Last month, Golf Australia magazine published its ranking of Australia’s Top-100 Courses for 2024.
Obviously, some courses – boasting genuine claims to be included among the centurions – had to miss out.
Here are the courses, 40 of them actually, that narrowly missed selection in the 2024 Top-100 ranking but are superb layouts in their own right and will certainly be among the contenders for inclusion looking ahead to our ranking to be published in 2026.
101 JOONDALUP RESORT – DUNE/LAKE COURSE
Connolly, Western Australia
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1985).
The last of the three course configurations at Joondalup bypasses the excellent Quarry nine but does take in two pretty impressive loops of nine holes. The Dune Course boasts dramatic elevation changes which flow seamlessly into the less penal, lunar landscape of the Lake nine.
As is the case across the entire 27 holes, the conditioning is nothing short of five-star and is another reason why Joondalup is a ‘must play’ for any golfer visiting Perth.
102 KEYSBOROUGH GC
Keysborough, Victoria
Designer: Sam Berriman (1946)
Having formed in 1899, the Keysborough club moved to its current site in 1946 when Sam Berriman – who oversaw construction of fellow Sandbelt course, Huntingdale – was commissioned to create a layout for the club. His course covered open, grazing land but today’s course is tree-lined with five lakes coming into play.
The routing at Keysborough is very good and there is no mistaking the Sandbelt-style bunkering, large and smooth putting surfaces, and excellent couch fairways.
Keysborough’s one-shot holes are a standout, with arguably the best of them being the par-3 12th. The hole lies alongside a lake with a number of lakeside tees changing the angle of approach to the green. The angled green, with three bunkers left and one to the right, is a tough one to hit and pars here are well-earned.
103 ALBANY GC
Albany, Western Australia
Designer: Unknown (1899).
One of Australia’s oldest courses remaining on its original site, Albany’s popularity has seen a resurgence in recent years. And for good reason.
Dominated by holes that cover beautiful rolling sand dunes and are the basis for some of the most natural links holes in the country, Albany is a fun course for all golfers.
This is not a particularly long course, which suits the high handicapper, while better players can enjoy the challenge of playing a variety of shots from a host of different lies during a round.
And if your golf is no good on the day, enjoy the walk and the views across beautiful King George Sound.
104 ROSEBUD CC – SOUTH COURSE
Rosebud, Victoria
Designers: Jack Watson (1964); Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking, Ashley Mead – OCM (2018 & ongoing).
Rosebud has undergone a resurgence in recent years, much of which can be attributed to the implementation
