AusGolf - Australia’s Top 50 Golf Courses (Golf Australia)
Australia's Top 50 Golf Courses - Golf Australia 2008
For the 2006 Rankings - please click hereThe following is a list of Australia's Top 50 Golf Courses according to Golf Australia magazine in their January 2008 rankings. Judges include Michael Clayton, Ross Perrett, Darius Oliver, Bob Harrison, Andrew Langford-Jones and Brendan James.
Please enjoy this latest list and feel free to send any feedback you have to info@ausgolf.com.au.
HOW THEY RANKED
1. ROYAL MELBOURNE (West course) (1)
Designer: Dr Alister Mackenzie (1931)
2. KINGSTON HEATH (2)
Designer: Dan Soutar (1925)
3. NEW SOUTH WALES (3)
Designers: Alister Mackenzie (1928); Eric Apperly (1937 & 1951); Peter Thomson & Mike Wolveridge (1985); Jack Newton, Graeme Grant & John Spencer (1993); Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000).
4. BARNBOUGLE DUNES (5)
Designers: Tom Doak & Mike Clayton (2004)
5. ROYAL ADELAIDE (4)
Designers: Herbert L. Rymill & C.L Gardiner (1904); Dr Alister
Mackenzie (1929); Peter Thomson & Mike Wolveridge (1979 & 1997).
6. ROYAL MELBOURNE (East course) (6)
Designers: Alex Russell (1932)
7. ELLERSTON (NR)
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2001)
8. THE NATIONAL (Moonah course) (7)
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000)
9. METROPOLITAN (8)
Designers: J.B MacKenzie (1906); Dr Alister Mackenzie (1926);
Dick Wilson (1959)
Designers: Oscar Damman, William Meander & Dr Alister Mackenzie (1927); Mike Clayton (2001).
11. NEWCASTLE (11)
Designer: Eric Apperly (1937)
12. THE GOLF CLUB, ST ANDREWS BEACH (Gunnamatta course) (9)
Designer: Tom Doak (2005)
13. KOOYONGA (13)
Designers: Herbert L. Rymill (1922)
14. THE GOLF CLUB, KENNEDY BAY (12)
Designers: Michael Coate, Roger Mackay & Ian Baker-Finch (1998)
15. WOODLANDS (18)
Designers: J.D Scott & Rowley Banks (1913); Sam Bennett (1917); Mick Morcom (1928)
16. COMMONWEALTH (14)
Designers: Sam Bennett (1921); Charles Lane (1926); Sloan Morpeth (1962); Kevin Hartley (1992).
17. THIRTEENTH BEACH (Beach course) (16)
Designer: Tony Cashmore (2001)
18. MAGENTA SHORES (Debut)
Designer: Ross Watson (2006)
19. THE DUNES LINKS (17)
Designer: Tony Cashmore (1997)
20. BARWON HEADS (23)
Designer: Victor East (1921)
21. BROOKWATER (15)
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2002)
22. ROYAL SYDNEY (24)
Designers: Carnegie Clark (1921), Peter Thomson & Mike Wolveridge (1987); Ross Watson (2002)
23. YARRA YARRA (21)
Designer: Alex Russell (1928)
24. THE NATIONAL (Old course) (20)
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1987)
25. PENINSULA (North course) (19)
Designer: Sloan Morpeth (1969); Mike Clayton (2002)
26. THE AUSTRALIAN (22)
Designer: Jack Nicklaus (1977)
27. MOONAH LINKS (Legends course) (27)
Designer: Ross Perrett (2003)
28. PORTSEA (26)
Designers: Jock Young (1926); Sloan Morpeth & Jack Howard (1965); Mike Clayton (2000)
29. PENINSULA (SOUTH COURSE) (50)
Designer: Sloan Morpeth (1967), Mike Clayton (2007)
30. THE LAKES (30
Designers: Tom Howard & Eric Apperly (1928); Bruce Devlin &
Robert Von Hagge (1970); Jack Newton, Graeme Grant & John Spencer (1995); Peter Thomson, Michael Wolveridge & Ross Perrett (2000)
