as 18 holes) once in the past four decades.
Green fee: $15 (nine holes).
No website
GREENS BEACH GC
Drive as far as you can north of Launceston, on the western side of the Tamar River, and you will eventually roll into the beautiful seaside village of Greens Beach.
Lying in the centre of town is the Greens Beach GC, home to one of Tasmania’s most enjoyable nine-hole courses.
The natural bumps and swales of the terrain laid the foundation for a simple but challenging layout, that is great fun for all players.
Green fee: $25 (day fee).
KING ISLAND G&BC
The King Island Golf and Bowling Club will celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2022, but its only in recent years that it has become more widely appreciated.
The opening of Cape Wickham in 2015 and nearby Ocean Dunes the following year not only put the little Bass Strait island on the global golfing map, it also led a legion of golfers to discover the aforementioned nine-hole links gem.
And what an impression it has made. Long considered one of Australia’s top short courses, King Island G&BC was recently named among the best nine-holers in the world by an American golf publication.
The course – with 12 greens and alternate tees for both nines – covers rolling links land, exposing all its holes to the violent antics of the Southern Ocean’s ‘Roaring Forties’ winds.
The opening two holes set the scene for a fun round. The first drive is blind to a fairway angled away and off to a green set hard against the base of a long sand dune. It’s not by any means the most difficult par-4 you will play but it is a lot of fun.
The same can be said for the 2nd/11th, which plays along the ridge of the aforementioned sand dune. The fairway is wide enough but the player who is too aggressive will watch as their ball bounds off the firm fairway into the rough, only to be left with a difficult shot into the smallish green, which slopes markedly from left-to-right and is cut into the edge of a high dune.
By the time you reach the holes nearest the shoreline, you’ll be trying to work out if you have time for another nine. Of course, you do!
Green fee: $40 (nine holes).
QUAMBY ESTATE
Quamby Estate is a boutique homestead surrounded by a nine-hole course, which offers panoramic mountain views in almost every direction during a round.
The estate was the ancestral home of Tasmania’s first-born Premier, Sir Richard Dry, and has been beautifully restored throughout, while the course surrounding the homestead has another knight – Sir Richard Branson – as its No.1 member.
Designed by one of Australia’s greatest ever amateurs, Peter Toogood, and built by local Ian McFarlane in the early 1990s, Quamby is an easy-walking par-37 with just one par-3 – the 158-metre 2nd hole. Here, the tee shot must carry the edge of a small lake and a huge bunker stretched across the front edge of the large putting surface.
The fairways are lined by large mature pines, oaks and a host of other species, while there are lakes, ponds and strategically placed bunkers adding to its scenic beauty.
Green fee: $20 (nine holes).
WYNYARD GC
Wynyard Golf Club is wedged between Bass Strait to the north and the Inglis River to the south about 30 minutes’ drive west of Burnie on the Tassie north coast.
It is a seaside course, perhaps more
tree-lined than a traditional links, but a links nonetheless.
Once you reach the back of the beach, beyond the green on the par-5 1st, you will find holes reminiscent of some small, quirky Scottish links courses that hug the edge of the North Sea.
The 354-metre par-4 2nd and the short par-4 3rd are two dogleg right holes that closely follow the shoreline to the right. On the windiest days, drives here may need to start their flight over the beach to find the middle of the fairway.
Green fee: $20 (nine holes).
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
MAWSON LAKES GC
Mawson Lakes was extensively redesigned by acclaimed course architect Neil Crafter as part of the multi-million-dollar sports precinct development at the University of South Australia.
Since the project was completed in 2013, the bentgrass greens and kikuyu fairways have improved significantly, while the strategy of the layout has also been enhanced.
The par-4 3rd hole forces players to shape their shots and the par-4 6th features water down the left from tee to green. But the drivable, 260-metre par-4 9th is arguably the most enjoyable hole.
Green fees: $17 (nine holes Tuesday to Sunday); $15 (Mondays).
www.mawsonlakesgolfclub.com.au
REGENCY PARK GC
Regency Park was first established in 1977 and has gained a reputation for offering good-quality playing surfaces and an enjoyable range of holes.
Visitors will find three par-3s, four par-4s and two par-5s, played twice from dual tee blocks to create the 5,622-metre par-70 layout.
