Best Public Access Golf Courses in Australia

"It took me seventeen years to get 3,000 hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course." - Hank Aaron, American baseball all-star. 

There's a lot of truth in that statement, and that's exactly what we love about the sport. It takes time, patience, and some endurance to keep hitting those balls until the sun goes down. It may look easy, but it ain't! Like fishing, golf is for people that want to sit back and take their time, slow things down. 

Try out one of these fantastic Australian public access golf courses (near a bunch of lovely Discovery Parks) and make a holiday of it. 

NSW

Byron Bay Golf Club

WHERE: 62 Broken Head Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481
STAY WHEN YOU PLAY: Discovery Holiday Parks - Byron Bay

The golf course at the most easterly point of Australia - why don't you tick that off your list? An 18-hole championship course (official host club of the Australian Schweppes Legends Tour Championship) with views of the ocean, Byron Bay Golf Club is a spectacular public golf course on the Central Coast. At the end of the round you'll be asking, "Can I just live here as a caddy?" The club can accommodate for tee times seven days a week, so make sure to contact the Pro Shop ahead of time to organise. When you're well spent from putting about, go for a steak and schooner at The Deck Restaurant at the clubhouse. Swing, steak, sleep, repeat. 

Kooindah Waters Golf Club

WHERE: 40 Kooindah Blvd, Wyong, NSW 2259
STAY WHEN YOU PLAY: Canton Beach Holiday Park, Budgewoi Holiday Park, Toowoon Bay Holiday Park, and Norah Head Holiday Park

Kooindah Waters Golf Club is consistently voted in the top 100 public access golf courses in Australia. Why's that? Oh, maybe it's because it was co-designed with champion Australian golfer Craig Parry. Over 6,000 metres of pristine greens and challenges for all levels of golfers, Kooindah Waters is a "thinking golfer's" dream. It's also easy to book your round, you can even do it online by clicking here: book here. Listen closely to the twittering in the trees, the course is also home to vibrant birdlife. 

VIC

Warrnambool Golf Club

WHERE: Younger St, Warrnambool, VIC 3280
STAY WHEN YOU PLAY: Discovery Holiday Parks - Warrnambool

Many of us have heard of but never seen with our very own eyes the iconic Shipwreck Bend. The bend is a challenging stretch of holes at Warrnambool Golf Club, set against the cliffside looking out to the Southern Ocean. A meticulously designed public golf course, it features elevated tees, manicured tea tree-lined fairways, and tight driving holes. For non-members, an 18-hole round is $45. It's a pretty big course - nearly 6,000 metre to the end - so make sure those cleats are comfy. 

Yarra Bend Golf Course

WHERE: Yarra Bend Rd, Fairfield, VIC 3078
STAY WHEN YOU PLAY: Discovery Holiday Parks - Melbourne

Mere minutes from the CBD, the Yarra Bend Golf Course is not only one of the best public golf courses in Melbourne but of any metropolitan city in Australia. It's been heralded by Australia Golf Digest as one of the 40 great courses in the country for $50 or less. If mum and dad are pretty keen on having a peaceful round, the kids can play mini golf (they'll be pros in no time, ready to be the next Peter Thompson or Karrie Webb). Book your day of tranquility and sand in the parklands here: book here.

 

TAS

Royal Hobart Golf Club

WHERE: 20 Regal Ct, Seven Mile Beach, TAS 7170
STAY WHEN YOU PLAY: Discovery Holiday Parks - Hobart

One of your best opportunities to play at a "Royal" golf course and not be a member of the club. It is by far one of the best maintained courses in Tasmania and offers a pleasant and challenging 18-hole layout. Plus, the course will soon have an uplift. The Club announced in August 2017 that they appointed Richard Chamberlain, an Australian Golf Course Architect, to help with the redevelopment and upgrade of the Club. Some new upgrades will be state-of-the-art practice facilities, changes to the greens and bunkering to make the course even more interesting and thrilling to play, and a family-friendly 9-hole pitch and putt. 

