Queensland’s Gold Coast boasts more attractions and venues than any other destination in the southern hemisphere and it’s also easy to adopt the laid-back local lifestyle with more than 70 kilometres of beaches and 100,000 hectares of world heritage-listed rainforest never far away.
For golfers, the Gold Coast offers a smorgasbord of choice. All you have to do is find the courses that suit your game and your budget. To help, we showcase here the 19 best places to play, how much it will cost you to play, where to stay and the best Tour operators who will ensure your next golfing getaway to the ‘Goldie’ is hassle free and all about playing golf.
SANCTUARY COVE G&CC
Blessed with two superb golf courses, Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club gives golfers multiple reasons to stay and play. While the Pines course remains the exclusive domain of members, their guests and resort guests, the revamped Palms course accepts public play. The Palms has become a must-see golf destination ever since the $8.8 million Ross Watson redesign reopened eight years ago. Utilising much of the same land the original Fred Bolton design sat on, the modern version of the Palms features more challenges, eye-catching holes and heart-stopping shots than the original incarnation.
“Blessed with two superb golf courses, Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club gives golfers multiple reasons to stay and play.”
The par-70 layout tops out at 5,890 metres but feels and plays a lot longer. Several driving zones are set on upslopes that rob tee shots of precious roll and extra distance, leaving longer, sometimes awkward, approach shots than the scorecard suggests. Then there are the numerous Watson bunkers and many water hazards to conquer. Holes to look out for include the downhill par-4 15th, where water flanks the entire right side. Two fairway bunkers have been filled-in in recent times, but the challenge remains. The difficulty of the test depends on the wind direction and tee marker of choice, which can turn this 340-metre hole into a brute.
The back nine also features two water-side par-3s – the 13th and 16th holes. While not overly long from the tips, both demand water carries to large putting surfaces, which have been designed with a steep tier running through the middle. These ridges demand accuracy from the tee to find the correct section of the green.
The neighbouring Pines Course remains Sanctuary Cove’s crowning glory. Its designer was Arnold Palmer, who may well have been inspired by Augusta National, where he won the Masters four times. The Pines features stand after stand of Augusta-like tall pine trees.
Having opened in 1988, The Pines remains long by modern standards and rewards great ball-striking at every turn.
Water is a feature of the Pines’ most memorable holes – the 10th, 13th and 18th. The 428-metre 10th is as tough a par-4 as you will ever find. Water up the entire right side forces every golfer’s eyes left, but on that side are pine trees, rough and a playing line that adds length to the hole. Any par made here should be saluted. The par-3 13th is downright lethal from the back markers and regardless of the tee locations you need to carry water to find the green. The closing hole turns left around a huge lake in front of the impressive clubhouse and requires either a solid right-to-left drive or a long, brave carry over the corner to leave an easier approach into the wide green.
Green fees: Palms Course, $150 (18 holes, including cart); Pines Course is restricted to members, members’ guests and guests of the Intercontinental resort.
Website: www.sanctuarycovegolf.com.au
LINKS HOPE ISLAND
Just a short drive from the Sanctuary Cove clubhouse, Links Hope Island is another destination that needs to be one first courses pencilled in to your Gold Coast golf itinerary.
When Links Hope Island opened for play in 1993 it was a bit of a shock entry onto the Australian golfing landscape. At that stage a links-style course had never been, seemingly, pulled from its Scottish roots and transplanted to the warmer climes of Queensland.
Australian golfers had seen nothing like it and, while we have seen a few links-style courses added since, Hope Island was the first and, perhaps, it’s for that reason why it has become one of the Gold Coast’s most popular layouts.
Designed by Peter Thomson and Mike Wolveridge, Hope Island delivers a links experience in a resort atmosphere, with many holes paying homage to the great British links Thomson mastered during his storied career. Holes like the par-5 8th feature the same Principal’s Nose pot bunkers found on the 16th hole of the Old Course at St Andrews, mixed in with a brutal hole like the par-3 17th, which demands a tee shot to carry water from as far back as 224 metres.
RIGHT: Links Hope Island. PHOTO: Brendan James.
In the space of 18 holes, Thomson and Wolveridge managed to combine ancient and modern golf characteristics. Today, 26 years on, their little piece of British links on the Gold Coast – complete with close mown swales, mounds, natural rough and pot bunkers – has matured into the No.20 ranked Public Access Course in Australia.