Course architect Neil Crafter has improved the quality of the holes in recent years and today it is an easy-to-walk course that appeals to everyone from beginners to more established players with its generous fairways, interesting and challenging green complexes and large bunkers.
Regency Park will soon open Shanx @ Regency Park mini golf, to offer an even broader and enjoyable golfing experience.
Green fees: $20 (nine holes, weekdays); $22 (weekends).
COPPERCLUB PORT HUGHES
Designed by Greg Norman on the beautiful Yorke Peninsula, two hours northwest of Adelaide, CopperClub has some of the best playing surfaces in South Australia.
Visitors will find 18 sets of tees across the nine-hole layout, which is made up of two par-5s, two par-3s and five par-4s.
One of those par-4s – the 294-metre 2nd – is considered among the best short two-shotters in the country. It is a terrific short four with an expansive sandy wasteland bunker to the left and visually striking, intimidating bunkers guarding the right-front portion of the green. This creates choices for line and length that vary considerably depending on wind direction and speed. Unless the drive is long and true, lay up your approach left of the bunkers and chip it on from there.
Ideally, you should play away from the flag if it is in front of the pot bunker, which is cut in the middle of the massive double green shared with the 5th hole.
Green fee: $36 (nine holes)
VICTORIA
APOLLO BAY GC
Apollo Bay is one of Victoria’s most popular summer tourist destinations along the famous Great Ocean Road.
For any visiting golfer, the town’s little nine-hole course will be a memorable stop.
Located on Point Bunbury, Apollo Bay is an exposed links with commanding ocean views, none better than standing over a putt on the 3rd green.
The nine-hole course has four par-3s and five par-4s, with alternate tees on some holes and two greens on another, all of which makes for an interesting and enjoyable round.
Green fee: $25 (all day ticket).
AUSSIE GOLF RANCH
The Aussie Golf Ranch’s Saltwater Creek is a links style par-3 course that is the brainchild of PGA professional Rohan Walker, who dreamed of a course where he could teach kids the basics of the game whilst also providing a challenging layout for golfers of all abilities.
He found 23 acres of coastal dunes, about 100 metres from a secluded sandy beach on Red Rocks Bay and just a few minutes’ drive west of Cowes on Phillip Island.
Acclaimed course designer Ross Watson was commissioned to design the nine-hole par-3 course and his dream to strike a balance for juniors and accomplished players was achieved.
The course, with holes between 103 and 183 metres, has nearly 20 bunkers, water on many holes and grass-covered mounds surrounding each green. The G2 bentgrass greens have plenty of movement and are beautifully presented.
The ranch is also home to a great nine-hole two-club pitch and putt course, with holes between 22 and 54 metres, makes for a lot of fun for all golfers.
Green fee: $20 (nine holes).
BARWON HEADS GC – PAR-3 COURSE
Barwon Heads is rated among the finest courses in Australia. But there is more terrific golf on offer than what the championship course presents.
The club also has a brilliant par-3 layout, which was redesigned a few years ago by the highly-acclaimed design team of Neil Crafter and Paul Mogford of Golf Strategies.
The wintergreen couch putting surfaces are set up to roll slower and accommodate the undulating greens, which really add to the fun to be had in a round. The most memorable hole here is the 8th, which was inspired by
the famous Dell hole at Lahinch in Ireland, and features a thin green squeezed between high mounds.
Green fee: $10 (nine holes).
CERBERUS GC
Cerberus is one of the Mornington Peninsula’s hidden golfing gems.
For nearly 80 years, until 1999, the course could only be played by defence personnel
at HMAS Cerberus. In fact, the course today is the fourth incarnation of a layout at Cerberus, which was originally the Flinders Naval Depot.
Today, golfers can enjoy beautiful views of Western Port Bay and Hann’s Inlet, while enjoying the layout’s tree-lined kikuyu fairways and bentgrass/poa annua greens.
Green fees: $17 (nine holes, weekdays); $19 (weekends).
CHELTENHAM GC
Located in the heart of the Melbourne Sandbelt, Cheltenham has a rich history dating back to 1930.
Vast areas of ti-tree and bracken were cleared to create a design overseen by Frank Lennox, the then curator of the Victoria Golf Club next door. Lennox’s creation has filled out around each hole over the years but the essence of his work, including the routing, remains.