31. JOONDALUP (Quarry/Dunes course) (28)
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1985)
32. LAGUNA WHITSUNDAYS (Turtle Point) (25)
Designers: David Graham & Gary Panks (1992)
33. LAKE KARRINYUP (32)
Designer: Alex Russell (1928)
34. THE NATIONAL (Ocean course) (29)
Designers: Peter Thomson, Michael Wolveridge & Ross Perrett (2000)
35. THE GRAND (35)
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (1997)
36. THE CUT, PORT BOUVARD (36)
Designer: James Wilcher (2004)
37. MOONAH LINKS (Open course) (33)
Designers: Peter Thomson, Michael Wolveridge & Ross Perrett (2001)
38. THE GLADES (31)
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000)
Designers: James Herd Scott (1945); John Harris (1962); Peter Thomson & Michael Wolveridge (1984)
40. PACIFIC HARBOUR (Debut)
Designer: Ross Watson (2006)
41. THE VINTAGE (46)
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2003)
42. PORT FAIRY (44)
Designers: Club members (1963); Kevin Hartley (1989); Mike Clayton (2000)
43. THE VINES (Lakes course) (38)
Designers: Graham Marsh & Ross Watson (1989)
44. CLUB PELICAN (39)
Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000)
45. THE GRANGE (West course) (41)
Designer: Vern Morcom (1956)'
46. CONCORD (43)
Designers: Dan Soutar (1916), Ross Watson (1998)
47. BONVILLE INTERNATIONAL (37)
Designers: Terry Watson & Ted Stirling (1992)
48. ROYAL QUEENSLAND (NR)
Designers: Carnegie Clark (1920); Dr Alister MacKenzie (1926); Mike Clayton (2007 and ongoing)
49. HOPE ISLAND (40)
Designers: Peter Thomson, Michael Wolveridge & Ross Perrett (1993)
50. AMSTEL (Ranfurlie course) (42)
Designer: Mike Clayton (2002)
Australia's Top 50 Golf Courses - Golf Australia January 2008
Judges Lists
The following are the rankings from each of the judges on the 2008 Golf Australia Top 50 rankings.
BRENDAN JAMES
Editor, Golf Australia magazine
1. Barnbougle Dunes
2. Kingston Heath
3. Royal Melbourne (West course)
4. New South Wales
5. The National (Moonah course)
6. Royal Adelaide
7. Ellerston
8. Royal Melbourne (East course)
9. Victoria
10. Metropolitan
11. Moonah Links (Legends course)
12. Joondalup (Quarry/Dunes course)
13. The Golf Club, St Andrews Beach
14. Newcastle
15. Thirteenth Beach (Beach course)
16. Brookwater
17. The National (Ocean course)
18. The Dunes
19. The Golf Club, Kennedy Bay
20. Royal Sydney
21. Kooyonga
22. Magenta Shores
23. Laguna Whitsundays
24. The National (Old course)
25. Moonah Links (Open course)
26. The Lakes
27. Bonville International
28. The Cut, Port Bouvard
29. Pacific Harbour
30. Commonwealth
31. Barwon Heads
32. The Vintage
33. The Australian
34. Peninsula (North course)
35. Royal Queensland
36. Hope Island
37. Lake Karrinyup
38. The Vines (Lakes course)
39. Terrey Hills
40. Yarra Yarra
41. Portsea
42. Woodlands
43. Club Pelican
44. Amstel (Ranfurlie course)
45. The Glades
46. Glenelg
47. Royal Canberra (1-18)
48. Elanora
49. Huntingdale
50. The Heritage (St Johns course)
DARIUS OLIVER
ausgolf editor & Author of PLANET GOLF
1. Royal Melbourne (West course)
2. New South Wales
3. Kingston Heath
4. The National (Moonah course)
5. Royal Adelaide
6. Barnbougle Dunes
7. Victoria
8. Ellerston
9. Royal Melbourne (East course)
10. Commonwealth
