THE Gold Coast has its sun, surf . . . and plenty of golf. The Coast is home to more than 30 golf courses from challenging links-style courses, resort golf courses to those where kangaroos are par for the course. Day or night, the Gold Coast has golf action. Below is a list of the courses broken into categories. As with all courses ring to check for availability. The exclusive courses are just that - exclusive and require a member to partner you if you want to play. Resort and public courses are open to everybody subject to tee availability. Note some will have age restrictions as underage children cannot legally drive golf buggies. The private courses are often open to interstate or international golfers with reciprocal arrangements. If in doubt, always contact the golf courses direct.
The Glades
EXCITING Greg Norman designed course at Robina and tipped to be the venue of major golf tournaments in the future. The layout includes nine hectares of wetlands and 98 bunkers. more
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Hope Island
WORLD-CLASS layout designed by Peter Thomson and venue of the 1997 Johnnie Walker Classic. The course has a links feel and is littered with pot bunkers and wiry grass tussocks. more
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Kooralbyn
WINDS its way through virgin bushland valleys and remains one of the meanest (off the back pegs) in the nation. more
Lakelands
A JACK Nicklaus signature design with a links feel to it, but with an abundance of lakes to avoid. Lakelands boasts an outstanding practice facility and prides itself on customer service. more
Palm Meadows
VENUE of five Daikyo Palm Meadows Cups from 1988 to 1992 and the first two Australian Ladies Masters. The course is dominated by water, palms and bunkers. more
The Colonial
FEEL like flirting with water ... lots of water? This is a mean test off the back tees and it can be a monster in the wind. There is an abundance of lakes with water coming into play on most holes. more
Robina Woods
A SPECTACULAR course on the eye with plenty of trees lining tight fairways most of the way. The fairways are rolling and there are plenty of tricky slopes on the greens. more
Royal Pines Resort
SUPERBLY manicured resort complex boasting a five-star hotel and noted for its beautiful and abundant gardens. Royal Pines is the home base of the Australian Ladies Masters. more
Coolangatta-Tweed Heads
THE JEWEL of the Northern Rivers-border area. Sited right on the Tweed River with Fingal Headland opposite. A comfortable challenge and after-match views from the clubhouse are pleasant. more
Gold Coast Burleigh
RANKS up there with the best of district members’ clubs and the general condition keeps on improving. Presents a challenge from the back tees. more
Helensvale
COMPACT course with several short, but tight par fours and can be demanding if you like to use a driver off the tee. Every hole is skirted by a creek at some point. more
Murwillumbah
PLEASANT and underrated northern NSW layout with imposing Mt Warning acting as a spectacular western backdrop. Strategically placed trees and dams come into play. more
Southport Golf Club
TOP quality members’ club. Rarely is this tight layout, not overly long but tricky, presented in anything less than in tip-top condition. more
Surfers Paradise Golf Club
A SOLID members’ course that is reaping the reward of a carefully planned manicuring program. more
Windaroo Golf Club
RECENTLY given a $2 million facelift returning this much-loved course to a magnificent condition. The course was home to the Queensland Open from 1992-1995. more
Twin Towns Services Golf Club
IT is a tough course due to its length and wind factor. Highlighted by several long par fours and fives. First-rate facility. more
Coplick's Tallebudgera
Tallebudgera Creek runs alongside this country-style course. The course was developed from an old dairy farm in the late '80s. more
Emerald Lakes
Home of the Queensland PGA Championships, offers a challenge for golfers of all levels. Emerald Lakes was one of the first courses in Australia to install floodlights on the back nine holes, creating a par 36 floodlit game. more
Gainsborough Greens
Reasonably easy walking course in a bushland setting. Water comes into play on some holes. Comes up more difficult than first impressions indicate. Once the home base of the Queensland PGA title. more
Gold Coast Country Club
The Gold Coast Country Club has hosted the past five Queensland PGA Championships as well as a Gold Coast district championship. more
Meadow Park Golf Course
A nine-hole course with 18 different tees. The picturesque Tallebudgera Valley course is flat with Bermuda greens and located five minutes from Palm Beach and Burliegh Heads. more
Sanctuary Cove: The Palms
A solid 18-hole resort-style golf course characterised by its unique, century-old Cabbage palm tree vistas. more
Merrimac Golf Course
Flat nine-hole course which is good for beginners or people that aren't wanting to tackle water on every hole. more
Mount Warren Park
Maturing rapidly from the once open spaces this course used to be. Trees are growing and really tightening the course. more
Parkwood International Golf Club
A sneaky, tough course that winds through housing estates. It also has plenty of water to contend with. more
Boomerang Farm
Lovely little nine-holer with an unusual local rule that applies a two-stroke penalty for hitting one of the many kangaroos on the course. more
Burleigh Palms Golf Course
Water on every hole except the fourth and with great views of the course from the clubhouse. more
Canungra Area Golf Club
A feature of Canungra, sited on the army base, is a suspension bridge about 20m above a creek that has to be crossed twice during the nine holes. more
Carrara Gardens Golf Course
Once strictly a par-three course, Carrara Gardens boasts floodlighting for night golf and has a full-length driving range. more
Tally Valley Golf Club
A deceptively challenging course with a few holes than run along the nearby creek. more
Tamborine Mountain Golf Club
Take in a panoramic view from Moreton Bay to Tweed Heads as you sip a drink on the clubhouse verandah. more
Arundel Hills
Up there among the best of Gold Coast courses. Tough off the back tees, is undulating and has plenty of water and trees more
Sanctuary Cove: The Pines
Among the nation’s premier golfing destinations and ranked one of the toughest courses in Australia. more
The Gold Coast could easily be mistaken as the Golf Coast with the huge range of courses catering for all levels.
THERE are many driving ranges on the Gold Coast with most public and resort courses having excellent driving range facilities. Below are two facilites which specifically cater for people who want to practice their swing.
International Golf Learning Centre, Gold Coast:
1 Country Club Drive, Helensvale.
Phone 5519 9277.
Academy + 9-hole par three course.
Driving range plus pitching area.
Burleigh Heads Golf Range:
150 Tallebugera Creek Road, West
Burleigh.
Phone 5534 9344.
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