Best Golf Courses in Australia

Royal Melbourne West is golf stripped to its essence. Wide fairways tempt aggression, but it’s the angles that matter—miss the right side and even a short iron feels impossible. The bunkering is bold yet perfectly natural, cut tight to the greens, forcing you to think two shots ahead. The greens themselves are fast, firm, and full of subtle movement. What makes it magical is the rhythm: one brilliant hole flowing into the next, strategy always at the forefront, never a wasted moment.

Consistently ranked among the world’s top 20 courses, Kingston Heath Golf Club is a masterpiece of sandbelt architecture in Melbourne, designed by Dan Soutar with input from Dr. Alister MacKenzie. Renowned for its bunkering, fast greens, and superb year-round conditioning, Kingston Heath has hosted numerous major championships, attracting golfers globally for its strategic challenge.

New South Wales Golf Club, designed by legendary Dr. Alister MacKenzie in 1928, is perched on dramatic seaside cliffs at La Perouse, Sydney. Frequently ranked among Australia's top courses and the world's best, it features rolling dunes, panoramic ocean views, and challenging holes shaped by coastal winds. The layout blends Mackenzie's strategic genius with rugged natural beauty.

Cape Wickham Links, designed by Mike DeVries and Darius Oliver, is a true links course on King Island, Tasmania. Opened in 2016, every hole offers spectacular ocean views, dramatic routing, wide fairways, and strategic design features shaped by the wind and coastal landscape. It is acclaimed as one of Australia’s most stunning courses.

Set within Melbourne’s famed Sandbelt, The Metropolitan Golf Club is regarded as one of Australia's finest championship layouts. Originally established in 1908 and shaped by Alister MacKenzie’s architectural ideas, the course is famous for its razor-edged bunker design and superb conditioning. The course consistently hosts major tournaments and is celebrated for its strategic routing, beautifully treed landscape, firm turf, and legendary fast greens.

Set on Tasmania’s spectacular northeast coast, Barnbougle Dunes is a renowned links course designed by Tom Doak and Mike Clayton. The course occupies dramatic sand dunes by Bass Strait, featuring firm fescue turf and strategic holes modeled on the classic seaside courses of Scotland and Ireland. Opened in 2004, it ranks among Australia’s finest public-access layouts and is celebrated for its windswept beauty, natural routing, and pure links-golf experience.

Barnbougle Lost Farm is a highly ranked 20-hole links course on Tasmania’s northeast coast, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The course showcases dramatic dunes and spectacular coastal views, offering strategic play and broad fairways. Opened in 2010 to complement the original Barnbougle Dunes, the course blends minimalist architecture with natural terrain for an engaging, world-class golf experience.

The National Golf Club's Moonah Course, designed by Greg Norman and Bob Harrison, is one of Australia’s leading championship links courses. Renowned for its dramatic dunescape, strategic bunkering, and serpentine fairways, it offers a true test for golfers at every level and ranks consistently among the country's top golf experiences.

Victoria Golf Club sits at the heart of Melbourne’s famed Sandbelt and has consistently ranked among Australia’s best. The course showcases classic Sandbelt architecture, strategic bunkering, pure bentgrass greens, and a storied tournament pedigree. Renovations by OCCM in 2018 elevated both design and conditioning, solidifying Victoria’s reputation for strategic play and natural beauty.

Royal Adelaide Golf Club, established in 1892 and shaped by Dr. Alister MacKenzie, is one of Australia’s premier links-style courses. Located in Seaton, it combines sand dunes, fir trees, and fast, undulating greens. The layout provides both challenging tournament golf and enjoyment for club players, with a storied history hosting national and international championships.

Hamilton Island Golf Club, designed by Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett, is the only 18-hole championship course in Australia set entirely on its own island. Opened in 2009, it winds over Dent Island’s rugged ridges and valleys, presenting challenging holes and panoramic Whitsunday views. The course integrates seamlessly with its natural tropical setting and offers resort-exclusive access.