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.
59. JOONDALUP RESORT (Dune-Lake Course)
Joondalup, Western Australia
DOWN 9
Judge’s Comment: “The volatile movement of courses through the mid-section of this ranking has caused some courses, like Joondalup’s Dune-Lake Course, to take a dip in this edition of the ranking. Despite the drop, it is a layout that remains a superb test with first-class playing surfaces.” – Brendan James.
58. NOOSA SPRINGS RESORT
Noosa Heads, Queensland
UP 2
Judge’s Comments: “What a wonderful place to play. The stretch of holes from the 3rd to the 7th are beautiful, while the closing trio to the round really test your mettle.” – Deborah Hill.
“Noosa Springs is consistently well presented, which makes a round here always enjoyable. Water comes into play on many holes but none more so than the par-4 17th, which is undoubtedly one of the best short two-shotters on the Sunshine Coast.” – Bernie Smith.
57. THE COAST GC
Little Bay, NSW
NO CHANGE
Judge’s Comments: “One of Sydney’s most spectacular courses, with the holes running across the tops of the cliffs being the standouts during a round. The presentation of the layout has improved markedly during the past couple of years raising the overall quality of the course.” – Daniel O’Keefe.
“Playing the par-3 4th hole, across the edge of the ocean, is worth the cost of the green fee alone.” – Jack Donaldson.
56. TWIN WATERS GC
Twin Waters, Queensland
DOWN 13
Judge’s Comments: “I can’t imagine ever travelling to the Sunshine Coast and not playing Twin Waters. Good fun layout designed by Peter Thomson and can’t fault the conditioning.” – Gavin Hill.
“A Sunshine Coast staple but I have to question some of the mowing lines. The rough short of the green on the par-3 11th and the par-5 18th eliminate the option of a running shot onto the green, which hurts shorter hitters like me.” – Tara Vincent.
55. RACV ROYAL PINES RESORT (Green-Gold Course)
Ashmore, Queensland
DOWN 11
Judge’s Comments: “When the wind blows here, the Green and Gold layout (which is used for tournament play) is one of the hardest courses on the Gold Coast. A must-play layout if you like a challenge.” – Gavin Hill.
“The Graham Marsh redesign is so much better than the original layout, but you have to wonder about some of the bunkering … for example, the bunker back right of the 18th green, at the base of a steep slope surrounded by rough. The same could said for the bunker long of the 8th green, which I can’t imagine comes into play, except for catching thinned chip and pitch shots.” – Toby McCracken.
54. MAROOCHY RIVER GC
Bli Bli, Queensland
UP 11
Judge’s Comment: “After making its debut appearance in 2019, Maroochy River cements its place with further northward movement in this list. The Graham Marsh design delivers fun and challenging golf to players of all standards. The fairways are generally wide, which doesn’t deter high handicappers, while better players will need to hug the edges to find the best line into the angled, undulating greens.” – Brendan James.
www.maroochyrivergolfclub.com.au
53. BLACK BULL
Yarrawonga, Victoria
UP 2
Judge’s Comment: “The newest layout on the Murray River continues to make baby-steps toward cracking a spot in the top half of this ranking, rising another two places from its 2019 position. The Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett design is very good and includes the best closing hole to be found anywhere along the mighty river.” – Brendan James.
www.silverwoodsyarrawonga.com.au
52. EASTLAKE GC
Daceyville, NSW
UP 11
Judge’s Comment: “Eight years ago, Eastlake was ranked No.82 in this list. It’s rise of 30 spots in this ranking over that period is testament to the improvement work carried out by course superintendent Nathan Bradbury and his team. It seems with each passing year Bradbury finds something else to alter or construct – whether they are mowing lines, bunkers or greens – that makes a round here more interesting than it was before.” – Brendan James.
51. LINKS LADY BAY RESORT
Normanville, South Australia
UP 5
Judge’s Comments: “Links Lady Bay has rarely looked better than it has during the past two years. Rain in that time has obviously helped with the grass cover across the entire property, but the overall condition – including the many bunkers – just seems to have reached a new, and welcoming, level.” – Stephen Jackson.
“Links Lady Bay has the best green complexes, and putting surfaces, to be found in South Australia outside the big four Adelaide clubs. Just superb.” – Christian Harris.
50. YARRAWONGA MULWALA GC RESORT (Murray Course)
Mulwala, NSW
UP 1
Judge’s Comments: “The Murray Course cracks the top-50 in this ranking, eight long years after reaching No.59 and improving bit-by-bit ever since. Subtle design changes over the years and maintaining a high standard of presentation have played their role in this rank rise.” – Brendan James.
“The look, and even the smell, of the various bird-filled gums lining most holes is unmistakeably Australian. Even a bad day’s golf is a real joy walking among the gums on the Murray Course.” – Debbie Walker.
49. RACV CAPE SCHANCK RESORT
Cape Schanck, Victoria
UP 9
Judge’s Comment: “This Robert Trent Jones Jnr-designed layout reaches its highest rank in this list for the first time in more than a decade. While there have only been subtle tweaks to the design, it is the higher level of conditioning that has led to this ranking rise. There was a period of decline in presentation between 2014-2017, but that has certainly been overcome and Jones’ creation can now be fully appreciated.” – Brendan James.
48. BELMONT GC
Belmont, NSW
UP 6
Judge’s Comments: “This seaside gem south of Newcastle is another course that continues to improve in this list. Now ranked 41 places higher than its debut rank of No.89 (2011), Belmont adds its name to the likes of Newcastle GC, Pacific Dunes, The Vintage and Cypress Lakes as must-play courses in the Hunter region.” – Brendan James.
“Design work to create new oceanside holes and improve others across the course has dramatically improved Belmont. There are some wonderful links holes – perhaps some of the best on the east coast – to be found at Belmont.” – Joe Thomas.
47. EYNESBURY GOLF
Eynesbury, Victoria
DOWN 5
Judge’s Comment: “Graham Marsh’s design team did a wonderful job turning flat, fairly lifeless terrain into an interesting layout. Since opening in 2007, new houses and maturing trees have filled out some edges of the course, but the playing lines have not been affected.” – Alex Georgiou.
46. SANCTUARY COVE G&CC (Palms Course)
Sanctuary Cove, Queensland
UP 2
Judge’s Comment: “The Palms layout just keeps getting better and better in my opinion. The Ross Watson redesign is so much better than the original, with more interesting green complexes and strategic questions asked on most holes. Depending on the tee you’re playing, it is a fun course for good as well as not-so-good players.” – Tristan Holmes.
45. FEDERAL GC
Red Hill, ACT
UP 4
Judge’s Comment: “The most significant improvement at Federal in recent times has come in the quality of the playing surfaces, which has lifted the enjoyment factor and better complements the design.” – Edward Lee.
“Wonderful mix of holes across terrain that changes at every turn. Federal also has a memorable set of par-3s with the downhill 16th being the standout.” – Ally Peters.
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