Golf in Gold Coast

Queensland’s Gold Coast is one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations frequently visited by its southern state neighbours. Located on the South Eastern Coast of Queensland 80 km south of Brisbane, the Gold Coast is best known for its warm sunny days and superb beaches.

On the Gold Coast there are literally thousands of accommodation options from High rise apartments to hinterland retreats. The Gold Coast precincts include Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Coolangatta, Tamborine Mountain, and Burleigh Heads. Serviced by two major airports – Brisbane Airport (a 1 hour drive from Surfers Paradise via the Pacific Highway) and the Gold Coast Airport (25 minutes from Surfers Paradise).  

The Gold Coast is best known for its resort-style golf courses. Being a holiday hot-spot, these resorts that offer a combination of golf, accommodation and leisure activities are a popular choice for golfers all over the world.

Hope Island Resort is the top ranked golf course on the Gold Coast at number 31 in Australia’s Top 100. The golf course is an 18-hole traditional "links" style championship course designed by five times British Open champion Peter Thomson and the team at Thomson, Wolveridge and Perrett in 1993. The course has been given a course rating of 74 by the AGU.

The layout and design of the course is reminiscent of the great courses of Britain and Ireland in the "Links-style" tradition. Primarily the course consists of two loops of nine holes. The front and back nines are separated by an extensive practice facility, consisting of putting greens, a driving range and chipping green with bunkers. The driving range is unique in that it takes the concept of a driving lake, complete with target greens with bunkers at various distances from the practice tee. This area provides a spectacular view from the clubhouse.

Lakelands Golf Club is located ten minutes west from the heart of Surfers Paradise, between the white sandy beaches of the Gold Coast and the Hinterland's sub-tropical rainforests. Lakelands is Australia's first Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and is ranked in the 2004 top 50 Australian courses by the Australian Golf Digest. Lakelands offers many great golf experiences for golfers travelling to the Gold Coast. It took twenty five years for Jack Nicklaus to find the perfect location for his first signature golf course in Australia, and his vision became a reality in 1997 when the course was officially opened.

Built by Leighton Contractors under the watchful eye of the Golden Bear Construction team, Lakelands is immaculately spruced. The Windsor Green couch fairways are neat and well groomed, while the hardy Bermuda-strain tifdwarf greens are firm and roll honestly.

Designed by leading Australian golfer Graham Marsh in 1987, Palm Meadows Golf Course was one of the first championship courses on the Gold Coast. Palm Meadows emerged from 350 hectares of marshland, just a few kilometres west of Surfers Paradise. A par 72 measuring 6319 metres off the championship tees with water coming into play on 14 of the holes, along with 82 sand bunkers.

There are eleven kilometres of cart paths bordering all fairways making Palm Meadows an all weather golf course. The first hole is regarded by many as one of the world's most challenging opening holes. With water running the entire length of the hole on the left and the world famous 'Bamboo Curtain' on the right, golfers must have their 'A Game' from the first shot of the day.

Palm Meadows is a completely public course and as such there are no tee times reserved for members. Golfers are able to enjoy the facilities at anytime, however bookings are advisable to avoid disappointment.

The Glades boasts superb agronomy that is unique to the area. In particular the greens consist of a "Tropical Bent" grass that was specially developed for the Glades. This grass will ensure a superior putting surface for the entire year. In his design, Greg Norman not only had a vision to create a challenging golf course, but he also retained 9 hectares of wetland area to create a natural wildlife sanctuary within the course.

Three years after opening Palm Meadows, the design team of Graham Marsh and Ross Watson saw the opening of Robina Woods Golf Course in 1990 – adding another great creation to their resume. This course presents a truly unique golfing experience as it has been carved out of the original woodlands, making every hole a unique challenge for any accomplished golfer.

The course winds its way through 65 hectares of native woodlands, with fairways lined by towering gum trees, quite is unlike any resort course on the Gold Coast. Possessing maturity well beyond its years, Robina Woods has rapidly developed a reputation as one of Queensland's best-loved resort courses. Robina Woods is a 6078 meter, 18 hole, Par 71 championship golf course.

Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club offers two 18-hole championship golf courses – ‘The Palms’ which is currently undergoing major refurbishment, and ‘The Pines’. The Pines is available only to members or members' guests, and the only Arnold Palmer signature course in Australia and is rated by the Australian Golf Union as one of the nation's most challenging courses.

With an AGU rating of 76, the course has been home to two SKINS tournaments, and offers a very special golfing experience. Carved through 101 hectares of established pine forest the course features corridor approaches to several holes with lakes guarding others.

Fourteen of the holes are contoured around six man-made lakes. The 6681 metre course is exclusive to Sanctuary Cove Country Club members and Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove hotel guests.

The centrepiece of Brookwater Golf Club is a spectacular Greg Norman-designed championship golf course only 30 minutes from Brisbane's CBD and 45 minutes from the Gold Coast.

Meandering its way through naturally undulating Australian bushland, Brookwater bears the hallmarks of classic Norman design - signature bunkering, spectacular use of natural waterways and thoughtful integration of the existing flora. Its varied terrain, strategic design and landscaping makes it a course of outstanding character, great variety and a pleasure to play for golfers of all levels.

Ranked number 26 is Australia’s Top 100 Courses, this stunning par 72 layout comprises two nine-hole loops and measures 6,505m. Its tournament standard layout is fully integrated with the residential development to create a unique living environment.

Other things to do on the Gold Coast

Due in no small part to its ideal year round climate, 70 kilometres of famous beach and 100,000 hectares of world heritage-listed rainforest, the Gold Coast has an incredible list of activities for all ages.

The Gold Coast offers the largest selection of family theme parks, golfing greens, shopping centres and restaurants, and outdoor adventure activities. From family favourites such as Dreamworld, Sea World, Wet ‘n’ Wild and WhiteWater World to Warner Bros. Movie World and the Australian Outback Spectacular. Another park not to be missed includes the beautiful Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to Australia’s most famous and unique wildlife.

Other worthwhile places to visit include the Q1 observation deck and Qdeck atop the World’s Tallest Residential Tower.

Useful Facts and Figures

Below are some useful facts and figures for the Gold Coast Region. Use these to work out the best time to visit this region.