Golf Australia magazine presents our Top-100 Courses list for 2026, a feature-length guide to the best golf courses in the land. The list, compiled with input from an expert panel of golfers, travellers and architecture buffs, is a celebration of the country’s finest layouts, from coastal masterpieces to inland gems.
82
SORRENTO GC
Sorrento, Victoria
Designers: Club members (1908); J.D. Scott (1929); Peter Thomson, Mike Wolveridge & Ross Perrett (2014); Neil Crafter & Paul Mogford (2012 & ongoing).
Sorrento rewards imagination over brute force, with firm, sloping fairways, and greens that make great use of the natural landscape. Club selection here can be a matter of what trajectory each club offers as much as their distance, given the ever-present, multi-directional winds which protect par like Gollum with his “Precious”. – Matt Cleary
Immaculate conditioning, a great vibe at the clubhouse and a surprising amount of undulation will keep your golf on its toes. Take an extra club (or two) on the uphill shots. - James Bennett
81
BLACK BULL GC
Yarrawonga, Victoria
Designers: Peter Thomson & Ross Perrett (2015).
Black Bull has plenty of appeal for a getaway weekend, though architecturally, it offers very few moments where you feel compelled to flirt with danger for a reward. The out-of-play plantings are amongst the worst I have encountered, with long spiky grass plants swallowing balls and adding to round times. - Kevin Nolan
80
MT COMPASS GOLF COURSE
Mt Compass, South Australia
Designers: Brian & Neil Crafter (1995 & 1998); Neil Crafter (2016 & ongoing).
The conditioning of Mt Compass alone make it a great place to play. The fun 3rd and 4th holes will test your iron play out, and the demanding par-5 10th is a real highlight. - Michael Green
Large, quality, bentgrass greens on a sand-based site that plays hard and fast. - Matt Cleary
79
THE GLADES GC
Robina, Queensland
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000).
The Glades proved in my latest visit that clever design can overcome a mediocre site — a definite case of turning something ordinary into something elegant. - Kevin Nolan
78
PELICAN WATERS GC
Pelican Waters, Queensland
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000); Greg Norman (2023 & ongoing).
Challenging and well-maintained, the rolling links-style land is well guarded by water and demands strategic play. Greg Norman’s first design on the Sunshine Coast is still kicking goals thanks to ... Greg Norman! - Matt Cleary
77
MAROOCHY RIVER GC
Bli Bli, Queensland
Designer: Graham Marsh (2015).
The now-matured layout has the best green complexes on the Sunshine Coast and is always in good nick. A great mixture of holes with a potential card-ruining 18th – a longish par 4 that will play into the prevailing wind, with a fair-sized lake at the front. Don’t be short! - Peter Martin
76
SETTLERS RUN G&CC
Botanic Ridge, Victoria
Designers: Greg Norman, Bob Harrison & Harley Kruse (2007).
Settlers Run has had a tough couple of winters and will bounce back as drainage issues are resolved. A vibrant club deserving of a great course. - Kevin Nolan
75
AVONDALE GC
Pymble, NSW
Designers: Eric Apperly (1927); Ross Watson (2008).
A slice of the Aussie bushland just 20 minutes from Sydney CBD. The course plays along the tops and edges of the ridges that dominate the property. Beautifully presented, a great and thoughtful vegetation management plan with immaculate green complexes and healthy couch fairways. Avondale is an exceptional members course. - Kevin Nolan
74
LINKS LADY BAY RESORT
Normanville, South Australia
Designers: Jack Newton, Graeme Grant & John Spencer (2000).
Links Lady Bay stays true to its links roots with wide fairways and a brilliant stretch from 11–13. It can be a test for the casual golfer, and the surrounding houses change the feel a little, but the design still shines as one to play south of Adelaide. - Michael Green
The first time I played Links Lady Bay it was with former Test cricketer Jason Gillespie, who has a holiday home that borders the course. I spoke so often and cooingly of the bunkering that Jason told me to shut up about the bunkering. Rolling through strategic mounding, it’s a cracking and fun place to play. - Matt Cleary
73
THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GC
Yokine, Western Australia
Designers: Eustace Cohen & Victor Steffanoni (1927); Alex Russell (1928); Graham Marsh (2001 & ongoing).
