One of the benefits of getting older is having more spare time to play golf. Whether you’re a weekend hacker or you take your golf more seriously, here’s our pick of the bucket list golf courses to play when you retire in Australia.
New South Wales Golf Club
The stunning scenery is a bonus when you play a round at the New South Wales Golf Club in La Perouse, 14 kilometres southeast of the Sydney CBD. It’s a highly challenging course, so you need to have a maximum handicap of 27 for men and 36 for women to appreciate it.
There are limited opportunities for non-members to play on weekdays, but you need to book ahead.
Royal Melbourne (West Course)
Victoria has so many great golf courses that it’s hard to pick just one. But if you have to pick one, you won’t regret teeing up at Royal Melbourne. This pristine course is located in Black Rock, a suburb that’s about 18 kilometres southeast of the Melbourne CBD.
If you’re a current member of any club around Australia, you can tee off on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. But make sure you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Royal Queensland
Royal Queensland hosted the prestigious Australian PGA Championship in late 2022, and local hero and current US Masters’ title holder Cameron Smith won the event. The Royal Queensland course is in Eagle Farm, about 9 kilometres northeast of the Brisbane CBD.
You can book a round at Royal Queensland if you are a member of one of 22 reciprocal clubs around Australia.
Royal Adelaide
You’ll find Royal Adelaide Golf Club in the suburb of Seaton, about 10 kilometres northwest of the Adelaide CBD. It has a challenging ‘links-style’ layout and limited opportunities for members of other golf clubs to play if you book ahead.
Lake Karrinyup, Western Australia
As its name suggests, Lake Karrinyup Country Club borders water. ‘Karrinyup’ is also an Indigenous word to describe ‘a place where kangaroos graze’, so don’t be surprised to see some native wildlife if you play a round there, as well as a huge range of bird species.
Karrinyup is 13 kilometres north of the Perth CBD. You must be a member of a reciprocal club to play as a guest at Lake Karrinyup Country Club on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Bookings are essential.
Cape Wickham Links, Tasmania
Like Victoria, Tasmania has so many great golf courses that it’s hard to pick just one. But you won’t regret playing at Cape Wickham Links. You’ll find it on King Island in the Bass Strait.
It’s a picture-postcard course that reflects its stunning location, and it’s a place where you can experience the magic of ‘links’ golf. Cape Wickham’s firm surface on its sandy coastland will make you feel like you’re playing in Scotland. You can book a tee time at Cape Wickham Links here.
Royal Canberra (Westbourne Course)
Royal Canberra Golf Club is in Yarralumla, about 3 kilometres southwest of the Canberra CBD. Limited playing times are available for non-members on the picturesque Westbourne Course on Mondays and Thursdays, but you must pre-book at least a couple of weeks in advance.
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