The designers created a strategist’s course at Hope Island, presenting a series of playing lines on each hole. However, to reap the most reward, precise angles of attack are required into the greens. Consequently, the length of a hole doesn’t really matter. What does matter, more than at many other courses, is making the correct club selection on the tee, selecting the right line, and executing the shots accordingly.
A feature of the Links Hope Island layout is the series of raised greens that make sound iron play a prerequisite to scoring well and a bump-and-run shot an arrow to put in the quiver. The tightly trimmed edges of the greens slope down into surrounding bunkers and hollows, which ultimately leads to a follow up shot requiring imagination and quality execution to save par.
“A feature of the Links Hope Island layout is the series of raised greens that make sound iron play a prerequisite to scoring well …”
The 369-metre par-4 13th is one such hole. The fairway doglegs left around a lake to a green that features a ridge running through it. There is a bunch of sandy hazards en route, the deep, crater-like bunkers that have become synonymous with Thomson designs. The ideal drive is to skirt the edge of the lake to provide the shortest and most forgiving line into the flag.
Green fees: $140 (18 holes, including cart, Monday to Thursday); $150 (Friday to Sunday). $79 (twilight rate after 2pm, 3pm Saturdays).
Website: www.linkshopeisland.com.au
LAKELANDS GC
Jack Nicklaus’ first signature design in Australia, Lakelands Golf Club, continues to stand up as one of the Gold Coast’s superior layouts.
Listed No.31 in Golf Australia’s most recent Top-100 Public Access Courses ranking, the
par-72 is a stern test at 6,489 metres from the back pegs. However, multiple tee options allow the course to be enjoyed by all players.
Renowned for its consistent high quality of conditioning, Lakelands’ fairways offer fantastic surfaces to play from, while the Bermuda TifDwarf greens roll perfectly year round.
Asking for your best golf from start to finish, Lakelands opens with its second hardest hole, a par-4 measuring nearly 400 metres, and closes with the hardest hole on the course in the form of a 414-metre par-4 with water down the entire right side.
“Lakelands’ fairways offer fantastic surfaces to play from, while the Bermuda TifDwarf greens roll perfectly year round.”
Water mixes with Nicklaus’ large bunkers to form the majority of the strategic challenge at Lakelands. Players must decide how much of the hazards to challenge from many of the tees, with successful execution resulting in improved lines into the sloping greens, while the movement of the fairways rarely results in a flat lie.
Varying in distance and requiring four different clubs on most days, Nicklaus’ four par-3s at Lakelands are among its more memorable holes. Expansive bunkering guards the two one shotters on the front nine, while water comes into play on the 14th and 17th.
The 14th is touted as the club’s signature hole, and for good reason. Measuring 130-metres from the back tee, a precise short-iron is needed to find the putting surface fronted by water that also protects the left side. Stands of trees surrounding both the tee and green make judging the wind difficult, meaning players will take their par and run to the 15th tee.
Long hitters won’t find themselves with too many long clubs in hand when approaching Lakelands’ par-4s, but that is certainly not the case at the penultimate hole.
Playing to a long green angled away from the tee, the 17th stretches out to 210-metres from the tips and is one of the better long par-3s in the region.
Although it is hard to fault any of Lakeland’s two-shot holes, the pick of the par-4s opens the back nine.
The 384-metre 10th is the most visually intimidating challenge you will face during a round at Lakelands. Water runs down the entire left side, while trees and scrub to the right of the fairway will make finding the green in two difficult for players who take an overly defensive line from the tee and big numbers are always a possibility.
Green Fees: $125 (including cart).
Website: www.lakelandsgolfclub.com.au
SURFERS PARADISE GC
Despite its name, the Surfers Paradise Golf Club is actually located about five kilometres south of the bars and restaurants of Surfers’ famed Cavill Avenue.
The Broadbeach to Nerang Rd borders the course to the north and there is residential on its western and southern boundaries. But when you walk off the 1st tee here, it doesn’t take long to feel you are miles away from the hustle and bustle.
The fairways are a little more tree-lined than they were when the club hosted the Australian PGA Championship back in the early 1970s, but generally there is enough width from tee-to-green to ask questions of club selection from the tee. However, there are no shortage of fairway bunkers and water hazards to be avoided. In fact, water comes into play on 11 holes.