11. Peninsula (North course)
12. Newcastle
13. Woodlands
14. Peninsula (South course)
15. Metropolitan
16. The Golf Club, St Andrews Beach
17. The Dunes
18. The Golf Club, Kennedy Bay
19. Kooyonga
20. Yarra Yarra
21. Portsea
22. Thirteenth Beach (Beach course)
23. Barwon Heads
24. The Grand
25. The National (Old course)
26. Moonah Links (Legends course)
27. The National (Ocean course)
28. Brookwater
29. Royal Canberra (1-18)
30. Royal Sydney
31. Moonah Links (Open course)
32. The Cut, Port Bouvard
33. The Lakes
34. Lake Karrinyup
35. The Glades
36. The Australian
37. Amstel (Ranfurlie course)
38. Club Pelican
39. Joondalup (Quarry/Dunes course)
40. The Grange (West course)
41. Laguna Whitsundays
42. The Vines (Lakes course)
43. The Heritage (St Johns course)
44. Spring Valley
45. Hope Island
46. The Vintage
47. Hyatt Regency Coolum
48. Terrey Hills
49. Huntingdale
50. Sanctuary Cove (Pines course)
MIKE CLAYTON
Golf Australia Playing Editor & head course designer,
Mike Clayton Golf Design
1. Royal Melbourne (West course)
2. Barnbougle Dunes
3. Kingston Heath
4. New South Wales
5. Royal Adelaide
6. The National (Moonah course)
7. The Golf Club, St Andrews Beach
8. Royal Melbourne (East course)
9. Ellerston
10. Victoria
11. Metropolitan
12. Peninsula (South course)
13. Woodlands
14. The Grange (West course)
15. The Golf Club, Kennedy Bay
16. Peninsula (North course)
17. Newcastle
18. Royal Queensland
19. Portsea
20. Lake Karrinyup
21. Commonwealth
22. Thirteenth Beach (Beach course)
23. Kooyonga
24. Port Fairy
25. Hope Island
26. Barwon Heads
27. The National (Old course)
28. Amstel (Ranfurlie course)
29. Joondalup (Quarry/Dunes course)
30. Royal Sydney
31. Moonah Links (Legends course)
32. The Australian
33. The Glades
34. The Cut, Port Bouvard
35. The Dunes
36. The National (Ocean course)
37. Yarra Yarra
38. The Lakes
39. Glenelg
40. The Grange (East course)
41. Moonah Links (Open course)
42. Terrey Hills
43. Huntingdale
44. The Heritage (St Johns course)
45. Brookwater
46. Laguna Whitsundays
47. Spring Valley
48. Sanctuary Lakes
49. The Vines (Lakes course)
50. Twin Waters
ANDREW LANGFORD JONES
Director of Tournaments
PGA Tour of Australasia
1. Kingston Heath
2. Barnbougle Dunes
3. Royal Melbourne (West course)
4. New South Wales
5. Metropolitan
6. Victoria
7. Kooyonga
8. Royal Adelaide
9. The Golf Club, St.Andrews Beach
10. The National (Moonah course)
11. Newcastle
12. Royal Melbourne (East course)
13. Barwon Heads
14. The Golf Club, Kennedy Bay
15. Thirteenth Beach (Beach course)
16. The Dunes
17. Woodlands
18. Brookwater
19. Commonwealth
20. Peninsula (North course)
21. The National (Old course)
22. Yarra Yarra
23. The Australian
24. Portsea
25. The Lakes
26. Moonah Links (Legends course)
27. The National (Ocean course)
28. Lake Karrinyup
29. Laguna Whitsundays
30. Joondalup (Quarry/Dune course)
31. Royal Sydney
32. Huntingdale
33. Moonah Links (Open course)
34. Sorrento
35. The Glades
36. The Cut, Port Bouvard
37. Hope Island
38. Royal Queensland
39. The Vines (Lakes course)
40. Peninsula (South course)
41. The Grand
42. Bonville International
43. Club Pelican
44. The Grange (West course)
45. The Heritage (St Johns course)
46. Port Fairy
47. Hyatt Coolum