The greens are small for the Sandbelt and the fairways relatively narrow, so this course demands accuracy, not distance. As a result, Lennox’s design has always been a challenge and has gained a reputation over the years for producing high quality junior golfers, who have gone on to professional careers including the likes of Stewart Ginn, U.S. Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy and Matt Griffin.
Two short par-4s open the round and any gains made here, can be easily lost on the 8th and 9th holes – a pair of lengthy two-shotters that run north and south and are easily influenced by the prevailing winds no matter what the time of year.
If you’re looking for a great value for money Melbourne Sandbelt experience, Cheltenham is the course.
Green fee: $26 (nine holes).
EASTERN GC – SHARK WATERS
Shark Waters at Eastern GC is a picturesque Greg Norman-designed nine-holer that has been routed around wetlands, which is a big feature of the entire property.
The course, which opened for play in 2017, has the same Grand Prix couch fairways and T1 bentgrass greens to be found on the adjoining nationally ranked 27-hole layout.
The all par-3 layout is well-suited to golfers of all standards, from juniors and beginners to professionals working on their short-iron play.
Shark Waters is open to play for members and guests.
Green fee: Contact the club for details.
EAST GEELONG GC
Lying between the beautiful Corio Bay and Geelong’s Botanical Gardens, East Geelong offers nine, well-manicured holes with alternate tees creating an enjoyable 18-hole layout.
Golf was first played here in 1923 and today boasts healthy, couch fairways and good-quality greens.
The course has six par-4s and two par-5s, while the lone par-3 is arguably East Geelong’s most memorable. The pretty 4th/13th hole lies next to the bay adding to the challenge presented by the 198-metre journey from back marker to green.
Green fees: $20 (nine holes, weekdays); $25 (weekends).
www.eastgeelonggolfclub.com.au
FRANKSTON GC
Of all the courses featured here, Frankston – often referred to as the Millionaires’ Club – is the most private and requires an invite from a member to play.
If you do ever get the chance, you’ll love the experience of this hidden Sandbelt gem. Few holes are better than the opener though. The short downhill par-4 affords players a view of Port Philip Bay in the distance as the fairway descends to the bunkered green.
Green fee: N/A.
No website available.
GEELONG GC
The original Geelong Golf Club was founded in 1892 but after 112 years the 18-hole layout was forced to close.
A decade later, in 2014, the club began its new life as a superb nine-hole creation designed by Graham Papworth.
There is a modern look to this stunning course, with well-manicured Santa Ana couch fairways and bentgrass greens, punctuated by strategically placed bunkering.
A favourite hole is the 282-metre par-4 3rd hole, which plays slightly uphill and demands an accurate tee shot to avoid trees and bunkers. Fairway bunkers left are easily reached but longer hitters may choose to blast a drive towards the green. But be wary, it is guarded in front by a scheme of five bunkers.
Green fee: $20 (nine holes)
KINGS COVE GC
The lakefront residential community at Kings Cove Metung was once grazing land but has been transformed during the past two decades with more than 15,000 trees planted and several wetlands regenerated.
The Kings Cove nine-hole course is central to the residential community.
The Ted Parslow designed layout transformed the property into a modern course, with dynamic green complexes incorporating big putting surfaces with dramatic slopes and tiers. Parslow also used bunkering sparingly in his design, especially along the fairways, but they certainly play their role in protecting most greens.
Green fee: $20 (nine holes)
LORNE CC
Lorne is a beautiful seaside resort town on the Great Ocean Road that is a tourism hotspot for those seeking sun, fun and surf.
And those visitors wise enough to pack their golf clubs for their getaway will find a quality nine-hole course that is not only fun but challenging.
Perched above the township and overlooking Louttit Bay, the current layout opened for play in 1968 and is home to an array of native fauna, including kangaroos, kookaburras and koalas. The hillside terrain ensures there are few, if any, genuine flat lies adding to the difficulty of your approach shots.
The 480-metre, par-5 opening hole is a ripping opener. A hilltop marker is the playing line for your tee shot and as you climb the crest of the hill on this sweeping right dogleg, the green comes into view … as does the ocean beyond. Shot selection for your second will tempt low markers to go long – but the towering blue gums left and right caution
the majority to play conservative to the flattest of Lorne’s fairways just short of the putting surface.