The design does make good use of its small area. The par-71 requires decisive shot-making and, while short at 5,841 metres from the back pegs, your use of the driver needs to be astute as frequently long irons and fairway woods will be more sensible from the tee.
One such hole where caution is certainly advised is the short par-4 17th. At 310 metres from the tips, it’s not a hole to be attacked with a driver unless you can bank on a left-to-right shot shape to follow the dogleg shape of the fairway as it veers around a lake to the left. The key here is to get your drive in play and take aim with a short iron into a receptive green that lies just beyond the lake.
Surfers is one of the most underrated layouts on the Gold Coast. It is an easy walk and the quality of the playing surfaces are superb.
Green fees: $58 (18 holes). $29 (unlimited play all day Monday, walking).
Website: www.surfersparadisegolfclub.com.au
EMERALD LAKES GC
In the Gold Coast golf course building boom of the late-80s and early-90s, a small layout sprung up alongside the Nerang-Broadbeach Rd.
The then-named Carrara Golf Club was built on a miniscule budget and it didn’t have the appeal of its new neighbours including Royal Pines and Palm Meadows. But when the course was sold in 1990, a significant investment was made by its new owners to create a much better layout.
Emerald Lakes Golf Club was born and Graham Marsh Golf Design was commissioned to redesign the course, which was turned into a par-72 layout with wide fairways and more dynamic, generously-sized greens laid between strands of gums and pristine lakes.
The transformation into a ‘serious’ golf course was complete when Emerald Lakes became an Australasian PGA Tour stop in 2004 as the venue of the Queensland PGA Championship. The following year the Tour’s first 59 was carded by Brad McIntosh, putting Emerald Lakes in the headlines.
Emerald Lakes does offer plenty of birdie opportunities for the better player, but there are several holes requiring caution. The par-5 4th could fall into either category.
On the scorecard, the 447-metre 4th would appear to be a probable birdie. A wide fairway leads away from the tee but the final approach to the putting surface is a narrow one with a lake off to the right and a fairway trap to the left of an ideal lay-up spot short of the green. The picturesque setting of the green belies the sand and water hazards lying just metres from its fringe. This is a tough green to hit in two shots but conservative play could be rewarded.
Green fees: $65 (18 holes with cart, weekdays); $70 (with cart, weekends).
Website: www.emeraldlakesgolf.com.au
RACV ROYAL PINES RESORT
RACV Royal Pines’ 27 holes now bear little resemblance to the original routing laid out by Tomojiro Maruyama, with all three nine-hole courses – Green, Gold and Blue – redesigned by Graham Marsh.
The Green-Gold layout has undergone the most significant changes since becoming host of the Australian PGA Championship in 2013. Marsh’s trademark bunkering combines with numerous waterways working their way through the nearly 7,000 metre course to provide a stern challenge.
Ranked at No.44 in Golf Australia magazine’s 2019 Top-100 Public Access rankings, the championship course’s conditioning is consistent year round, with the undulating greens offering a smooth rolling surface.
Cameron Smith no doubt has a fondness for the final hole of the Gold course, where he has clinched the Joe Kirkwood Cup twice. However, the risk and reward qualities of the 307-metre 8th and 495-metre par-5 9th of the Green nine, make them standout holes for many visitors, while the Blue nine offers a less exacting test.
Green Fees: Green/Gold Course $110 (Monday – Thursday) and $125 (Friday – Sunday and Public Holidays); Blue/Green or Gold Course $90 (Monday – Thursday) and $100 (Friday – Sunday & Public Holidays).
Website: www.racv.com.au/Royal-Pines/Resort
ARUNDEL HILLS CC
Designed by Fred Bolton, Arundel Hills Country Club changed hands in 2016 and replaced its ageing green surfaces with TifEagle Bermuda, which should help the club regain its reputation as one of the Coast’s best-conditioned layouts.
Played through dense native trees placing a premium on accuracy, the par-72 is not overly long at 6,300 metres, with constant changes in elevation providing much of the challenge.
The par-5 18th with water guarding the green can make or break a good round, but it is the 15th and 16th holes that truly standout.
Protected by water in front and a bunker behind, the 166-metre 15th requires precise ball striking, before a drive through a narrow opening and an approach over water with anything from a mid-iron to a 3-wood is needed at the 426-metre next.
Green Fee: $99 (including cart); $79 (walking).
Website: www.ahcc.net.au
PARKWOOD VILLAGE
Formerly known as Parkwood International, The Club @ Parkwood Village has something for everyone, including a playable course for all levels of golfers.
