The ranking of Australia’s Top-100 Courses for 2024 was recently published in Golf Australia Magazine.
130. THE SANDHURST CLUB – Champions Course
Sandhurst, Victoria
Designers: Peter Thomson & Ross Perrett (2008).
The Champions course covers more undulating terrain on the property at Sandhurst and, therefore, offers a greater variety of holes and shot demands, making it a slightly more memorable experience.
The wide-sprawl bunkering is typical Thomson and Perrett, while it is hard not to be impressed by the size and shaping of the greens on each hole, which have each been dedicated to a past winner of the Australian PGA Championship.
The presentation is first class, just like its North Course neighbour. However, it’s a very different golfing experience – moving away from the links game to a traditional Sandbelt-style with gentle fairway contours, open-fronted large greens and some fairways lined by ancient Red River gums.
131. BRIBIE ISLAND GC
Woorim, Queensland
Designer: Arch McArthur (1969).
Bribie Island is one of the biggest sand islands of Brisbane’s Moreton Bay, and this sandy base has given rise to a wonderful course that offers hints of the famous Melbourne Sandbelt courses.
This is evident from the 1st hole with Sandbelt-style bunkering lining the edge of the fairway. The rolling couch fairways thrive here, while the smooth rolling Bermuda 328 greens are superb.
Bribie Island has some memorable holes with the 172-metre par-3 16th, played across or beside a large lake, being one of the best.
132. GOSNELLS GC
Canning Vale, Western Australia
Designers: Murray Dawson (1962); Graham Marsh (1996).
Gosnells quite often draws comparisons with the courses of the Melbourne Sandbelt, which were undoubtedly the inspiration for the Graham Marsh’s redesign here in the mid-1990s.
The course generally plays firm and fast, the bunkering is plentiful, the putting surfaces roll wonderfully smooth and the lies well into the rough can be on sparse sandy ground beneath the trees. And, most importantly, the design asks plenty of questions of your game from tee-to-green.
133. GREEN ACRES GC
Kew East, Victoria
Designer: Gordon Oliver (1947).
It is a testament to the course design work of Gordon Oliver that the bones of his creation at Green Acres remain today.
While Green Acres has undergone extensive renovation and redesign over the years, these can be deemed more as enhancements as the original layout has changed little.
The club recently completed a major upgrade of its irrigation system, which will certainly enhance its already acclaimed Legends couch fairways and bentgrass greens. It’s next major project, to convert all its greens to the premium Pure Distinction bentgrass, has already begun and will certainly elevate Green Acres from its current status as a hidden Melbourne eastern suburbs gem.
134. ROYAL PERTH GC
South Perth, Western Australia
Designers: Club members (1908); David Anderson (1930); Terry Gale (1988-2020); Clayton, DeVries & Pont – CDP & Harley Kruse (2021 and ongoing).
Covering less than 80 hectares, Royal Perth rolls across flat terrain and measures little more than 6,000 metres from the tips. But its defence comes from the narrow fairways lined by mature trees and its relatively small greens.
Despite the course’s small footprint, there are interesting holes to be found and the conditioning is always a five-star.
Mike Clayton and Harley Kruse have been engaged to author a long-term plan for the course and advise on any major renovations that may follow.
135. PALMER COOLUM RESORT
Yaroomba, Queensland
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1988 & 2009).
Once a staple of this magazine Top-100 Courses ranking, Palmer Coolum slipped off the list a few years ago but has improved enough in recent times to climb back to this position.
The foundations of a Top-100 ranked course remain. There are still thrilling, fun holes, like the downhill waterside par-3 2nd, the short par-4 7th hole that finishes in the shadows of Mt Coolum as well as the iconic 385-metre par-4 9th hole (formerly the 18th) beside the lake and scene of so much tournament drama.
While the course is a long way from its glory days, its presentation has improved significantly.
136. LANG LANG GC
Lang Lang, Victoria
Designers: George Naismith & Bill Walker (1960).
The South Gippsland club will celebrate its Centenary in 2025, having moved to several locations before settling on its current site in 1960.
The course was designed by 1937 Australian Open Champion and long-time Riversdale Golf Club professional, George Naismith, who, along with fellow golf pro, Bill Walker, created the layout free of charge.
This par-70 offers hints of the Melbourne Sandbelt with its superbly maintained couch fairways and bentgrass greens, while the bunkering is also a memorable feature. The layout, at 5,710 metres from the tips, is not long but its predominantly narrow tree-lined holes demand precision ball-striking.
137. GROWLING FROG
Woodstock, Victoria
Designer: Graham Marsh (2004).
Routed through a sprawling rural landscape dotted with large River Red gums, dry stone walls and a meandering creek, this Graham Marsh design is fun and challenging for players of all standards.
While the rough beyond the first cut is brutal in parts, the fairways are generally wide and accepting of all except the wildest of drives. This width from the tee creates the option of finding all the angles required to take aim at the flags that can be tucked behind bunkers on the large rolling greens.
138. KOOINDAH WATERS GC
Wyong, New South Wales
Designers: Ross Watson & Craig Parry (2006).
Ross Watson collaborated with Craig Parry to create what can best be described as a short, strategic layout where wetlands and bunkers have been widely incorporated into the design.
These hazards more than make up for the overall distance (6,083 metres), which is short by modern standards, and forces you to plot your way around the layout. That said, there are several forced water carries to be wary of, especially for high handicappers.
One of the highlights of a round here are the creative green complexes, which feature plenty of bunkers, mounds and hollows in close to each of the putting surfaces.
139. TEVEN VALLEY
Teven, New South Wales
Designer: Craig Parry Design (2021).
Set on 10 hectares of stunning rolling terrain about 20 minutes’ drive west of Byron Bay, Teven Valley has been improving year-on-year ever since new owners took over in 2015.
A rebuild of the picturesque course overseen by Craig Parry Design saw the entire course upgraded with particular attention paid to the greens and surrounds. The layout now boasts 10 new greens, redone fairways and a host of new bunkers.
Combined with superior conditioning, Teven Valley has become one of Australia’s must-play nine-hole courses.
www.tevenvalleygolfcourse.com.au
140. QUEENSCLIFF GC
Swan Island, Victoria
Designer: Rowley Banks (1907); Members (1961).
Situated on the sandy Swan Island at the eastern end of the Bellarine Peninsula, Queenscliff is starting to lose its hidden gem status.
An incredible amount of renovation work has been carried out in recent times, which has seen fairways converted to Santa Ana couch grass, tees renovated and bunkers replaced.
The result is a course that presents hints of the Melbourne Sandbelt, is not overly punishing and is a lot of fun to play.
www.queenscliffgolfclub.com.au
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