New series! A nationwide search begins with the 10 best golf towns in our most populous state, New South Wales.
Where is the best golf town in Australia? Outside the major cities and regional centres, most Aussies would, understandably, begin with Victoria. The Garden State boasts the highest volume of world-class courses, and most diverse golf terrain, of any state or territory. How could anyone look past towns like Portsea on the Mornington Peninsula and Barwon Heads on the Bellarine?
Maybe a better way of answering the question is with another. As noted earlier in this issue, where would you raise your kids if you were eager to transfer your love of the game to them? We should be able to find places in Australia where the whole golf ecosystem is thriving. Which town in Australia can you drive into and instantly feel the love for the game, by all ages? What town best welcomes travelling golfers, and keeps them coming back? Which town seems to keep producing professional players, whether on the tour or as coaches? Which town has contributed to the fabric of Australian golf that deserves more recognition than it gets?
We’re on a mission to find the answer, town by town, state by state. It’s going to take several months and issues of this magazine, so let’s start by narrowing it down to candidate towns within each state. We’re going to kick off the search with New South Wales.
Bowral
It’d be unfair to single out one aspect of Bowral’s rich connection to the game, but one bloke loves golf so much he built arguably the world’s best replica of the par-3 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass on his own property on the doorstep of Bowral. Craig Perkins, a golf lover who splits time between his Southern Highlands farm and family home at Ingleside in Sydney’s north, engaged renowned course architect Bob Harrison, award-winning course superintendent David Warwick and a team of surveyors to carefully map out Pete Dye’s famous island green, complete with the recognisable wooden-sleeper wall, front bunker and player walkway at the rear.
Almost a century before Perkins broke ground on his Sawgrass replica, golf was being played in Bowral from as early as 1901. By 1919, Bowral Golf Club’s new nine-hole course was laid out by club pro Dan Soutar, famous for designing Kingston Heath and Concord, among other courses. In 1920, Bowral bought another 49 acres and extended the course to 18 holes with the additional nine holes designed by Soutar’s mate, Carnegie Clark. To this day, Bowral is a thriving golf town, with a combination of excellent golf courses, accommodation and a boutique Southern Highlands charm. Bowral Golf Club is also a regular host of the NSW Hickory Championships. In addition to Bowral Golf Club, Moss Vale Golf Club and Highlands Golf Club (Mittagong) are within a 12-minute drive.
Where to stay: Links House
Links House is a small, boutique hotel around the corner from the first tee at Bowral Golf Club. With 17 rooms, Links House exudes a warm feeling of staying at home rather than in a hotel. The chic accommodation has inviting communal spaces, a lounge area where golfers often drink by the fireplace after their round and the delicious Ethos restaurant, which offers a seasonal menu. For golfers and companies wanting to mix business with pleasure, Links House can offer conferencing facilities via its function room/private dining that caters for up to 40 guests.
Coffs Harbour
The Mid-North Coast town, which is home to All-Abilities golf star, Cameron Pollard, is famous in golf as the home of Bonville Golf Resort, often described as the “Augusta National of Australia” for its incredible conditioning and sweeping, treelined dogleg holes that are nestled within a soothing forest setting. Bonville was also the home to the Ladies European Tour event, the Australian Ladies Classic, which unearthed LPGA Tour star Steph Kyriacou when she won the pro event by eight shots in 2020 while still an amateur. The win forced Kyriacou to turn pro to take up an LET tour card and the rest is history now that she’s playing on the LPGA in the US. While Bonville’s history and popularity is hard to beat, Coffs Harbour Golf Club is a 27-hole layout beloved by local and travelling golfers. There’s also Coffs Harbour Driving Range, which has recently undergone an upgrade with Toptracer technology installed.
Forster-Tuncurry
Further south along the coastline is Forster-Tuncurry, a picturesque twin town with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Forster Tuncurry Golf Club – as the name suggests – is two clubs in one. Two courses, two clubhouses. The premier course at Tuncurry perfectly blends a challenging layout with jaw-dropping natural beauty that combines coastal and bushland scenery. The golf club has a quirky fact in that it is home to the Australian Golf Heritage Society Museum. Just a short drive from Forster-Tuncurry are also two more courses in the 18-hole Tallwoods Country Club at Hallidays Point and the nine-hole Sandbar Golf Club.
Merimbula
Merimbula, on the Sapphire Coast of NSW, is known among golfers for its two courses in Tura Beach Country Club and the 27-hole Pambula-Merimbula Golf Club. The two clubs have combined previously to host the NSW PGA Championship, while Tura Beach, a Peter Thomson layout with holes along the beach and some within a forest, was the first residential golf course in the state. Both Tura Beach and Pambula-Merimbula are set against the stunning backdrop of Merimbula, one of the most popular towns along the Sapphire Coast. Merimbula’s gorgeous lake, world-class beautiful beaches and tranquil forests are nearly as popular with golfers as the courses. Merimbula is also a burgeoning gastro destination with new restaurants, wine bars and lakeside brunch spots adding a layer of sophistication.