Most of the original Fred Bolton layout remains, but in-house redesign was required on holes nearest the clubhouse to make way for a mini entertainment precinct.
The par-71 is played over flat terrain with water on the majority of holes and has improved its conditioning since new owners took over in 2011. And at just over 6,000 metres, Parkwood offers a fun alternative to some of the Coast’s more difficult layouts.
Green Fees: $39 (18 holes).
Website: www.theclubparkwood.com.au
GAINSBOROUGH GREENS GC
Gainsborough Greens Golf Club has changed significantly in recent years as surrounding residential and retail developments grow.
Despite the increasing suburbia, however, the former Queensland PGA host has maintained its natural surrounds.
Offering enough forgiveness for high handicap players, low markers will be faced with strategic decisions if they are to record a good score at Gainsborough, including on the Ross Watson-redesigned 13th and 14th holes. Although markedly different from the original holes, the par-4 and par-3 certainly aren’t out of place, while the driveable 10th hole is one of the course’s best.
Long hitters with eagle aspirations need to follow the dogleg right shape with their drive, but more conservative players can still make birdie if they find the right portion of the putting surface protected by bunkers short and long.
Green Fees: $45 (18 holes, weekdays walking), $55 (weekends); $59 (weekdays including cart), $69 (weekends).
Website: www.gainsboroughgolf.com.au
THE GLADES GC
As is the case with most courses built on the Gold Coast in the past 30 years, the rolling fairways and huge putting surfaces at The Glades have been created from land that, generations ago, would have been deemed unsuitable for golf and left as a swamp.
Huge lakes and vast tracts of wetlands were excavated and the fill from them was used to shape the golf course.
RIGHT: The Glades GC. PHOTO: Brendan James.
Today, The Glades has matured into a wonderful layout and become one of the Gold Coast’s most popular courses on the back of the challenging design and high presentation.
One aspect of The Glades’ presentation that sets it apart from most Gold Coast courses is the use of creeping bentgrass on the greens. This fine-leafed grass has adapted to the hot and humid climate of the Gold Coast and, as a result, The Glades boasts some of the best putting surfaces in Queensland. These greens, and their surrounds, are usually firm under foot providing a wide range of shot options from close range, which adds to the enjoyment and gets a big tick from the authors of this article.
Green fees: $110 (18 holes including cart).
Website: www.glades.com.au
PALMER COLONIAL GC
Much like the entire Gold Coast region, water is the major talking point at Palmer Colonial Golf Club. The course initially known as Paradise Springs and later Colonial has been under the ownership of Queensland businessman Clive Palmer since 2011.
One must wonder, what came first for the Japanese course designer Mitsuaki Kobayashi – the water hazards or the holes?
Given all the lakes and ponds at Palmer Colonial are man-made and water hazards can be found on 16 of the layout’s 18 holes, you can figure what Kobayashi’s answer might be.
Kobayashi transformed flat uninteresting cow paddocks into an easy-walking course with fairways flanked by towering eucalypts or a lake.
At 6,424 metres from the tips, this par-72 is certainly no shrinking violet and, combined with the water hazards, Palmer Colonial represents a good, enjoyable challenge for both casual and better players.
Of note are the high quality par-4s, with the best of them being the 355-metre 15th hole, which features a dogleg right fairway wrapping around the edge of a lake. On the tee, players must choose their driving line over the edge of the lake and select the appropriate club. A drive too far to the left will run through the fairway and among the tall gum trees, leaving a tricky approach into a well-bunkered green.
Green fees: $119.50 (18 holes with cart & merchandise pack), $69.50 (walking).
Website: www.palmergolf.com.au
PALMER GOLD COAST
A short drive (about seven minutes) away is Palmer Colonial’s sister course, Palmer Gold Coast, which was known as Robina Woods until billionaire Palmer assumed ownership and control of both clubs.
“… The designers got maximum bang for their creative buck from every sliver of land made available to them.”
To fully appreciate Graham Marsh and Ross Watson’s feat in designing this layout, do a Google map search for Palmer Gold Coast. This will give you a clear insight into how the designers got maximum bang for their creative buck from every sliver of land made available to them.
Admittedly, many of the residential areas backing onto the layout had not been built when the course was constructed and opened for play in 1989. But Marsh and Watson knew the course would have to be spread far and wide to fit single holes in between rows of then planned housing. The result is a course that offers a great variety of holes and presents golfers the challenge of using every club in the bag to try and better their handicap … or par.