Modelled after Pebble Beach’s iconic Rolex, WAGC’s own timepiece is a captivating feature, set against the vista of rolling fairways, mature trees, flower beds, a lake, and the almost anachronistic 21st-Century Perth city skyline in the distance. The elegance of the outlook sets the tone for a course which effortlessly treads the fine line between challenge and charm. - Joel Innes
72
ROYAL HOBART GC
Seven Mile Beach, Tasmania
Designers: Vern Morcom (1963); Richard Chamberlain (ongoing).
Great condition but lacks a little variety. Greens are world-class. - Alex Johnston
I’ve always found Royal Hobart to be Tasmania’s closest course to Melbourne’s sand belt. Built on sand and with a rich history of hosting tournaments including the Australian Open, it has a new hole out of place with different bunkering and design to the rest of the course. Is this the start of a complete redesign? Hole 7 is a new hole and it’s a links design, the rest of the course is not that. - Clint Rice
71
SANCTUARY LAKES GC
Sanctuary Lakes, Victoria
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000).
The Shark and Bob Harrison turned an old salt mine into a championship golf course 20 minutes from the Melbourne CBD. A must-play on the way to the Bellarine. - Matt Cleary
70
KALGOORLIE GC
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Designer: Graham Marsh (2010).
Stunning visually with its contrast of red dirt and green fairways, “Kal” sports gum trees, marsupials and an array of bird and lizard life. And it’s a lot of fun to play. - Matt Cleary
69
TASMANIA GC
Barilla Bay, Tasmania
Designer: Al Howard (1972).
Tree-removal has opened some amazing vistas. - Josh Petterwood
Tasmania winds around soaring eucalypts and delivers one of the best par-5s in the country in its daring, heroic 3rd over Barilla Bay. The course is let down by some weaker holes, but the Club has a master plan to address these issues. I feel that the proposed addition of fairway bunkers seems an unnecessary expense, especially with the ongoing maintenance costs. - Kevin Nolan
Stunning views and terrific variety off the tee. Going through major changes and should improve sharply. - Alex Johnston
Challenging golf course, that would benefit from some substantial capital works and increased upkeep. - Craig Sebbens
68
COTTESLOE GC
Swanbourne, Western Australia
Designers: David Anderson (1931); Alex Russell (1939); Justin Seward & Boyd King (1960); Peter Thomson & Michael Wolveridge (1980); Graham Marsh (1998 & ongoing).
In March of 2024, with his redesign 26 years in the making, Graham Marsh wrote to the membership of Cottesloe GC: “It is now time to let the Cottesloe Lion roar.” Two years later, Cottesloe is roaring. - Matt Cleary
67
MOONAH LINKS – OPEN COURSE
Fingal, Victoria
Designers: Peter Thomson, Mike Wolveridge & Ross Perrett (2001).
The Open Course at Moonah Links still feels like a jigsaw puzzle missing a few pieces – a magnificent site caught in a routing that never quite breathes – yet the bones are good enough that a transformation, Gunnamatta-style, could make it extraordinary. - Kevin Nolan
66
RANFURLIE GC
Cranbourne West, Victoria
Designers: Mike Clayton (2002); Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Clayton, Mike Cocking & Ashley Mead – OCCM (2017).
Ranfurlie continues to mature gracefully. Wide corridors, classic Sandbelt bunkering, and clever green angles combine with expanding native plantings to ground the course beautifully in its landscape. Under the watchful eye of a new Superintendent there have been steady improvements with more to come. Ranfurlie is surely one of the most underrated in Australia. - Kevin Nolan
65
RACV HEALESVILLE
Healesville, Victoria
Designer: Mike Clayton (2009).
Thoroughly enjoyable test of your short game and an absolute wildlife haven. - Alex Johnston
A really well-designed short course on undulating land which is always fun to play. To me, the greens are one of the big standouts, offering challenging contours, negating some of the shorter hole lengths. Will be interesting in the next ranking period, with potentially significant work on three holes to be undertaken to allow new buildings near the 18th green. - Carl Murphy
64
THE GRAND GC
Gilston, Queensland
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (1997).
A great course and a real pleasure to play. - Mick Houston
63
SANCTUARY COVE G&CC – PINES COURSE
Sanctuary Cove, Queensland
Designers: Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay (1989).
