Ranking golf courses is far from being an exact science. While our stringent criteria and voting guidelines provided to our panellists establish benchmarks, the beauty really can be in the eye of the beholder when it comes to golf courses. This is something that really should be celebrated.
Considering that subjectivity, I’m sure our list will prompt some healthy debate.
That said, the Golf Australia approach we believe produces a true golfer’s guide you can rely on to plan future visits and inspire you to get out and play what is the cream of Australian golf.
And that’s what you will find over the following pages … the best of the best.
In fact, 163 courses received votes from our judges but, obviously, only the Top-100 is published here. The best of those courses just missing out on a spot in the elite 100 club, will be featured in the next edition of Golf Australia magazine.
It has been a thorough process that began in the days after voting closed for our 2022 ranking with the judging panel being selected. The common thread between all of our passionate golfing judges is that they visit – sometimes covertly – a lot of courses during our two-year rolling ranking period.
The criterion used by each judge places greater emphasis on a course’s design and less on its conditioning. While a layout’s general presentation remains important, we feel it is unfair to place too much weight on this element for two main reasons. A judge might happen to visit a course at a time of year when the conditioning is not at its best. Less emphasis on conditioning also addresses the problem of courses being elevated beyond their true rank based on immaculate conditioning courtesy of a huge budget, rather than its overall design and conditioning qualities.
Judges work through their thoughts on design (60 percent of their working guideline), condition (20 percent) and visual appeal (20 percent) and then submit their ranking list of courses. The scores are then tallied and an average score across the voting judges is attributed to each course. This year, the voting was so close in many instances that we extended the final average to three decimal points to ensure there were no ties.
This year there were several courses not considered for ranking.
We have an ongoing request from the management of Capital Golf Club, in Melbourne, not to be ranked. Despite making enquiries to view the course, we were unable to get a team of judges onto the Packer family-owned Ellerston, so it was not considered for this ranking.
There were several courses not ranked due to major redevelopment work – either unfinished or are due to start very shortly. They include Kew GC, The National’s Long Island Course, Commonwealth GC and Huntingdale GC, all in Victoria. Indooroopilly GC (Queensland), Royal Sydney GC (NSW) as well as Links Kennedy Bay and Mt Lawley (WA).
All these courses will be looking for a spot in the 2026 ranking, which will include the new Tasmanian layout 7 Mile Beach and, possibly, a revamped New South Wales GC course.
As you read this, planning is already underway for a new-look judging panel to get out and see as many courses as possible ahead of 2026. But, for now, here is the best of the best for 2024.
100 MANLY GC
Manly, NSW
Designers: Peter Thomson & Ross Perrett (2012).
Average points: 31.091. 2022 ranking: NR.
Comments: “Manly is a wonderful member’s course that is beautifully presented from tee to green. It is not a long layout, but it is difficult for long hitters to gain any sort of advantage due to the water hazards and bunkers punctuating your progress on every hole.” – Daniel Robertson.
“A dozen years on from its big redesign by Thomson and Perrett and Manly has rarely looked any better. It has its design faults, but the presentation is superb.” – Alex Lee.
99 SOUTHERN GC
Keysborough, Victoria
Designers: Sam Berriman (1949); Peter Thomson & Mike Wolveridge (1976); Bob Shearer (1990-2010); Ogilvy, Cocking & Mead – OCM (ongoing).
Average points: 32.727. 2022 ranking: NR.
Comments: “After a 12-year absence, Southern makes a return to the Top-100 ranking. The Sandbelt course has been improving bit-by-bit for several years, which is great to see because it is a layout with enormous potential. The design team of Ogilvy, Cocking & Mead has created a masterplan for the club, which will address some of the disparity between those holes considered Southern’s best and worst.” – Lucas Andrews.
98 RACV CAPE SCHANCK RESORT
Cape Schanck, Victoria
Designers: Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1988).
Average points: 34.462. 2022 ranking: 88.
Comments: “Cape Schanck is the ‘poor man’s’ version of the Old Course at The National. You won’t be any poorer for playing it though, as it’s a lot of fun and open to anyone wanting to part with a green fee.” – Kevin Nolan.
“A little bit of a surprise package on the Mornington Peninsula – not talked of with the regular beasts of Australian golf, but very pleasant, fun and not too long. Don’t take it lightly … It’ll test every aspect of your game.” – Peter Martin.
97 THE HERITAGE G&CC – ST. JOHN COURSE
Chirnside Park, Victoria
Designers: Jack Nicklaus (2000).
Average points: 38.500. 2022 ranking: NR.
Comments: “Jack Nicklaus’ course at The Heritage has been in the ranking wilderness for almost a decade. But it rightfully returns to the fold after a significant amount of investment has been made in the course. The high level of conditioning really enhances the Golden Bear’s design work.” – Lucas Andrews.
“A fantastic course trying to climb the mountain back to its glory days of being one of the great golfing experiences in Melbourne. A championship course with a grand feel to it deserves a spot on this list.” – DJ Loypur.
96 CASTLE HILL CC
Castle Hill, NSW
Designers: Eric Apperly (1951); Jack Newton, Graeme Grant, John Spencer (1992-2006); Bob Harrison (2019).
Average points: 38.667. 2022 ranking: 98.
Comments: “The new home of the Webex Players Series Sydney is vastly different to the course that hosted the Aussie Tour’s Canon Challenge and Australian PGA back in the day. The redesign work carried out here by Bob Harrison created a much better, more strategic layout that is far more challenging for golfers of all standards.” – Chris Gleeson.
“Castle Hill might have the best presented kikuyu fairways in Australia. If it doesn’t it is certainly on the podium.” – Robyn Mitchell.
“Bob Harrison’s redesign at Castle Hill is proof you don’t need to move heaven and earth to create better golf. His simple changes have created a much better course.” – Joe Thomas.
95 MORNINGTON GC
Mornington, Victoria
Designers: Vern Morcom, Sloan Morpeth and Gus Jackson (1950); Jack Watson (1967); Ben Davey and Darius Oliver (ongoing).
Average points: 39.375. 2022 ranking: 98.
Comments: “Spectacular views across Port Phillip Bay alongside the western side of the course. Each time you play its very different because of the ever-present breeze coming off the water. Yet another satisfying golfing experience within the Mornington Peninsula area.” – Claire Cook.
“The beautiful natural design on some fantastic terrain has create ‘always interesting’ golf. Throw in a bit of wind (more than sometimes) and it gets even better. The ongoing changes, with the 6th and 7th holes being the latest to be tweaked, continue to improve this course which boasts great potential.” – Brendan James.
94 THE BRISBANE GC
Yeerongpilly, Queensland
Designers: Carnegie Clark (1904); Dr Alister MacKenzie (1926 advisory); Ross Watson (2007-2020).
Average points: 40.400. 2022 ranking: 97.
Comments: “Ongoing enhancements, including improved irrigation, selective vegetation removal across the course, and tee box renovations, have been key to the improvement of Brisbane Golf Club. The 1st hole, a tricky yet short par-5 named ‘Founders Way’, is one of the few remnants from the original Carnegie Clark layout and is a highlight of a round here.” – Steven Davis.
“Insight with a fresh set of eyes in newly appointed course superintendent Dave Mason