Green fees: $119.50 (18 holes with cart & merchandise pack), $69.50 to $79.50 (walking).
Website: www.palmergolf.com.au
SOUTHPORT GC
Measuring just 5,816 metres from the tips, Southport is not a long par-71. It is an easy walking layout where defence of its par comes from tight driving lines on heavily tree-lined fairways punctuated by well-placed bunkers and numerous ponds and lakes.
The back nine might be significantly shorter than the front nine with an inward par of 34, but it certainly plays harder. With three par-5s on the outward half, there is always a chance of establishing a good score by the time you have reached the turn. The trick at Southport is maintaining that level of achievement en route back to the clubhouse.
Southport is a private club but there are some tee times made available for social play on most Mondays, Fridays and Sundays.
Green fees: $90 (18 holes).
Website: www.southportgolfclub.com.au
THE GRAND GC
The last time the Australian Open was played in the Sunshine State, it was in the Gold Coast Hinterland in 2001 at the then relatively new Greg Norman and Bob Harrison-designed The Grand Golf Club.
A decade earlier, the $30 million course was almost ready for play, while the clubhouse was ready to go. The Japanese owners opened the club for one day before shutting the doors, unable to finance the daily operations of the course. The layout lay idle for five years before a syndicate of Gold Coast businessmen, all keen golfers, negotiated to buy the site and establish The Grand as the Gold Coast’s most exclusive golf club.
Norman and Harrison were re-commissioned to upgrade the design. The greens were rebuilt, bunkers were added and some fairways were altered before the course was ready to go again. In October 1997, Norman officially opened the course and just four years later Stuart Appleby won the Open there.
The layout covers very good golfing terrain that gives rise to many memorable holes, while the playing surfaces are beautifully manicured. However, the only way a golfing visitor to the Gold Coast will experience these delights is if they know a member.
Green fees: N/A
Website: www.thegrandgolfclub.com.au
BURLEIGH GC
When Burleigh Golf Club was established in the early-1950s, it was surrounded by thick bushland. And although the past 60-plus years have seen suburbia replace the bush, the course remains an oasis in the ‘burbs.
The routing at Burleigh has not changed in more than half a century but in recent times most of the greens and bunkers have been rebuilt to modern standards. The landscape will soon change with the development of The Verge retirement village overlooking the course.
Burleigh boasts two distinct nines. The front nine covers wonderful undulating land where tees and greens are perched on the highest points of the course and approach shots are played from a wide variety of lies. There is good elevation change on several holes of the back nine but it is the tight driving lines of the dogleg holes across the easy walking stretches of the layout that provide a point of the difference to the outward half.
Burleigh is a private club but visitor tee times are available Monday, Tuesday and Sunday mornings.
Green fees: $40 (18 holes Monday); $60 (Tuesday and Sunday).
Website: www.burleighgolfclub.com.au
PALM MEADOWS GC
When Palm Meadows infamously closed in 2010, it was the end of a nearly two-decade fall from grace as one of this country’s celebrated tournament venues.
Having hosted the likes of Greg Norman, Ray Floyd, Curtis Strange, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam in the Palm Meadows Cup for five years from 1988, the gates were closed on the Graham Marsh and Ross Watson-designed layout and the course was seemingly left to die a natural death.
But the course reopened a few months later under new leaseholders, Gold Coast Golf Management, which has successfully overseen nearly eight years of consistent improvement. Having dropped off national ranking lists for several years, it returned to Golf Australia’s Top-100 Public Access Courses in 2013 at No.78. In January this year it had risen to No.52. According to our judges, it’s simply a case of consistently better presentation complementing what has always been an enjoyable design.
The iconic 18th is by far the best-known hole: A huge dogleg-right par-5 that requires at least one water carry for every golfer and two for those taking the brave line from the tee. It’s a hole that never fails to get the pulse racing regardless of the conditions or the calibre of your play.
Green fees: $79 (weekdays inc. cart), $89 (weekends); $45 (twilight, inc. cart).
Website: www.palmmeadows.com.au
COOLANGATTA & TWEED HEADS GC
Located on the western bank of the beautiful Tweed River and on a 101-hectare wild life reserve, Coolangatta and Tweed Heads offers a memorable golfing experience that has been more than 80 years in the making.
