More Australians are playing golf today than at any other time in the game’s history in this country. The economic reality is, however, many of us now need to make our golfing dollar stretch a lot further than it did even five years ago.
CARNARVON GC
Lidcombe, Sydney
Green fees: $49 (seven days).
Lying almost in the geographical heart of metro Sydney, Carnarvon is something of a surprise course on this list.
This a challenging and well-presented layout that has hosted qualifying for Australian Open Championships, yet you can play here seven days a week for a shade under $50. Amazing!
Hopefully, the State Government will be unsuccessful with their plans to turn this fabulous course and beautiful green space into a cemetery.
COLLIER PARK
Como, Perth
Green fees: $36-$41 (weekdays); $45-$49 (weekends).
Collier Park has three loops of nine holes – the Pines, Island and Lake Courses – all of which offer a great variety of holes on well-presented playing surfaces.
The Pines layout, created by Peter Thomson and Mike Wolveridge in the mid-80s, is carved from an old pine plantation and the loop’s namesake feature line every hole. The Lake has a links style about it, with wide rolling fairways, punctuated by strategic bunkering en route to large, dramatic green complexes, while the Island Course, designed by successful former touring pro Terry Gale, derives its name from the island that lies within the huge lake that borders the 1st, 3rd and 4th holes.
THE RIDGE GOLF COURSE
Barden Ridge, Sydney
Green fees: $44 (weekdays); $48 (weekends).
In the dozen years since The Ridge opened as an 18-hole layout, it has become one of the most popular courses in Sydney’s south.
It ended a 10-year evolution from initial construction to completion on what was formerly a landfill area used by the local council. Two million cubic metres of fill later and it is a great golfing success story.
Designed by James Wilcher, The Ridge is an interesting and fun design, while the greens and fairways are also very good.
NORTH ADELAIDE (South Course)
North Adelaide, Adelaide
Green fees: $36 (weekdays); $45 (weekends).
Located in the parklands within walking distance of the CBD, this is a picturesque, tree-lined layout that is as popular with experienced single markers as occasional golfers.
The rolling terrain lays the foundation for some interesting holes, like the 399-metre par-4 3rd hole, where the city skyline provides a backdrop to a tight drive from an elevated tee to a fairway, which gradually climbs past two bunkers to the left to reach the large bunkerless green.
Earlier this year, the South Australian government announced the course will be redesigned by Greg Norman ahead of becoming a host venue for the LIV Golf Adelaide tournament.
SEA VIEW GC
Cottesloe, Perth
Green fees: $40 (weekdays); $45 (weekends).
Sea View dates to 1909, when former British Amateur Champion, Scotsman Peter C. Anderson, laid out nine holes on links land opposite the beach.
The Indian Ocean can be seen from every part of the course, so it’s not surprising the wind is a constant influence, while the firm fairways and dramatic green complexes take the test to the next level.
RICHMOND GC
Richmond, Sydney
Green fees: $35 (weekdays); $45 (weekends).
With the Blue Mountains providing a stunning backdrop, the Richmond layout offers a fun test for all golfers on what is believed to be NSW’s oldest course still on its original site, having been established in 1897.
The tree-lined layout has improved markedly in the past few decades, so much so it has been a regular host of the Australian PGA Seniors Championship in recent years, with Andre Stolz claiming the title in 2024.
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