Lorne boasts three very different par-3s. The uphill 143-metre 2nd is a gem. The terraced green lies diagonally – short right to long left – to your tee shot with a crater-like bunker cut into the hill short and halfway along the putting surface. The preferred miss here is definitely to the right of the green, otherwise a really difficult recovery shot awaits.
The 124-metre 5th hole is likely to yield as many bogeys and double bogeys as it does birdies. Played from an elevated tee, the kidney-shaped green is separated from its heavily treed surrounds by a bunker left and a much larger, sprawling sandy hazard to the right. It is a great short hole, especially when the wind is strong off the water from the left.
Green fees: $25 (nine holes); $100 (weekly).
PETERBOROUGH GC
Peterborough is a par-32 that rates among the most scenic to be played in Victoria.
Located about 30 minutes’ drive east of Warrnambool en route to the world-famous Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, all of Peterborough’s holes afford ocean views.
It is a links with fast-running and undulating fairways, while the greens feature wide frontages allowing you to bump and run your shots beneath the wind. The 140-metre tee shot across a cliff on the par-3 6th hole is one of the highlights of a round here.
Green fee: $15 (nine holes).
No website available
SPRING PARK
Spring Park not only offers fun golf, but the nine-hole walk is like venturing through a setting that is part botanical garden, part typical Sandbelt, which is not surprising given its location.
The par-33 is in the Melbourne Sandbelt, so it should come as no surprise that the fairways and large greens are well-maintained, while each hole is lined by rough that offers sandy lies, not deep impossible to escape lies.
Spring Park’s opening hole sets the tone for the round. The 287-metre par-4 plays slightly uphill and there is some risk in taking a driver from the tee. The fairway narrows between gums trees about 200 metres from the tee, so lay your tee shot back to leave a full wedge into the putting surface protected by two bunkers in front.
The prettiest hole on the course is also its shortest. The 105-metre par-3 7th features water, sand and trees between tee and green, so it’s no pushover. A small pond lies in front of the tee, while tall gums also obscure the view of the left edge of the green. A typical deep Sandbelt bunker lines most of the right side of the putting surface. It might be short but this diminutive offering is a gem.
Green fees: $21.50 (nine holes, weekday); $23.50 (weekends).
TAMBO VALLEY GC
Tambo Valley is a hidden gem of the Victorian high country, lying just off the Great Alpine Rd.
The volunteer-run course is dominated by holes lined with pine trees and is surrounded by native bushland covered hills that rise steeply from the clear waters of Junction Creek, which flows through the course.
It mixes stunning views with a fun layout that consists of three par-3s, three par-4s and three par-5s.
Green fee: $20 (day pass).
www.visitomeo.com.au/visit/tambo-valley-golf-club
THE DUNES LINKS – CUPS COURSE
The Dunes on the Mornington Peninsula is not only home to the nationally-ranked links course, it also boasts a superb par-33 nine-hole course known as The Cups.
Covering similar terrain to its famous ‘big brother’, The Cups offers a shorter, fun and more forgiving links experience, which is why it is considered one of the best nine-hole courses in the country.
As you might imagine, wind is certainly a factor and a challenge to club selection, especially on the four par-3s.
Green fee: $30 (nine holes).
THIRTEENTH BEACH – SHORT COURSE
Thirteenth Beach Links is home to two nationally ranked courses – the Beach and Creek Courses – and, as of March this year, the Short Course.
The Short Course – designed by Tony Cashmore, who created the Beach layout and the Creek in collaboration with Sir Nick Faldo – is already gaining its own plaudits for the quality of its design and high standard of presentation.
Each hole of Cashmore’s diminutive creation presents a different challenge with undulating greens and surrounds dominated by run-offs and swales that will challenge all aspects of your short game, be it with a wedge or a putter.
Green fee: $30.
NSW
BONDI GOLF & DIGGERS CLUB
Founded in 1935, this is a quirky little nine-holer perched high on the clifftops at North Bondi.
The views are spectacular and the course is a lot of fun for golfers of all standards.
The par-28 has only one par-4 but the eight par-3s are all different, not only in distance but the shots you need to play to make par, which makes this layout so interesting.
