After two years of uncertainty brought by pandemic lockdowns and border closures, here is the most comprehensive ranking of the nation’s finest layouts.
18. OCEAN DUNES
King Island, Tasmania
Designer: Graeme Grant (2016).
Average points: 86.93.
2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012 rankings: 15, 8, NR, NR, NR.
Comments: " There are many words to describe Ocean Dunes. Narcissistic, hedonistic and sadistic readily come to mind. Some surfers prefer to ride giant waves, some motorists prefer to drive in Formula 1 and some rugby players preferred to tackle Jonah Lomu. Then there are the golfers who prefer to play Ocean Dunes when the wind shrieks from all directions at once. It affects one’s golfing sense of worth when hole after hole the fairway can’t be reached from the tee. The heavy moisture ladened wind grabs the ball by its dimples and squeezes. Its soul destroying, swing destroying, financially crippling. I’m booked to play there again in January.” – Craig Read.
“Ocean Dunes is one of the most beautiful and difficult tracks I’ve encountered … weather pending. The views across Bass Strait are amazing and need to be seen by all golfers at least once in their life. A must-play and bucket-list course with incredible wildlife on the course.” – Cameron Howell.
“Hard not to think you are playing a combination of some of the great west coast Irish links when you walk the fairways of Ocean Dunes.” – Ross Flannigan.
17. YARRA YARRA GC
Bentleigh East, Victoria
Designers: Alex Russell (1928); Martin Hawtree (2011); Tom Doak & Brian Slawnik – Renaissance Golf (2020 and ongoing).
Average points: 87.
2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012 rankings: NR, 32, 34, 34, 37.
Comments: "After its Tom Doak and Brian Slawnik restoration, Yarra Yarra might now be the best course in the world with a repeating name.” – Adrian Logue.
“Tom Doak has cleared away the over growth to reveal how great this original Alex Russell design is. A few minor adjustments of course, but there are some wonderful views through the course now.” – Rob Williamson.
“Yet another course in what could be the finest collection of golf courses in one city anywhere in the world.” – Craig Read.
“Welcome back, my old friend. Yarra Yarra has awakened from a long slumber. The recent work that has simplified the vegetation has revealed what was always there – good architecture with a good routing on undulating land. The old poa greens are still as good as they have ever been. This was a renovation, not an enhancement. Anybody who remembers fondly the Yarra Yarra from 35 years ago will love returning to this course.” – James Bennett.
“Sometimes less is a lot more and changing the sequence of the opening holes and subtle changes to bunkering and fairway lines has made a significant improvement to Yarra Yarra. It has always had some fantastic golf holes (11 being in the handful of Melbourne’s best par-3s) but the difference between the best four holes and the worst four holes was massive. Renaissance Golf has shown that you don’t have to blow a course up and start again to make it better.” – Brian Walshe.
“The fine bones of this elegant Golden Age gem have been restored, with the full swoop and glide of the property's movement now a joy to behold.” – Rob Williamson.
“Yarra Yarra is another Club that has benefitted mightily from the appointment of Tom Doak as consultant architect, with the course back to its former glory. The resequencing of the opening holes was a simple yet highly effective tweak, while the playability and course aesthetics have improved greatly.” – Matt Mollica.
16. PENINSULA KINGSWOOD CC – SOUTH COURSE
Frankston, Victoria
Designers: Sloan Morpeth (1967); Mike Clayton (2007); Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Clayton, Mike Cocking & Ashley Mead – OCCM (2019).
Average points: 88.5.
2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012 rankings: 18, NR, NR, 25, 28.
Comments: “Built on a slightly bigger scale than its neighbour, the South course is equally compelling. Broad fairways, larger rises and falls, as well as bigger hazards and greens provide enjoyable and high-quality golf on a big canvas.” – Matt Mollica.
“Peninsula South is a more member friendly companion to the championship inspired North. It shares the same strengths in a great routing and superb green complexes but doesn’t punish wayward approaches in the way that North can humble you. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, far from it, but it would be more manageable for most.” – Brian Walshe.
“The South Course has a rugged, natural character, accented by native grasses framing each hole. The bunkering is bold with large, beautifully contoured putting surfaces. Most holes are dogleg, meaning distance adds nothing and angle into the pin is everything.” – Cameron Howell.
“The back nine on the South may well be the best nine on the entire Peninsula Kingswood property. It is a hugely impressive redesign, and you will be hard pressed to find a better finishing stretch than 16, 17 and 18.” – DJ Loypur.
“This course is a true test and it truly plays and feels like a different course to the sibling North course. The stretch of holes from 8 through to 18 all showcase the rise and fall of the topography, which allowed OCM to build a great variety of challenging holes over a very aesthetically stunning part of the property.” – Ross Flannigan.