Where to stay: Albacore Apartments
Albacore Apartments are so popular with golfers that the hotel has had many friends’ trips stay there for 20-plus consecutive years. Guests on those repeat trips hail from Wagga Wagga, Goulburn, Sydney, Canberra, Camden, the Southern Highlands and regional parts of Victoria. Why the love for Albacore? For starters, it boasts incredible views across Merimbula Lake and has wonderfully clean rooms. Albacore is located right in town, meaning guests can walk to all the restaurants and cafés. It’s also only 200 metres from the beginning of the Merimbula Boardwalk, a fantastic wooden trek along the lakeshore, through mangrove forests, under eucalyptus canopies and past the region’s famous oyster farms.
Narooma
It’s difficult to describe the uniqueness of the colours of the ocean visible from nearly half of the holes at Narooma Golf Club, located deep into the Sapphire Coast and only 75 minutes north of Merimbula. Narooma Golf Club has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1930 when nine holes were built with sand greens. Over time, the course evolved to 18 contrasting and excellent holes. The first six zigzag along towering cliffs with stratospheric views of the ocean and Montague Island before entering a forest setting with a lake from holes seven to 16. Once golfers hit their tee shots on the par-3 17th, the ocean is visible once again from the 18th tee. Narooma is one of the most popular golf courses in NSW, helped by having one of the state’s most famous holes. The 140-metre, par-3 third was nicknamed “Hogan’s Hole” not long after the legendary comedian Paul Hogan filmed a cigarette commercial in the rocky waters below in the 1970s. The town has long been synonymous with the golf course and has recently benefitted from investment by Sydney pub giant Justin Hemmes, whose Merivale group has established several classy venues in Narooma, from Queen Chow to Quarterdeck and Lynch’s pub.
Nelson Bay
If it isn’t the best golf town in Australia, Nelson Bay could make a case for the most beautiful. It’s at the doorstep of Pacific Dunes Golf Club in Medowie, where 135 hectares of woodland and wetland settings make for a wonderful layout crafted by a former member of Greg Norman’s design team, James Wilcher. Many of the fairways are built on an old sand mine, which has made for great drainage and all-weather play. There’s also Nelson Bay Golf Club, a 27-hole layout in lush bushland that is also home to kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and native birds. Only a short drive away is Horizons Golf Resort in Salamander Bay, while nearby, there’s also Muree Golf Club in Raymond Terrace, as well as Tanilba Bay Golf Club. Away from golf, Nelson Bay is also renowned as a gateway for whale-watching tours, dolphin swim adventures and golden sunsets.
Where to stay: Bannisters
Bannisters Port Stephens, a 10-minute drive from Nelson Bay, offers the perfect blend of relaxation and indulgence with coastal and comfortable rooms, combined with a heated pool and spa. It’s the latest addition to the Bannisters portfolio and is a remodelled tribute to the glamour days of luxury hotels of the 1960s. It’s also surrounded by a natural koala habitat and the rooms are split into treetop or ocean views. Bannisters is a great accommodation option for all tastes and budgets, whether that be a mates’ golf trip or a getaway with your significant other. There are three on-site dining options at Bannisters, including modern Mexican, Rick Stein’s signature seafood restaurant and gourmet pub fare with weekly specials.
Orange
It would be remiss not to mention two prominent names in Australian golf when discussing Orange. Firstly, former world No.1 and 2013 Masters champion, Adam Scott, who won the 1998 Australian Boys’ Amateur in Orange across the Duntryleague and Wentworth courses. Secondly, Orange was also the birthplace of Lucas Parsons, a tour pro with a cool story. Parsons made his way to the European Tour and PGA Tour in a decorated career that yielded nine pro wins on various circuits around the world. After retiring in 2008, Parsons leaned into his love of cooking and advanced to the semi-finals of the first season of “MasterChef”. It’s fitting then, that these days Orange is known for its golf, food and wine. Orange has two quality golf courses in The Wentworth Orange, which recently unveiled its sophisticated new clubhouse. The multi-storey venue features dining and entertainment facilities, a kid’s playground, golf simulators and a sports bar. There’s also Duntryleague Golf Club, with its heritage-listed Victorian clubhouse, circa 1876.