48. Glenelg
49. Sanctuary Lakes
50. Concord
TOM RAMSEY
Veteran News Limited
golf journalist
1. Royal Melbourne (West course)
2. Kingston Heath
3. Barnbougle Dunes
4. Ellerston
5. New South Wales
6. Laguna Whitsunday
7. The National (Moonah course)
8. Royal Melbourne (East course)
9. The Golf Club, St Andrews Beach
10. Royal Adelaide
11. The Vintage
12. The Glades
13. Brookwater
14. Magenta Shores
15. Metropolitan
16. Newcastle
17. Victoria
18. Woodlands
19. Club Pelican
20. Pacific Harbour
21. The Lakes
22. Kooyonga
23. The National (Old course)
24. Elanora
25. Peninsula (South course)
26. The Dunes
27. Thirteenth beach (Beach course)
28. Moonah Links (Legends course)
29. Portsea
30. Barwon Heads
31.The Australian
32. Yarra Yarra
33. Joondalup (Quarry/Dunes course)
34. The Grange (West)
35. Lake Karrinyup
36. Royal Canberra (1-18 holes)
37. Bonville
38. Moonah Links (Open course)
39. The Grand
40. Huntingdale
41. Capricorn International (C’ship course)
42. The Cut, Port Bouvard
43. The Vines (Lakes course)
44. Amstel (Ranfurnlie course)
45. Hope Island
46. Royal Sydney
47. The Golf Club, Kennedy Bay
48. Terrey Hills
49. Peninsula (North course)
50. Commonwealth
TREVOR GRANT
Senior journalist Melbourne Herald-Sun
1. Royal Melbourne (West course)
2. Royal Melbourne (East course)
3. Kingston Heath
4. New South Wales
5. Royal Adelaide
6. Barnbougle Dunes
7. Victoria
8. Woodlands
9. The Golf Club, St Andrews Beach
10. Yarra Yarra
11. Kooyonga
12. Metropolitan
13. The National (Moonah course)
14. The Lakes
15. Portsea
16. Port Fairy
17. Newcastle
18. The Dunes
19. Royal Sydney
20. Barwon Heads
21. Peninsula (South course)
22. Brookwater
23. Thirteenth Beach (Beach course)
24. Lake Karrinyup
25. The Golf Club, Kennedy Bay
26. Moonah Links (Legends course)
27. Commonwealth
28. The Australian
29. The National (Old course)
30. Links Lady Bay
31. Laguna Whitsundays
32. Peninsula (North course)
33. Moonah Links (Open course)
34. Huntingdale
35. The Glades
36. Royal Canberra (1-18)
37. The National (Ocean course)
38. The Coast
39. The Grange (West course)
40. Royal Queensland
41. St Michaels
42. Club Pelican
43. Horsham
44. Bonville International
45. Concord
46. Royal Hobart
47. Hope Island
48. Amstel (Ranfurlie course)
49. Tasmania
50. The Heritage (St John’s course)
ROSS WATSON
Head designer Ross Watson Golf Design
1. Royal Melbourne (West course)
2. Kingston Heath
3. New South Wales
4. Barnbougle Dunes
5. Royal Melbourne (East course)
6. Victoria
7. Metropolitan
8. Royal Adelaide
9. The Golf Club, Kennedy Bay
10. Newcastle
11. Royal Sydney
12. Magenta Shores
13. Kooyonga
14. Thirteenth Beach (Beach course)
15. The National (Moonah course)
16. Commonwealth
17. The Golf Club St Andrews Beach
18. The Dunes
19. The Australian
20. The Vines (Lakes course)
21. Brookwater
22. Woodlands
23. The Lakes
24. Yarra Yarra
25. Peninsula (North course)
26. Portsea
27. Barwon Heads
28. The National (Old course)
29. Laguna Whitsundays
30. Pacific Harbour
31. The Glades
32. Royal Canberra (1-18)
33. Glenelg
34. Joondalup (Quarry/Dunes course)
35. Port Fairy
36. The National (Ocean course)
37. Concord
38. The Cut, Port Bouvard
39. The Grange (West course)
40. Moonah Links (Legends course)