WA

Kalgoorlie Golf Course

WHERE: 93 Aslett Dr, Karlkula, WA 6430
STAY WHEN YOU PLAY: Discovery Holiday Parks - Kalgoorlie Goldfields

Love golfing but sometimes feel like the atmosphere is too formal? The Kalgoorlie Golf Course is a lush, green course that has a friendly, laidback vibe. No worries if you don't have a golf outfit. It's all about enjoying the sport. The course is alongside the Kalgoorlie city centre - close enough to hit a flyer right into it! On your holiday, you can easily split your time between sightseeing in the Big Smoke of the Goldfields region and playing rounds at the golf course (everyone's happy).  

Maylands Peninsula Golf Course

WHERE: Swan Bank Rd, Maylands WA 6051
STAY WHEN YOU PLAY: Discovery Holiday Parks - Swan Valley and Discovery Holiday Parks - Perth Airport

In town to taste award-winning wine in the Swan Valley? 10 minutes outside of the CBD and along the banks of the Swan River, the Maylands Peninsula Golf Course is a must for your Perth itinerary. Golfers love the fresh water lakes, cityscape views, and slight undulations on this course. Better yet, each of the course's holes are named after famous Australian aviation pioneers (any plane spotters in the house?). If you don't get a chance to get out to the wineries, you can sample a few local tipples at the golf club's bar instead. Hurray! 

QLD

Yeppoon Golf Club

WHERE: 2901 Yeppoon Rd, Yeppoon, QLD 4703
STAY WHEN YOU PLAY: Discovery Holiday Parks - Coolwaters, Yeppoon and Discovery Holiday Parks - Rockhampton

As the story goes: the people of the Southern Great Barrier Reef wanted a golf course, and in 1969 the golfing enthusiasts of the Capricorn Coast opened Yeppoon Golf Club's doors and asked the people to bring their A-game. Don't mind the hecklers, the grey kangaroos behind ya just love to hop around the sloping greens. This public course in Yeppoon welcome visitors to participate in their regular competitions and social golf. Call up the Proshop staff on 07 4939 3664 to book a tee time. 

SA

North Adelaide Golf Course

WHERE: Strangways Terrace, North Adelaide, SA 5006
STAY WHEN YOU PLAY:  Discovery Holiday Parks - Adelaide Beachfront

Casual atmosphere, emerald vegetation, and the Adelaide cityscape peeking through the trees. Ease into the afternoon with a cold one and call up the drinks cart to bring over local and imported beers, wine, and sandwiches. The North Adelaide Golf Course is comrpised of three different courses: Par 3 (9 or 18 holes) which is casual and inexpensive, great for beginners and experts alike; North Course (18 holes) which is best for golfers new to the sport and looking for a challenge; and South Course (9 or 18 holes), a parklands style course that has hosted several Professional Golfers Association of Australia's pro-am events. The cost is unbeatable for the quality, from $25 for the North Course to $37 for the South Course on the weekends. 

Robe Golf Club

WHERE: 73 Morphett St, Robe, SA 5276
STAY WHEN YOU PLAY:  Discovery Holiday Parks - Robe

Your Limestone Coast holiday will have wine, fishing, the beach, four-wheel driving...and golf! Located near the historic South Australian beachside holiday destination, the Robe Golf Club is a pleasant place to lose a few hours under the sun. The course is a fourteen fairway layout played as 18 holes. It's a combination of undulating fairways flanked by sand dunes and open flat terrain, with the twelfth tee charmed with views of the Southern Ocean. All is good in the world when you can hear the calming crashing of waves against the shore as you play. 

 

McCracken Golf Club

WHERE: McCracken Drive, Victor Harbour, SA 5211
STAY WHEN YOU PLAY: Discovery Holiday Parks - McCracken Country Club

This championship standard 18-hole course earns its reputation as one of SA's best public courses and is the perfect base from which to explore the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula. Located just an hour south of Adelaide's CBD, the Tony Cashmore designed layout offers panoramic views across the Hindmarsh Valley and is a challenge for players of all levels with 85 bunkers and 14 separate lakes to manage.

NT

Darwin Golf Club

WHERE: Links Rd, Marrara NT 0812
STAY WHEN YOU PLAY: Discovery Holiday Parks - Darwin

Your Top End holiday just got a whole lot better. An easy 7 minute drive from our holiday park, the Darwin Golf Club opens its arms and welcomes visitors that come to the north for a holiday and a swing. It's a tropical 18-hole championship course, with palm trees lining the fairways. The type of golf course you'd want to be looking out over on a dry season evening with a pina colada in your hand. 

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