The West Course is marginally longer than its River Course neighbour and, over the years, it has become a much tighter layout with the maturing of trees, although the ground staff does a terrific job to make sure the playing lines are kept relatively clear and don’t compromise the quality of the design.
Both courses have undergone upgrades in recent years, including bunker and green renovations (grass conversions and redesigns), to elevate their quality.
On the West Course, the putting surfaces were converted from bentgrass to TifEagle, with several greens being reshaped and made bigger during the conversion. These greens now more closely resemble the TifGreen 328 greens on the River Course, which were changed from bentgrass nearly two decades ago.
All these changes have seen both courses elevated significantly in the national rankings, with the West Course No.77 and the River Course No.66 in Golf Australia’s Top-100 Public Access Courses ranking in 2019. The continued improvement program will see further rises for both layouts.
Green fees: $30 (18 holes, Monday and Tuesday); $46 (Wednesday to Sunday). Bookings are certainly recommended.
Website: www.cooltweedgolf.com.au
GOLF AFTER DARK
NIGHT GOLF
Emerald Lakes is a good course during the day … and at night.
Emerald Lakes was one of the first courses in Australia to install floodlights covering a full nine holes. The back nine is completely lit with lights lining each fairway, which allows golfers to enjoy this course until 9.15pm every day.
There couldn’t possibly be a better way to end a day on the course than with a leisurely nine holes under lights – or hitting a few buckets of balls on the adjoining driving range or playing 18 holes of mini-golf – before adjourning to the clubhouse for a delicious meal, either dining indoors or alfresco under the sails by the lake and overlooking the floodlit 18th.
Green fees: $30 (nine holes, walking).
Website: www.emeraldlakesgolf.com.au
TOPGOLF
Topgolf – with its mix of golf, food, beverages and music – has been a huge success since arriving on the Gold Coast in June 2018.
Located next to Movie World at Oxenford, just off the Pacific Motorway, Topgolf is a three-level venue fitted with 90 climate-controlled hitting bays that can host up to six players at one time. Players hit micro-chipped golf balls into giant targets on the outfield, scoring points when they find one of the targets. Whether you’re an aspiring pro, or a total beginner you’ll have a ball at Topgolf.
And you don’t have to venture far to relax with a meal from the chef-inspired menu or enjoy your favourite drink, which can all be enjoyed while playing or, alternatively, on the Rooftop Terrace while listening to live music.
Fees: Cost is per bay. $50 per hour (Monday to Thursday before 5pm); $70 (Monday to Thursday after 5pm, before 2pm Friday), $90 (after 2pm Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday).
Website: www.topgolf.com.au
TOURING THE COAST & BEYOND
PARADISE GOLF TOURS
Established in 1989, Paradise Golf Tours is the longest-established specialist golf tour company on the Gold Coast.
Paradise Golf Tours has excellent relationships with the Gold Coast’s premier resort courses and a large selection of hotels and resorts. So they can usually secure your preferred tee-time on all courses, on any day, significant discounts at a huge choice of accommodation venues, while also providing transfers throughout your stay.
Paradise Golf Tours can organise your next group trip (from two to 100) and you could play renowned courses such as Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove Pines or Palms (pictured below), Lakelands, The Glades, Arundel Hills or the home of the Australian PGA, RACV Royal Pines.
Contact: www.paradisegolftours.com.au or call 0402 049 868 for a quote.
ABOVE PAR GOLF TOURS
Above Par Golf Tours is a leading Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast tour operator servicing more than 3,000 golfers every year.
The company offers outstanding value packages for any size group traveling to the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, and provides a unique online quote system which enables you to go online 24 hours a day, seven days a week and construct your own dream holiday from a wide range of accommodation, resort courses, hire cars or daily transfers.
Contact: www.abovepargolf.com.au or call Mike and Chris on 1300 798 552.
SIGNATURE GOLF TOURS
Signature Golf Tours know the ins and outs of the local golf scene, ensuring you and your golfing mates will have an unforgettable experience.
Director and PGA Professional Michael Hansen has built strong working relationships with local golf courses, accommodation providers and sightseeing companies that allow Signature Golf Tours to provide high quality and excellent value custom golf trips to the Gold Coast.
Signature Golf Tours also run several golf events throughout the year including the brand new 2020 Gold Coast Golf Week, to be played from March 9-14. With already more than 60 percent of places sold for the event, don’t delay in securing your spot as this is sure to be a week to remember.
