Golf is growing in Australia. Participation rates are up, club memberships are up and general interest in the game is on the rise post-pandemic.
55. JOONDALUP RESORT – Dune/Lake Course
Connolly, Western Australia
UP 4
Judge’s comments: “It is testament to the quality of the golf at Joondalup that all three of its 18-hole combinations appear in this ranking for the fifth consecutive time. The Dune/Lake Course arguably has more dramatic up and downhill shots than the
other combinations and, therefore, makes club selection a real challenge on this layout.” – Stephen Jackson.
“The superior conditioning of Joondalup’s fairways and greens is a common thread across all the courses, but the combination of holes on the Dune/Lake Course seem to work well together. I played the Dune nine first and then the Lake, with its grandstand finish in front of the resort beside the lake and loved it.” – Ken Robinson.
54. THE COAST GC
Little Bay, New South Wales
UP 3
Judge’s comments: “It doesn’t get any better than playing alongside the cliffs with million-dollar ocean views early and late in the round at The Coast. The 180-metre 4th hole, demanding a tee shot over the rocky shoreline, is, in my opinion, one of the best par-3s in the country.” – Hamish Walker.
“Every time I visit The Coast I find some aspect of the course is better than it was before. The presentation of the layout, particularly the putting surfaces, is one area that has improved markedly in recent years.” – Julian Allen.
53. RACV ROYAL PINES RESORT – Green/Gold Course
Ashmore, Queensland
UP 2
Judge’s comments: “There was a feeling among some other judges that after Royal Pines lost the hosting rights for the Australian PGA that the conditioning of the course might drop off in line with less investment to get the layout ‘up’ for a week of championship play. But it would seem the playing surfaces are under less stress and are presented beautifully year-round these days.” – Gavin Hill.
“Whenever I have a critical thought about the course during a round at Royal Pines, I think back to what it was like before Graham Marsh’s redesign and am thankful for the changes, especially those made to the green complexes.” – Bernard Watson.
52. BLACK BULL
Yarrawonga, Victoria
UP 1
Judge’s comments: “Black Bull made its debut in the Top-100 Public Access Courses ranking in 2017 and has reached its highest mark in the list just six years on. The Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett-designed layout challenges for having for the best greens anywhere along the Murray River, while the much talked about ‘Bull Ring’ corner of the course is a real highlight.” – Brendan James.
www.silverwoodsyarrawonga.com.au
51. EYNESBURY
Eynesbury, Victoria
DOWN 4
Judge’s comments: “The full length of Eynesbury at 6,577 metres from the tips makes it one of the longest public access courses in the country. But designer Graham Marsh included four teeing grounds in his creation, leaving it up to each golfer as to how much of a challenge they wish to undertake.” – Graham Brady.
“Eynesbury is a long trek, especially off the back markers, but ironically some of its best holes are its short par-4s and all the par-3s. The 312-metre par-4 13th is a terrific short hole which I’m sure tempts bigger hitters in taking on the carry over the creek short of the green as they search for a chip and putt birdie.” – James Walsh.
50. TWIN WATERS GC
Twin Waters, Queensland
UP 6
Judge’s comments: “This Peter Thomson and Mike Wolveridge design just seems to keep getting better. In all the years I’ve been visiting there to play, I’ve never left feeling disappointed but my last two rounds there, in 2021 and 2022, the course was in outstanding condition.” – Toby Greenwood.
“Always such a lovely place to play, especially the loop of front nine holes around the lake.” – Felicity Chapman.
49. ALBANY GC
Albany, Western Australia
UP 24
Judge’s comments: “For any golfer from the eastern states, Albany is a long way to go for a round of golf. But having made that journey I can thoroughly recommend you try it yourself. Albany is such a beautiful, natural course with the holes rising and falling across the undulating rows of dunes. Fantastic!” – Hamish Walker.
“The moment you walk off the 18th green, you will want to dart back to the 1st tee and do it all again.” – Scott Matthews.
“Albany is pure old school links golf. The next time I go I’m going to pack the hickories to take the experience to the next level.” – Lucas Andrews.
48. EASTLAKE GC
Daceyville, New South Wales
UP 4
Judge’s comments: “Smart vegetation management during the past few years
has improved the turf quality on many holes and taken Eastlake to the next level.” – Joe Thomas.
“Dramatic terrain coupled with a good supply of interesting holes makes any round
at Eastlake a fun one. The course is also home to some fantastic par-3s with the relatively ‘new’ downhill 17th beside the lake a far more enjoyable challenge than the long one-shotter played from hilltop-to-hilltop that it replaced.” – Christian Harris.
“Every change that has been made at Eastlake in recent times has been well considered and executed, with the results being a far better course.” – Alex Georgiou.
47. MORNINGTON GC
Mornington, Victoria
UP 17
Judge’s comments: “The redesign of several holes during the past few years by course designer Ben Davey (Contour Golf Design) has certainly elevated what was, in my opinion, an underrated Mornington Peninsula layout. The cliff-top par-3 19th, the remodelled 9th hole and the new green complex on the closing hole are great additions to this wonderful course.” – Hamish Walker.
“The impressive changes at Mornington have continued this year as part of the club’s masterplan with redesign work being carried out on the par-4 6th and the iconic par-3 7th holes. Combined with some already memorable holes, like the newish 19th and the par-4 15th, a round at Mornington has one highlight after another.” – James Walsh.
46. YARRAWONGA MULWALA RESORT GC – Murray Course
Mulwala, New South Wales
UP 4
Judge’s comments: “This is my favourite course on the Murray. The setting encapsulates everything that is to be loved about the Murray region, from the wildlife to the majestic river gums, which can all be experienced in an afternoon walking an interesting and fun golf course.” – Joseph Baker.