15. METROPOLITAN GC
Oakleigh South, Victoria
Designers: J.B MacKenzie (1906); Dr Alister MacKenzie (1926); Dick Wilson (1959);
Mike Clayton (2006); Neil Crafter & Paul Mogford (ongoing).
Average points: 88.86.
2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012 rankings: 17, 15, 12, 13, 9.
Comments: “Year after year, Metro becomes more Sandbelt and less parkland, through intelligent tree and vegetation management and the increase of short grass areas between greens and tees. Now, about those trees in the 17th fairway!” – Scott Warren.
“Metropolitan is looking better and better with vegetation management improving, and wonderful swathes of native flora being reintroduced. It is a venerable Sandbelt layout, long-revered for exceptional conditioning and history as a storied tournament venue. With more changes ahead, courtesy of Neil Crafter and Paul Mogford, the course may yet climb back into the highest echelon of Australia’s golf courses.” – Matt Mollica.
“Metro opens with six of the best holes you could want – long par-4, tricky par-3, into a dogleg par-4 then a gettable par-5 with a green that can leave you scarred if you try 'too hard'. This is followed by two more holes that meander through the flowering gums. The rest of the course is laid out on much flatter land that still forces you to use your brains rather than your brawn to post a good score.” – Kevin Nolan.
14. THE LAKES GC
Eastlakes, NSW
Designers: Bruce Devlin & Robert Von Hagge (1970); Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Clayton, Mike Cocking & Ashley Mead – OCCM (2009).
Average points: 89.1.
2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012 rankings: 16, 14, 15, 15, 13.
Comments: “It’s a testament to The Lakes that it poses such a thorough test of your abilities while remaining such fun, even when you fail that examination spectacularly.” – Scott Warren.
“This is a polemic design. Players either love it, or they really love it.” – Craig Read.
“There may be more picturesque courses in Sydney and a couple with proud tournament records but The Lakes tops them all when it comes to the course. The front nine constantly has you playing to the fairway edges to get the best lines into greens and there are a couple where the pin moving 20 paces can have you looking at the opposite side of the fairway. The back nine just wants to know how good you are and constantly offers you shorter and superior approaches if you are brave enough to risk the seemingly ever-present water.” – Brian Walshe.
“The Lakes is great fun and what higher compliment could there be for a golf course?” – Adrian Logue.
13. ST. ANDREWS BEACH
Fingal, Victoria
Designer: Tom Doak (2005).
Average points: 89.13.
2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012 rankings: 12, 13, 13, 10, 11.
Comments: “It is great to see St. Andrews Beach thriving, vying for the position of best course on the Mornington Peninsula. With a strong set of short fours, diverse and testing par-3s, and a collection of excellent, understated greens, Doak’s minimalist layout is wonderful, and easily one of the premier courses in Australia.” – Matt Mollica.
“Just your average Tom Doak designed course … brilliant!” – Craig Read.
“St. Andrews Beach offers something for every level of golfer and it's available every day of the year to everyone. Despite a lot of movement, it's a pretty easy walk, usually in excellent condition and just an unbelievable place to play golf.” – Kevin Nolan.
“I am yet to find a golfer who has not enjoyed the golf experience of Mr Doak’s St. Andrews Beach. This course is a Mornington Peninsula gem that single-handedly has introduced many a new golfer to the game to true golf architecture and a real links style golf experience. The layout is fair and generous from the tee, while it also asks questions of your iron play on every holes. This is one course you want to go back and conquer as you always feel like you have left some scoring opportunities out there, usually due to poor decision making.” – Ross Flannigan.
“If St. Andrew’s Beach was in the United States they’d be charging $250 a round and there would be a queue out the front most mornings. Along with Barnbougle Dunes, Tom Doak and Mike Clayton changed the whole concept of what a public course was in Australia. This is not a course that dumbs golf down to a bland boring formula but one that can take anyone paying the green fee on a thrill ride through some of the best and most quirky architecture you’ll find.” – Brian Walshe.
“This is a wonderful course in great golf country. I have spent a lot of time playing here and pondering the hole sequences, particularly the par-5 1st with the next par-5 being the 17th.” – Ashley Clinch.
12. THE NATIONAL GC – MOONAH COURSE
Cape Schanck, Victoria
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000).
Average points: 89.64.
2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012 rankings: 13, 11, 9, 8, 7.
Comments: “The Moonah Course is a fun, testing layout of great merit. Subject to the winds of the Mornington Peninsula, the challenge is never too far away. The playing surfaces are great despite high traffic, with the couch fescue fairways are among Australia’s best. The course rewards long straight driving, and a little ingenuity around the greens.” – Matt Mollica.