The week will include five nights’ accommodation at Mantra On View Hotel Surfers Paradise, welcome night at Topgolf Gold Coast and 18 holes at Palm Meadows, Lakelands, The Glades and Royal Pines. There are thousands of dollars in prizes up for grabs. The cost of the week is $1,099 per person (twin share), or $250 extra for a single room.
Website: www.signaturegolftours.com.au
GOLF OZ TOURS
There’s nothing better than a golfing holiday, but there’s nothing worse than planning it!
If you want the fun of a golfing holiday without the hassle or some friendly advice on when and where to tour, golfOZ Tours & Tourism is the place to start.
Operated by Emma Beauclerc and her team, they specialise in planning and arranging personalised golf tour packages for various destinations. While most of their clients book to tour the Gold Coast, Brisbane or Sunshine Coast with them from March – November, they have found that destinations like Cairns, Adelaide, Perth, Nelson Bay, are very popular with many golfers.
GolfOZ Tours & Tourism caters for individual golfers, groups (no limit in size) and small corporate golf days. They offer complete play-and-stay golf tour packages, with non-playing partners very welcome.
They will also organise non-golfing options like: watching live NRL / AFL / Rugby footy games; an afternoon at the local races for a punt; go karting adventures; fishing charter; whale-watching; poker nights; bus day trips to wineries, shopping malls, pubs and much more.
The company also provides a complete package inclusive of various levels of three to five-star accommodation, transfers to and from airports and golf daily at the most competitive rates available.
Contact: For more information, go to www.golfoz.com.au or call (07) 5575 8500.
PTERODACTYL HELICOPTERS
Depart from Pterodactyl Helicopters exclusive helipads and experience spectacular views of the scenery below as your pilot transports you and your friends for a private golf tour you’ll never forget. Enjoy the flight across south east Queensland catching the sights of the Scenic Rim, Brisbane City and the Gold Coast and more before landing at the clubhouse of one of the best courses in the region.
Fly with Pterodactyl Helicopters and arrive with ease and style at one or more of the many stunning courses the great south east has to offer. Pterodactyl Helicopters’ golf tours include green fees for the course of your choice and club hire, ensuring your golf day is hassle-free.
If you’re looking to travel further afield, Pterodactyl Helicopters can help you discover the Scenic Rim.
Play three holes at three of the top courses in the picturesque Scenic Rim. Enjoy breathtaking views as you are transferred between courses by your own private helicopter.
Sit back and relax with lunch at one of the top courses, including the Ramada Resort Kooralbyn Valley, Australia’s first integrated golf resort.
Challenge your handicap at three of your favourite award-winning courses, each featuring their own unique designs and stunning views of the Scenic Rim. You’ll play a total of nine holes over three courses including your choice of: the Desmond Muirhead-designed layout at Ramada Resort Kooralbyn Valley, the picturesque Tamborine Mountain Golf Club, well-maintained Beaudesert Golf Club as well as the challenging Boonah and Canungra Golf Clubs.
After your hit, you can sit back and relax with lunch and beverages at one of the Scenic Rim’s top courses and celebrate the shots of the day.
Contact: www.pterodactylhelicopters.com.au or call Captain Mike on 0417 727 532 to book your Gold Coast or Scenic Rim adventure.
WHERE TO STAY
INTERCONTINENTAL SANCTUARY COVE
The InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort reflects the grand, graceful architecture of a classic Queensland estate, nestled within the beautiful surrounds of Sanctuary Cove.
Boasting an elegant and sophisticated design, the Great House welcomes you with a dramatic stained glass window and grand staircase into the resort.
You can gain exclusive access to The Pines course by staying at the InterContinental, which boasts a Memorable Escape package that includes overnight accommodation, full buffet breakfast for two, plus 18 holes for two adults on The Pines.
Website: www.intercontinentalsanctuarycove.com
RACV ROYAL PINES RESORT
You can play like your golfing heroes at the home of the Australian PGA championship: RACV Royal Pines Resort.
Its stay and play package offer two people overnight accommodation, one round of 18 holes of golf per stay, and daily buffet breakfast in Kalinda Restaurant. To purchase extra rounds of golf, refer to the enhancements add-ons at time of booking.
Prices start from just $441 per night or from just $370 per night for auto club members.
Website: www.racv.com.au
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