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.
51
SPRING VALLEY GC
Clayton South, Victoria
Designers: Vern Morcom (1948); Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Clayton, Mike Cocking & Ashley Mead – OCCM (2017)
Beautiful bunkering and green complexes. Doesn’t lose a whole lot to its more illustrious Sandbelt neighbours. - Matt Cleary
50
MOONAH LINKS – LEGENDS COURSE
Fingal, Victoria
Designer: Ross Perrett (2003)
Moonah Legends is the better layout compared to its sibling but is hurting under the strain of heavy, less-careful/considerate public play. - Kevin Nolan
49
SANDRINGHAM GOLF LINKS
Cheltenham, Victoria
Designers: Vern Morcom (1932 & 1956); Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking & Ashley Mead – OCM (2020)
One of the best designed public access courses in the Melbourne metro area. Well matured since the rebuild, this short course continues to offer great golf to all levels of player. - Carl Murphy
A terrific example of what can be produced on a small piece of land when it comes to interesting golf. Wide playing corridors with interesting green complexes, this course really benefits from having its neighbour being one of the best courses in the world. - Simon Tyndale-Biscoe
48
PORTSEA GC
Portsea, Victoria
Designers: Jock Young (1926); Alex Russell (1929); Sloan Morpeth & Jack Howard (1965); Mike Clayton (2000); Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking & Ashley Mead – OCM (2017 & ongoing)
Lovely walk, the upgrade will only improve it. - Josh Petterwood
Enjoyable and picturesque little course, despite being a little confined for space. - Rob Williamson
47
BROOKWATER GC
Brookwater, Queensland
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2002)
On a site that is not golf friendly, Brookwater offers dramatic shot-making often leading to memorable moments. - Kevin Nolan
Originally surrounded by bushland, Brookwater now is surrounded mainly by housing. The course still holds onto some of its original uniqueness, but it’s certainly not the beast it once was. The tree in the middle of the second fairway stands as a tribute to Bob Harrison, but for mine, it should be removed. Brookwater will always be the course you’re happy to play once or maybe twice a year, for some sadistic challenge, but it will never be the course you want to play week in, week out. - Peter Robinson
46
JOONDALUP RESORT – QUARRY/DUNE COURSE
Joondalup, Western Australia
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1985)
A big, bold course. Robert Trent Jones Jnr certainly delivered. Meandering around and through parts of a quarry, making this quite a unique experience, but still delivering good design throughout the remaining holes. - Carl Murphy
45
BOUGLE RUN
Bridport, Tasmania
Designer: Bill Coore (2021)
A perfect complement to the other two courses. Amazingly fun. - Josh Petterwood
Bougle Run is fun, quirky, and full of good holes. It’s a great opportunity to hit a few shots you wouldn’t normally play. Let your imagination run wild on the tee and attempt to use the bumps, hollows, slopes, and even the wind to guide your ball toward the holes, and once it’s on its way, enjoy the ride! - Kevin Nolan
Crazy that a short course could be this good. So much fun. And a great little addition on the morning of your departure. Helps that I had a hole in one! - Alex Johnston
A short course sitting on top of the dune, it offers some fun golf where you can try a variety of shots. Take in the scenery below of Lost Farm as you navigate around. - Carl Murphy
44
HAMILTON ISLAND GC
Dent Island, Queensland
Designers: Peter Thomson & Ross Perrett (2003)
A good, challenging course with lots of contours and elevation climbs and drops. Cart suggested. - Craig Sebbens
43
CURLEWIS GC
Curlewis, Victoria
Designers: Vern Morcom (1947); Mike Clayton (2009 & ongoing)
Curlewis is evolving so quickly that every visit feels like checking in on a brand-new version of the same course. - Kevin Nolan
42
BONVILLE GOLF RESORT
Bonville North, NSW
Designers: Terry Watson & Ted Stirling (1992)
Presented well and always a challenge. Visually fantastic. - Paddy White
41
ROYAL CANBERRA GC – WESTBOURNE COURSE
Yarralumla, ACT