41. Avondale
42. Hyatt Regency Coolum
43. Hope Island
44. Huntingdale
45. Moonah Links (Open course)
46. Kooindah Waters
47. Terrey Hills
48. The Heritage (St Johns course)
49. Sanctuary Lakes
50. Links Lady Bay
CRAIG PARRY
Tour player and part-time course designer
1. Royal Melbourne (West course)
2. Kingston Heath
3. Barnbougle Dunes
4. Metropolitan
5. The Australian
6. Royal Melbourne (East course)
7. New South Wales
8. Royal Adelaide
9. Ellerston
10. Victoria
11. Royal Sydney
12. Royal Canberra
13. Kooyonga
14. The National (Old course)
15. Newcastle
16. The Golf Club, Kennedy Bay
17. The National (Moonah course)
18. Lake Karrinyup
19. Joondalup (Quarry/Dunes course)
20. Commonwealth
21. Laguna Whitsundays
22. Brookwater
23. Woodlands
24. The Vines (Lakes course)
25. Peninsula (North course)
26. Hope Island
27. Concord
28. The Lakes
29. The Cut, Port Bouvard
30. Hyatt Regency Coolum
31. Yarra Yarra
32. Kooindah Waters
33. Terrey Hills
34. Barwon Heads
35. The Dunes
36. Bonville International
37. Sanctuary Cove (Pines course)
38. The Vintage
39. Portsea
40. The Grange (West course)
41. Meadow Springs
42. Tasmania
43. Royal Queensland
44. The National (Ocean course)
45. Pennisula (South course)
46. Thirteenth Beach (Beach course)
47. Secret Harbour
48. Royal Perth
49. Mt Lawley
50. Amstel (Ranfurlie course)
NEIL CRAFTER
Former Eisenhower Cup player & course designer Golf Strategies
1. Royal Melbourne (West course)
2. Kingston Heath
3. Royal Melbourne (East course)
4. Royal Adelaide
5. New South Wales
6. Barnbougle Dunes
7. Metropolitan
8. Yarra Yarra
9. Victoria
10. Kooyonga
11. The National (Moonah course)
12. Newcastle
13. The Australian
14. Barwon Heads
15.The Golf Club at Kennedy Bay
16. Commonwealth
17. Royal Sydney
18. Thirteenth Beach (Beach course)
19. Woodlands
20. The Dunes
21 The National (Ocean course)
22. Magenta Shores
23. Lake Karrinyup
24. Moonah Links (Open course)
25 The National (Old course)
26 Joondalup (Quarry/Dunes)
27 Glenelg
28. The Vines (Lakes course)
29. Brookwater
30. Portsea
31. The Lakes
32. Lakelands
33. Amstel (Ranfurlie course)
34. Laguna Whitsundays
35. Peninsula (North course)
36. Concord
37. Moonah Links (Legends course)
38. The Glades
39. Royal Queensland
40. The Heritage (St Johns course)
41. Pelican Waters
42. North Lakes
43. Hope Island
44. Sanctuary Cove (Pines course)
45. Terrey Hills
46. Sanctuary Lakes
47. The Vintage
48. Huntingdale
49. Port Fairy
50. Hyatt Regency Coolum
MATTHEW MOLLICA
The Travelling Golfer
1. Royal Melbourne (West course)
2. Barnbougle Dunes
3. Kingston Heath
4. New South Wales
5. Royal Melbourne (East course)
6. Royal Adelaide
7. The National (Moonah course)
8. The Golf Club, St. Andrews Beach
9. The Cut, Port Bouvard
10. Woodlands
11. Kennedy Bay
12. Victoria
13. Newcastle
14. The National (Old course)
15. Commonwealth
16. Metropolitan
17. Yarra Yarra
18. Brookwater
19. Peninsula (North course)
20. Peninsula (South course)
21. Barwon Heads
22. Magenta Shores
23. Portsea
24. Thirteenth Beach (Beach course)
25. Kooyonga
26. The Grand
27. The Grange (West course)
28. Laguna Whitsundays
29. The Dunes
30. Amstel (Ranfurlie course)
31. Joondalup (Quarry/Dunes course)
32. Royal Canberra (1-18)