“I’ve played at Yarrawonga many times during the past few decades and I can’t recall the Murray Course being in better condition than it was when I played here in late 2021. The couch fairways were dreamy to hit off and the greens were equally as good to putt on.” – Craig Smart.
“The Murray Course has the lion’s share of thought-provoking and fun holes to be found on any course along the great river.” – Matthew Greig.
45. BELMONT G&BC
Belmont, New South Wales
UP 3
Judge’s comments: “A superb seaside course that has been enhanced with the redesign of several back nine holes in recent years. The completely exposed holes starting at the par-3 13th through to the little par-3 16th is an amazing sequence of holes, with great golf paired with spectacular views accompanying very shot.” – Joe Thomas.
“A truly underrated golfing experience.” – Nikki Scott.
44. RACV CAPE SCHANCK RESORT
Cape Schanck, Victoria
UP 5
Judge’s comments: “My first experience of Cape Schanck was only recently, and I left wishing I had made the trouble to get there sooner. What a fun layout! The bunkering is big and bold, the fairways tumble and rise across the dramatic landscape and the greens are full of their own twists and turns, not unlike the neighbouring Old Course at The National GC.” – Anthony Smith.
“Cape Schanck is further proof that in his prime, course architect Robert Trent Jones Jnr was one of the game’s most creative designers, capable of extracting fun, strategic and interesting golf from any site.” – Charles Thomas.
43. FEDERAL GC
Red Hill, ACT
UP 2
Judge’s comments: “The conversion of its fairways to Santa Ana couch was a turning point for Federal. Not only is the quality of the turf superb, but it enhances the way you play the course. Now you have to consider how the ball will react when it hits the sloping ground, and you have to select the correct club and aim for the ideal shot shape on its many doglegging holes.” – Lucas Andrews.
“If you were magically dropped on any tee on the back nine you couldn’t imagine you were just five minutes’ drive from the back door of Parliament House. The views to the Brindabella Ranges from this high side of the course are memorable.” – Nikki Scott.
42. MAROOCHY RIVER GC
Bli Bli, Queensland
UP 12
Judge’s comments: “The rise of Graham Marsh’s design continues, having debuted in the 2019 Top-100 Public Access Courses ranking at No.65, and now reaching its highest spot since opening for play in 2016. The layout has become very popular on the back of the risk-and-reward strategy for players of all standards, while its conditioning is rarely under par.” – Brendan James.
“Maroochy River has matured beautifully in the short number of years it has been open for play. The dynamic green complexes are second to none on the Sunshine Coast.” – Alistair Cameron.
www.maroochyrivergolfclub.com.au
41. TASMANIA GC
Cambridge, Tasmania
UP 3
Judge’s comments: “A mainstay of this ranking for more than a decade, Tasmania has improved dramatically in recent years on the back of a tree removal program that has opened up areas of the course and improved the quality of the playing surfaces as a result. The improvement has not gone unnoticed as Tasmania reaches its highest ever position in this ranking.” – Brendan James.
40. PACIFIC DUNES GC
Medowie, New South Wales
DOWN 2
Judge’s comments: “A heavily tree-lined front nine gives way to a more suburban feel on the inward half. Despite the different settings, the quality of the golf doesn’t suffer.” – Anthony Smith.
“On paper, Pacific Dunes is not an overly long golf course but it feels longer than it actually is because taking driver on every par-4 and par-5 is not always the best option, where a fairway wood or iron is. The fact the design makes you think on every shot, is a big tick from me.” – Joe Thomas.
39. MURRAY DOWNS G&CC
Murray Downs, New South Wales
UP 4
Judge’s comments: “Murray Downs has long held the claim of being the No.1 course on the Murray River and that is likely to be the case for some time to come as it cracks a spot inside the top-40 of this ranking for the first time.” – Brendan James.
“Murray Downs is a terrific design that presents beautifully year-round. There are plenty of highlights during a round – most involve avoiding a hazard – but, in my opinion, nothing beats the water carry tee shot on the par-3 5th or the downhill second approach into the par-4 17th.” – Peter Anton.
38. MT COMPASS
Mt Compass, South Australia
UP 4
Judge’s comments: “To play a round today at Mt Compass and take note of the quality of the design and the conditioning it is hard to fathom this course received not one single vote in this ranking in 2013 before making its debut in 2019. In the years in between, a new owner took over the reins and investment in the course was immediate and effective. Now it’s among the best public access courses in the country.” – Brendan James.
37. SUN CITY CC
Yanchep, Western Australia
DOWN 1
Judge’s comments: “Sun City’s dramatic entry and then rise in this ranking after a spectacular redesign by OCCM (Ogilvy, Clayton, Cocking & Mead) a few years back has stalled … for now. The club is keen to makeover the remaining holes to completely fulfil the course’s great potential. When that work is done, following the same design philosophy that binds the newest holes together, Sun City’s climb in this rank will continue.” – Brendan James.
“There’s no doubting the redesign that started at Sun City nearly a decade ago transformed the layout. And it wasn’t all about building new greens and tees. Selective tree removal on the corner of doglegs, for example, has made this layout a much fairer course for all players.” – Stephen Jackson.
36. WARRNAMBOOL GC
Warrnambool, Victoria
UP 4
Judge’s comments: “Great presentation and unique holes played up, down and through massive dunes have managed to propel the once relatively unknown Warrnambool layout into the top echelon of Australia’s public accessible courses. But by the time you reach the 16th tee the very best of the course is behind you. If the closing trio of holes offered a little more interest in terms of strategy and/or visual appeal beyond a strip cut fairway, I could see Warrnambool pushing for a top-20 spot on this list.” – Brendan James.
“I’ve played golf at plenty of places across Australia and there are several holes at Warrnambool you just won’t see anywhere else.” – Lucas Andrews.
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