Designers: Commander John Harris (1962); Peter Thomson & Mike Wolveridge (1984); Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Clayton, Mike Cocking & Ashley Mead – OCCM (2017)
Fun to play – lots of room and play off short grass. Green complexes excellent. - Rob Evans
Becoming a great course (again) now all the renovations are completed. - Mick Houston
Manicured and fun, they’ve got couch fairways now, and they roll true. Best greens in Canberra. Best inland golf course in Australia. - Matt Cleary
New grass has bedded in well. Opening it up has added to ‘wow’ factor. - Paddy White
40
THE GRANGE GC – WEST COURSE
Grange, South Australia
Designers: Vern Morcom (1956); Mike Clayton (2008)
I was lucky enough to play Grange West as they were setting up for the LIV tournament. I love all the work that has been done in the non-play areas; the sandy wastelands are just beautiful. - Kevin Nolan
This had room and fun – most golf of short grass and a great course. - Rob Evans
The home of LIV in Australia and also Greg Norman’s first professional win back in 1976, this course provides the people playing here fantastic playing conditions on somewhat less interesting land than its neighbours, in my view. - Simon Tyndale-Biscoe
39
BONNIE DOON GC
Pagewood, NSW
Designers: Lance Giddings & Eric Apperly (1937); Prosper Ellis (1951); Ross Watson (1995-2003); Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Clayton, Mike Cocking & Ashley Mead – OCCM (2019)
This is a masterpiece of what can be done on a mere 34 hectares. Condition superb – surely the best draining course in the country. - Rob Evans
The model for the wide, open, “inland links” style of architecture favoured by Ogilvy, Clayton, Cocking, Mead, Doak, and probably a few others. It is top fun. - Matt Cleary
The mixture of holes is a feature; the removal of non-native trees and the addition of wasteland areas keeps The Doon very much in the links style. Undulating greens coupled with subtle movement in the generous fairways ask most golfers to hit shorter, more precise shots to give themselves a chance to hit approach shots close to pins. That’s not to say length isn’t rewarded, but the shorter hitter can match them and even beat them across 18 holes when the conditions become difficult. With a par of 71 at just under 6,000 meters, the composition of holes provides variety to keep players engaged with what’s in front of them. - Simon Tyndale-Biscoe
38
LINKS KENNEDY BAY
Port Kennedy, Western Australia
Designers: Michael Coate, Roger Mackay & Ian Baker-Finch (1998); Graham Marsh & Trevor Strachan (2020-ongoing)
I would be trying to get here first thing in the morning before the wind picks up, because if you can’t play in the wind, that place will eat you up. It’s an unreal layout and a really great addition to WA’s links courses. - Joel Innes
37
MAGENTA SHORES G&CC
Magenta, NSW
Designer: Ross Watson (2006 & 2020)
Magenta Shores has a number of tricky holes asking you to precisely hit shots over undulations into blind landing areas. It was a lot of fun and repeated plays would only make it better. - Kevin Nolan
36
THE AUSTRALIAN GC
Kensington, NSW
Designer: Jack Nicklaus (1977 & 2013)
A genuine “big boy” championship golf course. When he first saw it, Michael Block said it reminded him of Augusta. - Matt Cleary
35
NEWCASTLE GC
Stockton, NSW
Designers: Eric Apperly (1937); Bob Harrison (ongoing)
Newcastle rocks and rolls its way through (sometimes too) dense tree-lined fairways. The constant elevation changes challenge every player with varied and awkward stances. For a course with so much movement I was a little disappointed with the bland par 3s. - Kevin Nolan
Great track in great condition. Really enjoyable. - Rob Evans
34
CONCORD GC
Concord, NSW
Designers: Dan Soutar (1916); Ross Watson (1997); Mark Parker (2009); Tom Doak – Renaissance Golf Design (2018)
The Tom Doak-designed greens have made Concord a second/third-shot course. Hitting the widened fairways is no longer the issue at Concord; it’s where the pin is on the green which has added the much-needed variation to the course. The new putting surfaces are very tricky, so there is an emphasis on the placement of your ball on the green. When the greens are hard and fast, as designed, playing Concord without a three-putt is near impossible. - Matt Laverty.
