Australia’s Must-Play: The 10 Courses Everyone Talks About
Australia is no longer a hidden gem in golf. Over the last two decades, the country’s courses have been catapulted onto global rankings, thanks to a perfect blend of sandbelt classics in Melbourne and scenic coastal designs along its islands and shorelines.
With firm, sandy soils and fast greens reminiscent of links golf, combined with striking scenery and warm hospitality, Australia golf trips now earn their place in the same conversations as Scotland and Ireland.
This guide highlights ten must-play golf courses in Australia, from strategic inland layouts to breathtaking oceanfront designs.
The best golf courses in Australia
From the strategic brilliance of the Melbourne Sandbelt to the wild beauty of Tasmania and the dramatic coastline of Sydney, these are the must-play golf courses in Australia that consistently land on every golfer’s bucket list.
1. Royal Melbourne – West Course (Melbourne, Victoria)
Type: Sandbelt
Widely regarded as the best golf course in Australia, the West Course at Royal Melbourne is an Alister MacKenzie design, considered one of his finest works outside the US. Firm fairways, natural contours, and sharply edged bunkers cut close to the greens define every round here.
Why play it: This is Australia’s spiritual home of golf, where every hole demands thoughtful positioning and originality. Its shared green complexes and bold bunkering have influenced course design worldwide. As a multiple Presidents Cup host, its standing on the world stage speaks for itself.
2. Kingston Heath (Melbourne, Victoria)
Type: Sandbelt
Known for its exceptional conditioning, Kingston Heath features subtle dips, hollows, and beautifully integrated bunkering.
Why play it: Kingston Heath rewards precision and imagination over power; it’s a proper sandbelt course. The closing stretch is particularly memorable, with risk-reward opportunities and firm approaches that demand control of some of the finest greens in Australia.
3. Victoria Golf Club (Melbourne, Victoria)
Type: Sandbelt
A course that has evolved thoughtfully over decades, Victoria Golf Club pairs a well-established routing with considered architectural updates. Strategic bunkering and excellent green complexes are key features.
Why play it: Victoria shows how sandbelt courses can absorb change without losing what makes them great. Located just minutes from Royal Melbourne, it forms part of an exceptional cluster of elite courses.
4. Metropolitan Golf Club (Melbourne, Victoria)
Type: Sandbelt
Among the most visually striking of the sandbelt courses in Australia, Metropolitan pairs tree-lined fairways with deep bunkering and fast greens.
Why play it: The conditioning here is as good as anywhere on the Sandbelt, and the tournament history backs it up. It’s regularly ranked among the best golf courses in Australia, with its presentation and tournament history placing it among the favorites of visiting players.
5. Peninsula Kingswood – North Course (Melbourne, Victoria)
Type: Sandbelt
The newest course on our list, the North Course at Peninsula Kingswood features bold bunkering, expansive greens, and natural sandy surrounds following a major redevelopment.
Why play it: The North Course takes sandbelt principles – firm turf, bold bunkering, fast greens – and applies them with a modern hand. The result is a layout that looks dramatic but plays with genuine strategic depth.
6. Cape Wickham Links (King Island, Tasmania)
Type: Coastal links
Set on a remote island in the Bass Strait, Cape Wickham offers one of the most dramatic golfing landscapes in the world. Holes wind along cliffs, dunes, and coastline, creating a setting unlike anywhere else in Australian golf.
Why play it: The course delivers a genuinely remote links experience, the kind where ocean views and wind shape every decision from the first tee. The opening stretch ranks among the most spectacular in golf, with several holes played directly alongside the ocean beneath the island’s historic lighthouse.
7. Barnbougle Dunes (Tasmania)
Type: Coastal links
Designed by Tom Doak and Mike Clayton, Barnbougle Dunes is carved through towering coastal dunes, offering a rugged and authentic links experience.
Why play it: Barnbougle Dunes stands with the best links courses outside the British Isles, combining raw natural terrain with a routing that continually asks questions of the player. Its routing follows the coastline beautifully, with holes that rise and fall through dunes before returning to the sea for a memorable finish.
8. Barnbougle Lost Farm (Tasmania)
Type: Coastal links
A companion to Barnbougle Dunes, Lost Farm features a unique 20-hole layout with wider fairways and dramatic elevation changes.
Why play it: Where Dunes is rugged and raw, Lost Farm offers more width and variety, and the novelty of a 20-hole layout. It makes for an excellent addition to a Tasmania golf tour. The layout’s flexibility and variety make it perfect for replay, with multiple short holes and risk-reward opportunities.
9. New South Wales Golf Club (Sydney, New South Wales)
Type: Coastal links
Perched on cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, New South Wales Golf Club offers sweeping views and thrilling elevation changes.