“With a reputation of being The National’s sternest test, the Moonah Course offers plenty to those who take their time and find the right places to land your ball. hat said, it can gobble you up pretty quickly of you lapse in concentration.” – Kevin Nolan.
“The first 11 holes of the Moonah course are faultless. However, there are a few weak holes coming back to the clubhouse but this is one of Greg Norman and Bob Harrison’s best.” – Rob Williamson.
“The poa/fescue fairways are consistently presented to perfection so it’s easy to have a great time on the Moonah course. This is a course you would never tire of playing, where tactics and angles into greens are paramount in being able to shoot a good score.” – DJ Loypur.
“The National Moonah Course continues to tick all the right boxes. A fantastic piece of The Cups country with holes weaving between massive dunes, a wonderful set of greens and fescue oversown fairways that are probably the best year-round surfaces on the mainland. It has some of the best par-5s in the country and a run home from the 12th tee that can humble the best into a southerly.” – Brian Walshe.
“It’s hard to separate the position of this Greg Norman and Bob Harrison beauty in and amongst the quality of golf that the Moonah sits alongside. A real test of golf in any of the prevailing conditions fronting golfers on The National property. The closing stretch of 15 through 18 will make you or break you.” – Ross Flannigan.
“A layout to test all parts of your game. The opening stretch of seven holes is highly underrated in my opinion. Incredibly consistent high-quality conditioning is a standard. The last five holes are brutal, especially if a southerly is blowing.” – Ashley Clinch.
11. ROYAL ADELAIDE GC
Seaton, South Australia
Designers: Dr Alister MacKenzie (1926); Peter Thomson & Mike Wolveridge (1979 & 1997); Mike Clayton (2009); Tom Doak – Renaissance Golf (ongoing).
Average points: 91.26.
2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012 rankings: 9, 10, 10, 11, 10.
Comments: “Subtle changes to the vegetation outside the playing lines have enhanced this classic golf course that lies at the heart of Adelaide’s red sandbelt. Short walks between holes, classic bunkering and undulating fairways that test the breadth of one’s golf game. Throw in the world-famous short par-4 3rd hole and the iconic crater hole 11th and there is proof positive great golf architecture will never go out of fashion.” – Michael Green.
“Royal Adelaide is slowly finding its way back to its best self. Ongoing renovations and restoring the original bunkering and complementing some of the world class holes already in the ground.” – Kevin Nolan.
“Royal Adelaide has a brilliant collection of par-4s, but the par-5s are less than memorable.” – Peter Shaw.
“Undulating ground, good architecture, a passion for golf and year-round playability makes Royal Adelaide a memorable course. The train running through is a bonus.” – James Bennett.
“Royal Adelaide has always been amongst the best courses in the country with a routing that gets the most out of the site. Renaissance Golf have made subtle and important changes to the course over a number of years that have steadily improved it. It has always been a great place to play golf but there is now consistency in style across the property which has made it even better. – Brian Walshe.
“Like Kingston Heath, Royal Adelaide is relatively flat, apart from the few dunes in the middle of the course. It has the same feel to it too. The 16th and 17th are disappointing holes though.” – Rob Williamson.
“In my opinion, here is the benchmark in turf agronomy in Australia, with possibly the best course superintendent in the country.” – Cameron Howell.
“I have gladly visited this wonderful course a few times over the past 2 1/2 years and found a course that is wonderfully quirky, fun and a great test of golf. It’s no wonder it sits in the Top 10 of courses in the country.” – Ashley Clinch.
10. VICTORIA GC
Cheltenham, Victoria
Designers: Oscar Damman, William Meader & Dr Alister MacKenzie (1927); Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Clayton, Mike Cocking & Ashley Mead – OCCM (2019).
Average points: 92.16.
2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012 rankings: 8, 12, 11, 9, 8.
Comments: “Victoria has matured with the irrigation and green works of several years ago settling in nicely, so as to see the course regain its lustre. Continued work on vegetation management compliments the greens renovation program.” – Matt Mollica.
“Victoria’s new green complexes are impressive.” – Peter Robertson.
“OCCM’s changes have reinvigorated Victoria. What was always a very good course has been made an even better layout with the new green surfaces a standout. Some of the lesser holes, such as 17 that previously didn’t quite match the standard of the rest of the course, have been significantly improved.” – Brian Walshe.
“It’s always a joy to play at Victoria GC. The works beside the 1st and 11th holes are now complete. Vast improvement on 11 with the tree removal exposing more of the natural sandy base, widening the playing line. It’s difficult not to be extremely impressed by the green resurfacing with Pure Distinction grass.” – Carl Murphy.
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