One of Bondi’s most memorable tee shots, especially in the wind, comes at the 150-metre par-3 4th hole. Perched near the cliff’s edge, the tee offers incredible ocean views, while the line to the green is over a cliff-top chasm. The tee shot needs to be accurate to avoid two bunkers short of the putting surface as well as rocky outcrops to the right.
Green fees: $20 (nine holes, weekdays); $27 (weekends).
BREAKERS CC
Breakers Country Club is an easy-walking par-33 layout, separated from nearby beautiful Wamberal Beach by the equally pleasant Terrigal Lagoon.
A creek snakes its way through the course, cutting it in two, before flowing into the lagoon.
It is a lush and challenging layout – with six par-4s and three par-3s – that has become far more appealing in recent years with slight tweaks to the design and markedly improved conditioning of the fairways and greens.
Green fee: $25 (nine holes).
CRESCENT HEAD CC
Crescent Head is one of the most famous surfing towns in Australia.
As you might expect, there is an easy-going vibe in the town that extends to playing a round at the country club.
Of all the courses showcased here, Crescent Head is the most diminutive. It’s a six-hole gem found at the end of the main street and between Crescent Head and Little Nobby. Every hole offers a sea view, but it is the par-3 2nd and short par-4 3rd hole that you will find most exciting. Both holes hug the shoreline and, despite the simplicity of their design, yield as many birdies as they do bogeys and double bogeys. Terrific, fun holes, especially when the wind is really blowing.
Green fee: $16 (all day play).
LORD HOWE ISLAND
Lord Howe Island is a world-heritage listed paradise that can be reached in less than two hours flying from Sydney, Brisbane or Port Macquarie.
From the shadows of the imposing Mt. Lidgbird and Mt. Gower the course meanders through the lushly vegetated Kentia palm forest out into the gently undulating open fairways along the ocean foreshore, providing plenty of challenges and fun along the way.
Green fee: $25 (nine holes).
NORFOLK ISLAND GC
The Norfolk Island layout, located on the south-east coast, is one of the only courses on the planet located within a World Heritage site.
The sparsely treed layout winds its way across the easy-walking terrain, which hugs every bump, hollow and crease in the visually stunning landscape.
There is no better example of this wonderfully natural course design than what you will find on the 152-metre par-3 4th hole. The tee is perched above one end of a small boomerang-shaped beach, while the green is slightly obscured behind the cliff at the other end of the beach. It is a daunting tee shot. The putting surface is small and bunkerless. But a steep downslope from the top of the cliff to the right propels balls onto, or across, the green.
Green fee: $27 (nine holes).
PACIFIC BAY RESORT
Pacific Bay is a superb nine-hole par-3 course that is just as fun for families as it is for beginners and advanced golfers.
The easy-walking layout follows the natural lie of the land and features more than a dozen bunkers scattered throughout, while water comes into play on four holes.
None more so than the 9th hole, which has an island green that can only be reached by a walk bridge. A pot bunker lies front left of the putting surface, while any shot that bounces through the green is saved from a watery grave by a huge bunker wrapping around the back fringe. It’s a great finish to a fun round.
Green fee: $18 (nine holes).
PALM BEACH GC
Lying between scenic Pittwater and Palm Beach with the iconic Barrenjoey Lighthouse as a backdrop, Palm Beach has been undergoing dramatic improvements in recent times.
Craig Parry Design recently began a three-year plan to redesign all nine holes of the tight, tree-lined and gently undulating layout. The rebuild of the 4th, 5th and 6th green complexes have been completed, adding greater interest, and fun, to the shots required to score well.
And for those days when the scoring is not in your favour, enjoy the walk and the great view.
Green fee: $25 (nine holes).
SCONE GC
Opened for play in 2019, Scone is a superb nine-hole layout born out of the need to downsize due to highway construction.
Construction of a New England Highway by-pass of the Upper Hunter Valley town dissected the old layout, so the club used government funding to redevelop their course and commissioned Pacific Coast Design architect Phil Ryan to do the job.
Ryan did a great job in creating a fun and strategically interesting layout, which is enhanced by nicely manicured kikuyu fairways and bentgrass greens.
Highlights come midway through the round. The 343-metre (from the white pegs) par-4 3rd is a classic risk-and-reward hole that tempts players to chase an elusive birdie by driving close to a lake. The sharp dogleg right can be shortened considerably by driving over the corner to leave a short pitch into the green, but be wary of the lake that lines the final approach.