Where to stay: Mercure
For a trip to Orange, look no further than the fantastic Mercure resort for its world-class service and proximity to the golf course at The Wentworth. Golfers lap up the hotel’s location, on-site dining options, fitness facilities, friendly staff, cleanliness of the rooms and overall value for money. The Mercure is also right in the town of Orange, meaning guests can walk to local dining and live entertainment at The Greenhouse of Orange and Orange Ex-Services’ Club. “Recently, the town’s food and wine scene has flourished, establishing Orange as one of Australia’s most prominent and sophisticated culinary destinations, which is driven by the fact town is renowned for local produce, cool-climate wines and fine dining restaurants,” says Luke Wilson from Orange Ex-Services’ Club.
Pokolbin
Historic Pokolbin, the beating heart of the Hunter Valley and only two hours from Sydney, is home to some of Australia’s top wineries. Golfers can visit the cellar doors of Bimbadgen, Tyrrell’s, Tulloch, McGuigan, Drayton and De Bortoli. Pokolbin’s trio of golf courses are world class: The Vintage Golf Club, a Greg Norman design at the Chateau Elan resort that The Shark crafted with his then design partner Bob Harrison in 2003, has been the Hunter’s undisputed No.1 course for more than 20 years. It blends Norman’s trademark bold bunkering with mild undulations and penal hazards and demands premium shot-making. The Vintage is also home to the Richard Mercer Golf School, which does wonders for junior golf in the Hunter. Around the corner is The Oaks Cypress Lakes with its delightful layout offering sweeping views of vineyards and the Brokenback Range. Cypress Lakes is also indulgence like you’ve never seen with the 120-hectare resort also including the golf course and country club, two restaurants, two bars, three pools, two tennis courts and an on-site spa. Minutes away, Hunter Valley Golf Club boasts a par-71 course at the Rydges resort. Perhaps the spirit of Pokolbin golf, though, is being the home of the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic since 2006, when the late, great Newton took the event to ‘his backyard’. It’s been played mostly at Cypress Lakes and has raised more than $6 million for diabetes and Jack Newton Junior Golf.
Where to stay: The Lane Retreat at Bimbadgen
Arguably the classiest way to stay during a Hunter Valley Golf getaway, The Lane Retreat’s boutique accommodation is on-site at Bimbadgen wines. Bimbadgen means a “place of good view” in the local indigenous language and that is accurate when looking at the architecture of the winery and bell tower that forms the logo. The winery and vineyard are perched high on a hill in Pokolbin, with accommodation on-site at The Lane Retreat. The accommodation includes a four-bedroom homestead and a two-bedroom cottage with panoramic views of the vineyard. The group also has accommodation in the nearby town of Lovedale, at Emma’s Cottage, which includes five cottages. When golfers aren’t on the course, Bimbadgen is known for guests strolling through its open-plan winemaking facility with viewing platforms across the winery, the classy food and wine experience at Esca Bimbadgen restaurant, visits to the cellar door for wine tasting and delicious wood fire pizza at the Courtyard Café.pub fare with weekly specials.
Tocumwal
Golfers in the know have been aware for a while that golf along the Murray River is one of Australia’s most authentic and beautiful trips. Among the Murray golf offering is Tocumwal, a rural town set on the NSW side of the river and surrounded by a red gum forest. When you’re not playing golf, Tocumwal has great fishing, camping and even hang-gliding opportunities. At Club Tocumwal, there’s a 36-hole layout that is home to the Southern PGA Trainees Championship and in 2021 the club hosted the Australian Left-Handers Championship. Club Tocumwal also owns a fun fact – during World War II, the RAAF station headquarters and administration buildings were located in the town, with more than 300 buildings throughout the area where the golf courses now sit. The buildings included radio communication bunkers, mess halls, a cinema and housing for the 5,000 RAAF and WAAF personnel. The town is also home to 19 holes at Finley Golf Club.
Wagga Wagga
When golfers first think of the Riverina town that’s ‘so nice they named it twice’, the mind quickly goes to it being where Steve Elkington was raised. But there’s a lot more to Wagga than the 1995 PGA Championship winner. The city’s name comes from the local indigenous Wiradjuri language in which Wagga means a “place of celebration”. Wagga City Golf Club was formed at the Wagga Racecourse in 1895, making it the fifth oldest golf club in NSW, while Wagga Wagga Country Club is a Soutar design treasured by golf-architecture enthusiasts. This town is among the largest inland populaces in Australia and one filled with rich history. There are close to 30 wineries in the region and plenty of local produce – including strawberry picking. The City of Good Sport is also renowned for the Wagga Wagga Pro-Am, an annual fixture on the PGA Tour of Australasia. There’s also a wildly fun pitch-and-putt at the Wagga Driving Range and Par 3.
And the winner is:
BOWRAL
Golf flows through the Southern Highlands town’s veins in myriad ways, both historical (hickory-shaft tournaments) and modern (a cool replica hole). Our sport is at its core – even the weather tends to feel a little bit Scottish. Bowral now moves on to our national final (in the February 2025 issue) as the NSW representative.
