We have searched the nation to find 100 of the greatest green fee offers you will ever find at courses you will want to play again and again. Here are the best from NSW and the ACT.
BERMAGUI CC
Using the sometimes-dramatic terrain to great effect, Bermagui tests your ability to judge a variety of uphill and downhill shots, and side-hill lies on a course that never gets boring.
Recent clearing of some trees and lopping of branches away from playing lines has enhanced a round here.
The opening two holes, the 10th and 18th holes, are not indicative of the best holes to be found at Bermagui. Beyond the 3rd tee is a rolling golfing terrain that provides the foundation for some terrific holes. These holes also offer views back across the seaside town to Horseshoe Bay and Mt Dromedary.
Green fee: $36. www.bermaguicountryclub.com
BLACKHEATH GOLF CLUB
Blackheath is widely regarded as the most picturesque and challenging of the Blue Mountains courses, west of Sydney.
The layout is home to several strong par-4s that present varying challenges, plus several par-3s designed to test your ability with every club in the bag. A pretty stream comes into play on the 1st and 15th holes, while a large dam will grab your attention at the short but devilish par-3 17th.
If you like the feel of crisp mountain air in your lungs during winter, this is the place for you. If you like it to be a little warmer, spring is one of the best times to play Blackheath as the various wattles and other flowering natives burst into colour.
Green fees: $35 (weekdays); $45 (weekends and public holidays).
BYRON BAY GOLF CLUB
Byron Bay GC is the current home of the Legends Australian Tour Championship, which was won by Steve Conran last year.
The layout has been extensively remodelled in the past decade and this saw it rise through the ranks into the nation’s Top-100 Public Access Courses list.
The one hole that is worth the cost of the green fee alone is the 538-metre par-5 4th – a tight driving hole from an elevated tee where trees, sand and water come into play en route to the green.
Green fee: $49. www.byronbaygolfclub.com.au
CARNARVON GOLF CLUB
Most of the courses showcased in this feature can be found in regional Australia.
Price pressures on city courses take their toll, especially on quality public access layouts – but not at Carnarvon, which boasts the cheapest visitor green fee of any course on this list.
With only weekday times available for visitors, you can play this very well-presented course – which has hosted qualifying events for the Australian Open and other national tournaments – for just $20.
Several minor changes to its design in recent years have improved what was already a fine and challenging course, which is always beautifully presented.
Green fee: $20 (weekdays). www.carnarvongolf.com.au
CLUB CATALINA
Natural water hazards, well-placed bunkers and tree-lined fairways offer an enjoyable challenge at this 27-hole layout. Club Catalina is an established course with some of the finest playing surfaces in regional New South Wales, where the scenic views of Batemans Bay and its surroundings add to the round.
Green fee: $40. www.clubcatalina.com.au
COBRAM-BAROOGA GOLF CLUB
Cobram-Barooga GC offers one of the best value golfing experiences along the mighty Murray River.
The 36-hole complex, incorporates an Old and West course, which are always in very good condition. But it is the Old course, originally designed by Vern Morcom, with its more heavily tree-lined fairways and rolling terrain that, for many golfers, is the star attraction. The opening hole – a driveable downhill par-4 – and the signature ‘Bell’ 385-metre par-4 5th hole are arguably its most memorable offerings.
One of the best short par-4s at Cobram-Barooga is the 347-metre par-4 6th on the West course. The hole calls for an accurate tee shot rather than brute force as the narrow fairway doglegs right and over the crest of a hill. A good drive will leave a short-iron approach into a green that is surrounded by bunkers.
Green fees: $35 (weekday); $40 (11am Fri to 11am Sun).
www.cbgc.com.au or www.sporties.com.au
COFFS HARBOUR GOLF CLUB
Coffs Harbour is one of the most challenging and best-maintained layouts in regional NSW.
With a design heritage including Carnegie Clark (1938) and Arthur East (1950), the north coast course has evolved into a 27-hole complex that is highly regarded for its consistently good presentation and challenging holes.
Heavily tree-lined fairways, punctuated by clever fairway bunkering or one of the many water hazards scattered throughout, cover a good mix of undulating and easier-walking flat areas.
Green fee: $50. www.coffsharbourgolfclub.com.au
COMMERCIAL CLUB ALBURY
The Commercial Club Albury layout rarely offers the same shot twice as there are vast undulating areas to be found across the course.
The par-4 8th is a prime example. It is a terrific short par-4 where the drive is played to a rollercoaster fairway that also slopes slightly from right down to the left. Ideally, the best position to approach the elevated green is from a flat lie in the ‘valley’. But many a player is caught with an uphill or downhill lie making it a difficult short second shot to a small green.
Green fees: $32 (weekdays); $36 (weekends).
www.commercialclubalbury.com.au
GALLERY: AUSTRALIA'S 20 BEST VALUE FOR MONEY COURSES
COOMEALLA GOLF CLUB
Coomealla is a championship layout that winds through black box and river gum trees and it is just a pitching wedge from the clubhouse to the edge of the Murray River, at Dareton, north of Mildura.
Founded in 1971, Coomealla was the design brainchild of founding member Ross
Putland - who carved out the layout from beautiful natural surrounds and the very best golf course grasses were used, including bentgrass on the greens and couch on the fairways, which are well maintained.
Green fee: $35. www.coomeallaclub.com.au
COROWA GOLF CLUB
A wonderful Murray River course that adjoins the mighty watercourse at the 12th hole, Corowa features 18 narrow holes with towering and sprawling gums, tight playing lines and large bunkers in a shot-maker’s paradise. An extra nine was added in 1980 and utilises more open land on the north side of the clubhouse.
The value: The third nine. Longer, wider and different yet complementary to the original 18, the 1-9 loop adds a great contrast to whichever of the other two twins you pair it with.
Green fee: $35. www.corowagolf.com.au
CUMBERLAND COUNTRY CLUB
As far as parkland golf courses go, Cumberland CC is one of Sydney’s finest.
The club prides itself on its pristine playing surfaces and claims to be the first in Australia to introduce compulsory sand buckets.
The par-72 layout offers a good range of holes, with water, sand and elevation changes between tee and green on most holes all combining to add plenty of variety to your round.
Green fee: $40 (weekdays). www.cumberlandgolf.com.au
DUNTRYLEAGUE GOLF CLUB
Orange, in NSW’s Central West, is home to a handful of pleasant golf courses but the pick of the crop is Duntryleague – a flowing layout flanked by stands of thick pines and all-manner of other floral species.
Playing in two loops away from the stately 141-year-old guesthouse, Duntryleague has changed very little over the years but is perhaps far more heavily tree-lined than it was when Eric Apperly oversaw the completion of construction of the course back in the mid-1930s.
Green fee: $45. www.duntryleague.com.au
EASTLAKE GOLF CLUB
Eastlake GC occupies similar golfing land to its more famous neighbours, Bonnie Doon and The Lakes, which is a true indicator of how enjoyable a round can be here.
At 5,881 metres it’s not the longest layout, but its elevation changes subtly increase its distance. Natural waste areas and water hazards can be found amongst the pristine playing surfaces.
Green fees: $47 (weekends); $37 (Fridays); $25 (Monday–Thursday).
EASTS LEISURE & GC
Formerly known as Maitland Golf Club, Easts Leisure and Golf boasts one of the most under-rated courses in the Hunter region of NSW.
The club was first established in 1899, making it one of the oldest in NSW. Over the past century, the course has evolved into the challenging and enjoyable layout that presents today.
The cheap green fee here makes this layout one of the best value courses in the Hunter.
Green fees: $27 (weekdays); $30 (weekends). www.maitlandgolf.com.au
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