Parsons Gully, a creek running through the course, has been nicely incorporated into the design and comes into play at the next – a 154-metre par-3. The creek cuts diagonally across the hole and the angled green lies just beyond the hazard. There is a bunker left, while the best area to miss the large putting surface is right, but short of a large gum tree.
Green fee: $15 (nine holes).
TATHRA BEACH CC
Tathra Beach CC is a hidden gem that flows across sandy terrain on the south bank of the Bega River on the NSW South Coast.
Designed by Kel Nagle and Mike Cooper, Tathra is a nine-holer but features 12 greens and alternate tees laid out on floodplain adjoining the Bega River. This rolling topography created an ideal canvas for building golf holes and subtly sloping greens.
Green fee: $20 (nine holes).
www.tathrabeachcountryclub.com
TERREY HILLS PAR-3
Sydney’s only day and night short course is designed to be fun for every golfer, from the first-timer to the elite player, from little kids to big kids.
Beautifully designed and shaped, the diminutive 18-hole all par-3 course features well-manicured couch greens and fairways, with two sprawling bunkers and a few smaller sandy hazards coming into play.
The longest hole, the 11th, is just 88 metres, while the shortest, the 7th at 38 metres, could be reached with a putter from the tee.
Green fees: $25 (18 holes, weekdays); $27 (weekends). Discounts for kids and students. Kids under 5 free.
TEVEN VALLEY GC
Set on 10 hectares of stunning rolling terrain about 20 minutes’ drive west of Byron Bay, Teven Valley has been improving year-on-year ever since new owners took over in 2015.
A rebuild of the picturesque course began in 2017, with Craig Parry Design commissioned to upgrade the entire course with particular attention paid to the greens and surrounds. The layout now boasts 10 new greens, redone fairways and a host of new bunkers.
Combined with superior conditioning – Teven Valley is the only course in Australia to have Sir Grange Zoysia tee to green – has become a must-play when visiting NSW’s Northern Rivers region.
Green fee: $60 (nine holes).
www.tevenvalleygolfcourse.com.au
WOOLLAHRA GC
Woollahra Golf Club celebrated its 90th anniversary this year and it remains one of Sydney’s most popular nine-hole courses.
Some well-known names in the history of Australian course design including Al Howard, Carnegie Clark and Prosper Ellis contributed to the creation of the layout that is enjoyed today.
While the short par-4s are a highlight of the beautiful parkland course near the edge of Sydney Harbour, it is the par-3s that give players of all abilities a chance at making a birdie.
The 100-metre 9th is one such hole, despite its daunting look with four bunkers surrounding the dramatically undulating putting surface. Two of those bunkers are wedged between the back edge of the green and out-of-bounds stakes, but the wide frontage offers a chance to get your tee shot close to the hole.
Green fees: $26 (nine holes, weekdays); $28 (weekends).
YARRAWONGA MULWALA GC RESORT – EXECUTIVE COURSE
As the largest public access golf complex in the country with two nationally ranked 18-holers – the Murray and Lakes layouts – Yarrawonga Mulwala’s Executive Course can sometimes be overlooked by visiting golfers.
The par-33, at 2,248 metres, plays shorter than any nine of the neighbouring courses and is ideal for beginners and those more accomplished golfers looking for a fun hit in a bushland setting on beautifully maintained fairways and greens.
While the Executive layout is the shortest nine, it boasts many of the same design attributes of its neighbours, including impressive greenside bunkering and mounding on several holes as well as interesting putting surfaces.
The longest par-4 – the 349-metre 3rd – would not be out of place on either the Murray or Lake Courses. It is a sweeping dogleg left around a lake with a line of tall gums separating the water from the edge of the fairway. A lone bunker on the outside of the dogleg is best avoided but the strategy here calls for tee shot to the right edge of the fairway to leave an unobscured view of the green and a straightforward approach past a large bunker short left of the putting surface. What a cracking hole!
Green fees: $34 (nine holes). $20 (juniors).
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
CHRISTMAS ISLAND GC
The beautiful Christmas Island nine-hole course lies wedged between the Indian Ocean to the east and tropical rainforest terraces to the west.
