Our biennial ranking of the Top-100 Public Access Courses in the nation is here. With international travel off the table for the foreseeable future, here is a feast of fine courses everyone can play … right here at home.
79. BRIBIE ISLAND GC
Woorim, Queensland
UP 1
Judge’s Comment: “What an eye-opener this course was. I travelled to Bribie Island to play Pacific Harbour and added a round here and was blown away by how good it was. Laid out on rolling terrain, there are hints of the Melbourne Sandbelt in the bunkering and the sandy lies off the fairway. You could never get bored playing here week after week.” – Tristan Holmes.
78. GROWLING FROG
Yan Yean, Victoria
UP 17
Judge’s Comment: “It certainly doesn’t surprise me this Graham Marsh-designed layout has risen in this ranking, which I attribute to a significant improvement in its conditioning right across the property. Even the bunker presentation has improved in recent times.” – John Blackwell.
77. INDOOROOPILLY GC (East Course)
Indooroopilly, Queensland
DOWN 2
Judge’s Comment: “A very natural layout with its best holes running close to the Brisbane River. The par-5 3rd (on the Blue nine or 12 on the East Course) is a real highlight as you navigate your way down a narrow tree-lined fairway to an angled green laid between a hill left and the river to the right.” – Bernie Smith.
76. SANDHURST CLUB (Champions Course)
Sandhurst, Victoria.
NO CHANGE
Judge’s Comment: “The presentation of the Champions Course is first class, just like its North Course neighbour. However, it’s a very different golfing experience – moving away from the links game to more of a parkland style layout. There are plenty of good holes but I particularly liked the quality of the par-3s and, in particular, the shortest of them all at the 11th.” – James Walsh.
75. SECRET HARBOUR LINKS
Secret Harbour, Western Australia.
DOWN 7
Judge’s Comment: “A round at Secret Harbor is as much about beating the elements as it is about keeping your ball out of the pot bunkers, water hazards and scrub. It’s a fun course to play but it doesn’t have as many jaw-dropping vistas that it once did because of the encroachment of suburbia.” – Richard O’Reilly.
74. COOLANGATTA & TWEED HEADS GC (West Course)
Tweed Heads South, NSW.
UP 3
Judge’s Comment: “There’s been lots of good work done on the bunkers and greens here during the past few years, which have all had a positive effect. The West Course keeps improving year on year and is one of the best value rounds available on the Gold Coast.” – Joe Thomas.
73. ALBANY GC
Albany, Western Australia.
UP 17
Judge’s Comments: “Albany might be the oldest course in this Top-100 ranking, but its popularity has rarely been greater than it has in the past few years. And no wonder … this is a fun, links course that can be enjoyed by players of all standards. Do yourself a favour and add Albany to your bucket list.” – Anthony Brown.
“The day we played this course in early 2020 it was blowing strongly and the course really bared its teeth. Yet, I had a huge amount of fun playing so many different shots in the conditions.” – Chris Davidson.
72. FLINDERS GC
Flinders, Victoria
UP 9
Judge’s Comments: “Arguably the most underrated course on the Mornington Peninsula. Its highlights are obvious, with the short par-4s at the 4th, 8th and 16th holes being memorable standouts, while the each of the par-5s offers a different challenge every time you play.” – James Walsh.
“Flinders offers the best value for money golf on the Mornington Peninsula. Always fun to play and beautifully presented.” – Julie Stokes.
71. MONA VALE GC
Mona Vale, NSW
DOWN 7
Judge’s Comment: “Mona Vale is perhaps the lushest course you will find north of Sydney Harbour. The fairways and greens are always nicely presented across the entire layout, while the closing quarter of holes, which lay closest to the beach, are the most memorable.” – Matthew Greig.