A recent revamp of the greens and surrounds has brought this course back to its former glory. A fantastic facility and always a game to look forward to. - Peter Martin
62
THE CUT GC
Dawesville, Western Australia
Designer: James Wilcher (2004).
Sitting behind Pyramids Beach, a wonderful test of golf awaits. Significant dune scape abounds with four holes just behind the beach and a few more playing to or from there. The undulation has allowed the architect to produce some magnificent holes: 2, 3, 4, and 12 are fine examples of this. Despite some of the holes being around residential housing, I didn’t feel like I was playing in that environment, such was the quality of the holes. One detracting factor was the signage. - Simon Tyndale-Biscoe
61
THE EASTERN GC – SOUTH COURSE
Yering, Victoria
Designer: Greg Norman (2015).
Wide, long, expansive, challenging and typically “big” Greg Norman design that’s a Yarra Valley must-play. - Matt Cleary
60
THE VINTAGE GC
Pokolbin, NSW
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2004)
The course offered a real variety of shots, especially off the tee, where the architect really wanted you to take on the water carries. The par 3’s all varied in distance which had you thinking on each tee. - Kevin Nolan
59
ST MICHAELS GC
Little Bay, NSW
Designers: Michael Moran & C.W Cole (1938); Ben Chambers Centreline Golf (ongoing)
Blind tee shots the only letdown of an otherwise great course. - Rob Evans
A great test in the wind, and a lot of fun away from the ti-tree. Pure greens. Only knock for mine is it doesn’t make full use of it coastal setting. The Coast next door a case in point. - Matt Cleary
58
MEADOW SPRINGS G&CC
Meadow Springs, Western Australia
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1993)
Yet another great track in the Mandurah area. - Rob Evans
57
TERREY HILLS G&CC
Terrey Hills, NSW
Designers: Graham Marsh & Ross Watson (1994); Graham Marsh (2017)
Great layout, proper championship golf course. Always in excellent condition and has about half a dozen holes that could be described as ‘signature’. - Brett Papworth
A championship layout always in great nick. The new 17th looks mint. - Matt Cleary
56
THE LINKS HOPE ISLAND
Hope Island, Queensland
Designers: Peter Thomson, Mike Wolveridge & Ross Perrett (1997); Mike Wolveridge & Ross Perrett (2021)
A great resort golf course. - Josh Petterwood
55
THIRTEENTH BEACH LINKS – CREEK COURSE
Barwon Heads, Victoria
Designers: Tony Cashmore & Sir Nick Faldo (2004); Darius Oliver (ongoing)
The Creek course offers a refined contrast to its neighbouring Beach Course, presentation one par with the Beach but less strategic. The design rewards precision and course management, with wide fairways that funnel into well-defended greens framed by subtle contouring. It’s beautifully maintained, with immaculate conditioning and a layout that flows naturally through the landscape, the kind of course you appreciate more with every round. - Clint Rice
Loads of fun. I’ll be back. - Rob Williamson
54
ROSEBUD CC – NORTH COURSE
Rosebud, Victoria
Designers: Jack Watson (1964); Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking & Ashley Mead – OCM (2019 & ongoing)
The work completed by OCM is a wonderful start on the road to fulfilling its true potential. Magnificent back 9 with undulating fairways lined by pine trees. - Rob Williamson
53
ELANORA CC
Elanora Heights, NSW
Designers: Dan Soutar (1929); James Wilcher (2004)
Whilst beautifully routed to take advantage of the undulating terrain, Elanora isn’t the most strategically demanding course. Accuracy is a prerequisite to a good score. The course presentation was exceptional for such a demanding site. - Kevin Nolan
Some spectacular holes – excellent condition. It’s a proper, group one, “members” course that’s clearly not battling for money for upkeep. Some nice views over the northern beaches hinterland.- Rob Evans
52
THE GRANGE GC – EAST COURSE
Grange, South Australia
Designers: Vern Morcom (1967); Greg Norman (2013)
A long course with a links feel on some of the holes, this course was exposed to strong wind the day I played it which made it longer again. Trees are set back from the playing lines on most holes with bunkering strategically placed to catch the misdirected risk and reward shots. For mine, this is a very well-maintained course with great drainage and some interesting questions put to the golfer. - Simon Tyndale-Biscoe
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