Why play it: Coastal winds and clifftop terrain make NSW as physically demanding as it is visually striking. The stretch around Botany Bay is particularly unforgettable, with holes that balance natural drama with genuine strategic difficulty.
10. The Australian Golf Club (Sydney, New South Wales)
Type: Championship parkland
Australia’s oldest golf club features a modern championship layout famously redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in the 1970s. Water hazards, bold bunkering, and long holes are key characteristics of the course.
Why play it: This historic venue has hosted the Australian Open on numerous occasions and remains one of Sydney’s premier tournament venues, welcoming some of the game’s greatest players.
Sandbelt icons
The Melbourne Sandbelt is one of the most distinctive golf regions in the world. Its sandy, free-draining soil creates firm, fast conditions that allow the ball to run along the ground, similar to links golf.
Courses here are known for sharp-edged bunkers positioned close to greens and some of the fastest putting surfaces anywhere in the world. Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria, and Metropolitan are the definitive expressions of this style.
Coastal standouts
Australia’s coast is world-renowned, and this carries through to golf too. The coastal courses are some of the most visually spectacular in the world. Cape Wickham, Barnbougle Dunes, and Lost Farm sit on rugged shorelines where wind and elevation play a constant role.
New South Wales Golf Club offers a different kind of drama, with cliff-top holes overlooking the Pacific Ocean. These courses are must-plays for golfers who are creative, adaptable, and keen to embrace the elements.
Championship pedigree
Many of the best golf courses in Australia regularly host major tournaments. Royal Melbourne has staged multiple Presidents Cups and Australian Opens, while Kingston Heath, Victoria, and Metropolitan have all hosted championships.
The Australian Golf Club stands out for its long history as a premier tournament venue, making it the natural base for any Sydney leg of an Australian golf trip.
Design & terrain
What sets Australian golf apart is its terrain. Sandy soils create firm playing conditions, while architects have used natural contours and strategic bunkering to shape each hole. The result is golf that rewards imagination and shot-making, rather than length. It’s a welcome contrast to many modern championship venues.
Visitor access
Many of Australia’s top golf courses are private, but international visitors are often welcome with advance planning. Tee times can be limited, and some clubs require introductions or specific booking windows. However, there are also several excellent public golf courses in Australia to visit as part of your trip.
Working with a specialist like Premier Golf removes these barriers entirely. Our team handles introductions, tee time windows, and logistics so you can focus on the golf.
Explore our Australia Golf Tour.
Travel insight
A well-planned Australia golf trip typically combines three key regions:
- Melbourne for sandbelt golf
- Tasmania for coastal links
- Sydney for championship and cliff-top courses
Domestic flights make it easy to travel between destinations, allowing golfers to experience a wide variety of course styles in one trip. Many visitors may also combine an Australian golf trip with a visit to neighboring New Zealand, which can be easily arranged.
Best time to visit
Australia offers year-round golf, but the best conditions are typically found between November and March during the southern hemisphere summer. Spring and autumn also provide good weather, with a milder climate and reduced crowds. Planning ahead is essential, particularly during peak travel months.
For a full breakdown of conditions and what to expect on the ground, our guide to golfing in the Australian summer covers everything you need to know.
A golf destination worth the journey
Australia’s best golf courses don’t advertise themselves. They’re private, access is limited, and the waiting lists are real. That’s where we come in. Our team can plan a comprehensive Australia golf tour tailored to your playing style, travel needs, and desired add-ons.
These ten courses are the definitive Australia golf bucket list, spanning centuries of design history and some of the most photographed landscapes in the game. Whether you’re joining us on a full Australia Golf Tour or building a bespoke itinerary, the courses are ready for you. The only question is when.
Contact our team to plan your Australia golf vacation.
FAQs
Yes, Australia combines world-class courses, diverse landscapes, and excellent travel infrastructure, making it ideal for golf vacations.
Some courses offer caddies, while others encourage walking. Availability varies by club, and our experts can help you find the best course for your needs.
Both courses are private members’ clubs, but international visitors are regularly accommodated with advance notice. Working with a specialist tour operator is the most reliable route to securing tee times.
Many courses have limited availability, so booking well in advance is recommended. We can arrange all bookings for you, ensuring tee times suit your schedule.
Absolutely. While many golf clubs and courses are championship venues, they offer multiple tee options to accommodate a breadth of skill levels.
Most visitors combine Melbourne, Tasmania, and Sydney over 10-14 days, using domestic flights to connect the regions. We can handle all the logistics, from tee time access to accommodation and transfers as part of a bespoke golf trip package.
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