70. MURWILLUMBAH GC
Murwillumbah, NSW
UP 1
Judge’s Comment: “What a gem! I had never played Murwillumbah until early 2020 and I will be back for sure. Most of the course covers undulating terrain, which gives rise to some challenging drives from elevated tees, or uphill approaches into well-bunkered greens. I loved this course.” – Paul Wilson.
www.murwillumbahgolfclub.com.au
69. YARRAWONGA MULWALA GC RESORT (Lake Course)
Mulwala, NSW
UP 5
Judge’s Comment: “I’ve played at Yarrawonga many times over the years and I think the Lake Course has rarely looked better. Some of the greens and bunkers have had work done and overall its presentation has improved a lot.” – Joseph Baker.
68. MOLLYMOOK GC (Hilltop Course)
Mollymook, NSW
UP 4
Judge’s Comment: “A course improvement program in recent years has Mollymook looking good and playing great. Mollymook’s continuing rise in this list, for the fourth consecutive ranking, is testament to the success of that work.” – Brendan James.
67. BALLARAT GC
Ballarat, Victoria
UP 3
Judge’s Comment: “Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett’s design at Ballarat is a beauty. Of particular note is the routing with holes playing to all points of the compass, which adds to the variety of shots you play during a round. The short par-4s, like the dogleg left drive and pitch 12th, and par-3s at Ballarat are a real standout for me.” – Hamish Walker.
66. CYPRESS LAKES RESORT
Pokolbin, NSW
UP 7
Judge’s Comment: “Cypress Lakes’ rise in this ranking continues as the quality of the course gradually returns to a standard more familiar to visitors in its early years. Cypress Lakes was missing from Golf Australia’s Top-100 Public Access Courses ranking for several years, but an investment by its current owners in refurbishing the entire layout has seen it gradually climb the list after a 2017 debut appearance at No.97.” – Brendan James.
65. LEONGATHA GC
Leongatha South, Victoria
DOWN 4
Judge’s Comment: “This Vern Morcom-design layout in Victoria’s Gippsland first debuted in this ranking in 2013 and this is the first year it has suffered a drop of any kind in the list. No need for panic stations at Leongatha though as it remains one of the most enjoyable courses to play in regional Victoria and is a great example of Morcom’s design work.” – Brendan James.
64. MORNINGTON CC
Mornington, Victoria
UP 20
Judge’s Comment: “Having debuted in this ranking in 2019, Mornington continues to impress. The closing holes of both nines have been improved with the construction of new greens, while the 19th hole addition is one of the most visually spectacular holes on the Mornington Peninsula.” – James Walsh.
63. COOLANGATTA & TWEED HEADS GC (River Course)
Tweed Heads South, NSW
UP 3
Judge’s Comment: “The River Course is not as long as its neighbouring West Course but the bunkers and frequently doglegging holes make it more difficult than the scorecard would suggest. Having played here many times over the years, I can’t recall the River Course being as well presented as it has in the past 24 months or so.” – Terry Anderson.
62. PALM MEADOWS
Carrara, Queensland
DOWN 10
Judge’s Comment: “Palm Meadows is always fun to play and it was good to see the course in good condition when I played there last summer. The one aspect of a round that I always enjoy is the anticipation of reaching the par-5 18th hole and taking on the water carry from the tee.” – Craig Smart.
61. ROSEBUD CC (North Course)
Rosebud, Victoria
UP 8
Judge’s Comment: “Laid out on sandy soil and covering the best land of all 36 holes at Rosebud CC, the North Course is an underrated gem that offers strategic choices and nicely presented playing surfaces. An OCM (Ogilvy, Cocking & Mead) masterplan will undoubtedly improve the golfing experience here even more in years to come.” – Sam Brooking.
60. KOOINDAH WATERS GC
Wyong, NSW
Judge’s Comments: “Kooindah is a beautiful course but I sympathise with some of my fellow female golfers who might struggle with some of the forced carries, like the 8th, 9th and 17th holes.” – Debbie Walker.
“There is plenty to like about a round here. I like Ross Watson’s design and the condition of the fairways and greens is always very good.” – Brett Oldham.
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