The course was first established in 1955 by Jack Pettigrew, who during World War II, had cleared the land whilst being held prisoner by the invading Japanese forces. Run by volunteers, the course features palm-lined fairways that run predominantly north-south and are exposed to prevailing crosswinds.
During the famed red crab migration, the course turns to a sea of red with golfers having to time their arrival and departure from the course to coincide with the thousands of crabs crossing roads. The presence of this endemic species has resulted in a local rule regarding a crab taking your ball.
Green fee: $15 (nine holes).
www.christmasislandgolfclub.com
MOSMAN PARK GC
Mosman Park is one of Western Australia’s most picturesque nine-holers.
Located near the north bank of the meandering Swan River, the Michael Coate redesigned course is renowned for its enjoyable holes, including alternate tees for a second nine, and the high standard of its conditioning.
A highlight of a round here is the 5th/14th hole where the shared fairway reaches a fork, with the 5th green played to the left and the 14th green to the right. The right edge of the fairway offers the best approach into the 5th green while the opposite applies on the 14th.
Green fees: $25 (nine holes, weekdays); $30 (weekends).
NEDLANDS GC
Founded in 1932, Nedlands is a well-established nine-hole layout dotted with beautiful Tuarts, Redgums and Banksias
The walk among the mature tree-lined fairways is beautiful, as are the views toward Matilda Bay and the Swan River. And the holes here are fun and interesting.
The 123-metre par-3 7th hole may rate as one of the easiest on the course but it is a fine line between making birdie and bogey here. The hole became marginally easier when the green was rebuilt and made larger nearly 15 years ago. Deep bunkers – two right and one left – are flanked by steep drop-offs from the putting surface, making up and down recovery shots difficult.
Nedlands is a private club but visitor’s tee times are available.
Green fee: $35 (nine holes, weekdays).
POINT WALTER GC
The Swan River also flows by the Point Walter course and, like the aforemetioned Mosman Park directly across the waterway, offers scenic views of the Perth CBD.
Measuring just 2,605 metres from the back markers, Point Walter is an ideal layout for golfers of all standards. The 338-metre dogleg left par-4 5th is the hardest hole on the course as it regularly plays into the wind, while the green is narrow and rolls quickly from back to front.
Widely acclaimed for the high quality of its kikuyu fairways and bentgrass greens, which complement the fun holes on offer at Point Walter.
Green fee: $16 (nine holes).
ROTTNEST ISLAND
Rottnest Island Public Golf Course is one of the island’s best kept secrets, despite the fact the layout opened for play 60 years ago.
The original course was built by a team of driven volunteers but has since been significantly upgraded with designers Bob Shearer, Ben Davey and Tim Lovell overseeing the implementation of a course masterplan in 2013.
Tucked away behind the settlement between Karma Resort and The Basin, the course combines a nine-hole layout, putting green, bowling green and licensed clubhouse.
Course patron John Birkett says the course attracts players from all walks of life.
“It’s a special place and suits novice and experienced golfers. It’s peaceful and unhurried – just like Rottnest Island,” he says.
Green fee: $25 (nine holes).
www.rottnestisland.com or via email karmagolf@karmarottnest.com.au
SEAVIEW GC
Located in the beachside suburb of Cottesloe, north of Perth, Sea View Golf Club dates back to 1908 making it the third oldest course in Western Australia.
Former British Amateur Champion Peter Anderson, who was then Perth’s Scotch College headmaster, laid out the original nine holes on natural undulating terrain opposite the beach.
Back then the course was home to the Cottesloe Golf Club and became the Sea View Golf Club in 1931 and, today, is regarded as one of the best nine-hole courses in the country.
Sea View not only offers alternate tees for a second nine, it also boasts alternate flags on the 1st/10th, 5th/14th, 7th/16th and 8th/17th, such is the size of the putting surfaces on these holes.
Sea View is a private course that welcomes visitors during non-competition times.
Green fees: $26 (nine holes, weekday); $31 (weekends).
QUEENSLAND
BOONAH GC
The pretty valley town of Boonah lies in the heart of Queensland’s Scenic Rim about 90km south-west of Brisbane.
Boonah Golf Club lies on the south side of town adjacent to Teviot Brook with Mt Sugarloaf and Mt French National Park dominating the surrounding view.