33
PORT FAIRY GL
Port Fairy, Victoria
Designers: Club members (1963); Kevin Hartley (1989); Mike Clayton (2000 & ongoing)
Set behind the dunes of Port Fairy Bay this course, in particular the back 9, has wow factor aplenty. A gentle handshake par 5 welcomes you (if you pick the right line – stay left) and holes increase in difficulty as your round continues. Wind and undulation with relatively flat greens underpin what emerges as a place you’re very happy to have travelled to play. The wow factor hit me on the 12th tee and it kept on reoccurring until the sea disappeared as we turned for home. A must-play for anyone with the means to get there. - Simon Tyndale-Biscoe
32
GLENELG GC
Novar Gardens, South Australia
Designers: Herbert L. Rymill (1927); Vern Morcom (1955); Neil Crafter & Bob Tuohy (2004); Neil Crafter & Paul Mogford with Ryan Van Der Veen and Bob Tuohy (ongoing)
The bunker renovation at Glenelg looks fantastic; it can only enhance its reputation amongst the top courses in not just SA but Australia-wide. - Kevin Nolan
The recent changes are great and have maintained the character of the course. - Matt Laverty
One of the Big Four courses in Adelaide, I found this course delightful despite three holes being out of play due to the ongoing improvement the club is undertaking. A mixture of wide and narrow playing corridors with off-chamber slopes and two- and three-tiered greens keeps one engaged throughout the round. - Simon Tyndale-Biscoe
31
13th BEACH Golf links – BEACH COURSE
Barwon Heads, Victoria
Designers: Tony Cashmore (2001); Darius Oliver (ongoing)
This is a beauty – fun, spectacular and hard to fault. Wind a factor. It has an open “feel” but you still have to put your golf ball in the right areas. It’s not always bomb away with driver. - Rob Evans
The Beach course is impressive and the layout captures the spirit of true links golf. Exposed to coastal winds and shaped by dunes, it demands commitment on every shot or it can bring you undone. My #1 links choice on the Bellarine Peninsula. - Clint Rice
30
MT LAWLEY GC
Inglewood, Western Australia
Designers: David Anderson & James Tinlin (1928); Michael Coate (2004); Mike Cocking, OCM Golf (2015-ongoing).
This has to be in my top three courses in WA, it’s a real thinking man’s course and not always driver off the tee. And jeez, you’ll be punished if you don’t hit a fairway or green. Never a dull round! – Joel Innes
29
THE NATIONAL GC – OLD COURSE
Cape Schanck, Victoria
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1987)
National Old remains a masterful course that can turn on you without warning. One lapse in commitment and you’re staring at numbers you’re not emotionally prepared for. - Kevin Nolan
The most underrated course in the country. - Matt Laverty
28
THE DUNES LINKS
Rye, Victoria
Designer: Tony Cashmore (1997 & ongoing)
Really playable for a grand landscape. - Josh Petterwood
Another course way ahead of its time. A level below SAB, but the perfect combination for a 36-hole day. - Alex Johnston
A course that is easy to enjoy. Lots of undulation found around the property creates good variety in how the holes play. During my visit, the shortening of the sixth hole with a new green was underway. This will dramatically improve what was an ordinary hole. - Carl Murphy
Good fun, quite open in parts, challenging in others. Wide balls tend to remain lost as the rough is horrific unless you straddle fairways. - Craig Sebbens
27
WOODLANDS GC
Mordialloc, Victoria
Designers: Tony J.D Scott & Rowley Banks (1913); Sam Bennett (1917); Mick Morcom (1928); Jack Newton, Graeme Grant & John Spencer (1987–2001); Graeme Grant (2002–2005); Mike Clayton (2008–2011); Tom Doak – Renaissance Golf Design (2021); Mike Clayton, Mike DeVries, Frank Pont (CDP) and Harley Kruse (ongoing)
The hidden gem of the Melbourne Sandbelt. Woodlands has world-class short par 4s and par 3s, and small elevated greens that make you nervous because you know what awaits if your shot is slightly mishit. New vegetation management should see it improve over the next few years as it’s slightly hemmed in in some places. - Ashley Clinch
26
ROYAL QUEENSLAND GC
Eagle Farm, Queensland
Designers: Carnegie Clark (1920); Dr Alister MacKenzie (1926); Mike Clayton (2007 & ongoing)
Surprisingly fun. Upturned greens a real challenge. - Josh Petterwood
RQ might look flat and wide, but there is so much to learn about how to play the course. It’s all about the angles and how to use them, not just smashing it wherever you like despite the abundance of room. - Kevin Nolan
I can’t be negative about this extremely flat golf course because I thoroughly enjoyed playing it. Plenty of challenges to consider navigating your ball around this Royal. - Rob Williamson
Royal Queensland continues to be the flagship for golf design in Queensland. With the spotlight of the Australian PGA Championship over the past few years, the broader golf community is getting a better sense of why RQ is as good as it is. OCM has recently commenced work on the Eastern Short Course, which will add significant value to both the members and the overall experience at the club. - Peter Robinson
Related Articles
Tough Open start doesn't deter Croker from relishing life in the big league
Review: Glenelg Golf Club