Established in 1928, the club moved several times before finding a home on at its present site, on grazing land, in 1988. Ray Chant, who worked for course designer Ross Watson, volunteered to design the club’s new course and the result is an enjoyable and challenging layout.
Blessed with some of the best putting surfaces in the region, Boonah has generally wide tree-lined fairways and strategically located bunkers.
There are also several water hazards that come into play, but no hole more so than on the 325-metre par-4 9th (which plays 30 metres longer from the alternate 18th tee). The tee shot here skirts a lake to the left to find the slight dogleg right fairway, which is flanked by a second lake to the right. Big hitters may be tempted to drive over the water to leave a short pitch or even an eagle putt, but it is a high-risk play.
Green fee: $18 (nine holes).
BOWEN GC
Bowen is a small links style nine-holer lying right on the edge of the stunning waters of Queensland’s Whitsundays, with several holes running along the shoreline.
It is an easy-walking par-35 layout but the challenge ramps up when the wind whips in from the ocean, providing a strong crosswind on most holes.
One of the visual and playing highlights of the round comes at the 132-metre par-3 9th with the ocean creating a glorious backdrop to the green. Hitting a short iron up into the ever-present breeze is one of the challenges trying to hit this green, that lies in full view of the clubhouse verandah.
For a small country course, Bowen packs some exciting golfing punch.
Green fee: $20 (nine holes).
COOKTOWN GC
The tropics is the last place you might expect to find a links-style course laid out across beautiful rolling sand hills.
But that is exactly what you will find at Cooktown Golf Club – the northernmost golf course on the Australian east coast, some 2,000km north of Brisbane.
The 230-metre-high Mt Cook, and the surrounding National Park, is the ever-present backdrop to the course, which is routed through thick tropical bushland between Walker Bay and the Annan River.
Cooktown is not long but the wind has a regular presence here and, when combined with the natural contours of the sandy terrain, make for some challenging shots from a variety of sloping lies.
As is the case with some renowned links courses in Scotland and Ireland, there are blind shots to be found at Cooktown, like the tee shot on the 206-metre par-3 6th where the two-tiered green lies beyond the crest of a hill and all you can really see is Mt Cook in the background. The hole does play a little gentler as the 15th hole, when it is just 175 metres from tee to green.
Green fee: $20 (nine holes).
JINDALEE GC
Jindalee is a little slice of golfing beauty, just 15 minutes’ drive west of Brisbane CBD.
The nine-holer, with 18 different tee positions, is a par-33 with a terrific mix of challenges for players of all standards.
Jindalee ‘s par-3s are a real highlight with the 146/154-metre 5th and 14th being arguably the best. A creek cuts across the hole and flanks the left side of the green. There are also two bunkers left of the putting surface, while a high bank to the right provides a sideboard for mis-hits to ricochet onto the green.
Green fee: $15 (nine holes).
MAGNETIC ISLAND CC
Magnetic Island Country Club is set against a backdrop of rugged hills covered with lush tropical vegetation in the adjoining national park.
There are no bunkers here but there is the occasional boulder to be found, even in. the middle of the fairway, like those in the middle of the 3rd hole.
Then there are memorable holes like the 70-metre downhill par-3 5th hole – by the edge of the national park – which Greg Norman once named as one of the hardest holes he had played as a teenager.
Green fee: $25 (nine holes).
NOOSA HILLS
Noosa Hills is the biggest ‘little’ course showcased here.
In fact, Noosa Hills is home to two 18-hole par-3 courses – a world first – where single figure handicap golfers and novices can have fun alongside each other.
The North Course is slightly longer than the adjoining South Course and features plenty of bunkers and a few water carries. The ‘double green’ shared by the 1st and 3rd holes and the gorgeous signature 5th hole are highlights of a round on this pretty parkland layout.
The South Course features two distinct nine-hole loops. The front nine is the shortest at Noosa Hills, with no water carries and only a couple of bunkers, which makes it perfect for beginners and kids.
South’s back nine features some of the toughest holes at Noosa Hills with the 10th, 14th, 17th and 18th holes all requiring a tee shot over water.
Green fee: $35 (18 holes).
Related Articles
Review: Bonville Golf Resort
Review: Glenelg Golf Club