33. The Glades
34. Port Fairy
35. The Vines (Lakes course)
36. Royal Sydney
37. The Heritage (Henley course)
38. The Australian
39. Huntingdale
40. Hyatt Regency Coolum
41. Hope Island
42. Club Pelican
43. Pacific Dunes
44. Moonah Links (Legends course)
45. The Lakes
46. Sanctuary Lakes
47. The National (Ocean course)
48. The Heritage (St. John course)
49. Moonah Links (Open course)
50. Lakelands
ROSS PERRETT
Course designer Thomson & Perrett
1. Royal Melbourne (West course)
2. Kingston Heath
3. New South Wales
4. The National (Old course)
5. Royal Adelaide
6. Moonah Links (Open course)
7. Moonah Links (Legends course)
8. The National (Moonah course)
9. The National (Ocean course)
10. Metropolitan
11. Barnbougle Dunes
12. Victoria
13. Royal Melbourne (East course)
14. Newcastle
15. Commonwealth
16.Thirteenth Beach (Beach course)
17. The Golf Club Kennedy Bay
18. The Dunes
19. The Australian’
20. Magenta Shores
21. Barwon Heads
22. Yarra Yarra
23. Peninsula (North course)
24. Joondalup (Quarry/Dunes course)
25. Royal Sydney
26. Woodlands
27. The Lakes
28. Portsea
29. Sandhurst (North course)
30. Hope Island
31. Lake Karrinyup
32. Kooyonga
33. Sea Temple
34. The Heritage (St Johns course)
35. The Glades
36. Twin Waters
37. Laguna Whitsundays
38. Royal Canberra (1-18)
39. Huntingdale
40. The Vines (Lakes course)
41. Port Fairy
42. Brookwater
43. Peninsula (South course)
44. The Sands, Torquay
45. Hyatt Regency Coolum
46. The Cut, Port Bouvard
47. Bonville International
48. Twin Creeks
49. Long Reef
50. Glenelg
BOB HARRISON
Head designer, Greg Norman Golf Design
1. Royal Melbourne (West course)
2. New South Wales
3. The National (Moonah course)
4. Ellerston
5. Kingston Heath
6. Commonwealth
7. Newcastle
8. Royal Adelaide
9. Barnbougle Dunes
10. Royal Melbourne (East course)
11. Brookwater
12. Metropolitan
13. Kooyonga
14. Royal Sydney
15. The Grand
16. Barwon Heads
17. The Dunes
18. Thirteenth Beach (Beach course)
19. Club Pelican
20. The Golf Club, St Andrews Beach
21. The Glades
22. The Australian
23. The National (Old course)
24. Victoria
25. Moonah Links (Legends course)
26. The Golf Club, Kennedy Bay
27. Peninsula (North course)
28. Port Fairy
29. The National (Ocean course)
30. The Lakes
31. Laguna Whitsundays
32. Portsea
33. The Vintage
34. The Cut, Port Bouvard
35. Woodlands
36. Yarra Yarra
37. The Grange (West course)
38. Sanctuary Lakes
39. Moonah Links (Open course)
40. Joondalup (Quarry/Dunes course)
41. St Michaels
42. Lake Karrinyup
43. Hope Island
44. Amstel (Ranfurlie course)
45. Bonnie Doon
46. Horizons
47. Hyatt Regency Coolum
48. Lakelands
49. The Heritage (St Johns course)
50. Terrey Hills
JAMES WILCHER
Head designer Golf By Design
1. New South Wales
2. Royal Melbourne (West course)
3. Kingston Heath
4. Royal Adelaide
5. Metropolitan
6. Royal Melbourne (East course)
7. The National (Moonah course)
8. Barnbougle Dunes
9. Commonwealth
10. The Cut, Port Bouvard
11. The Golf Club, Kennedy Bay
12. Newcastle
13. Kooyonga
14. Victoria
15. Moonah Links (Legends course)
16. The National (Old course)
17. Brookwater
18. Ellerston
19. Thirteenth Beach (Beach course)
20. Woodlands
21. Barwon Heads
22. Peninsula (North course)
23. The Dunes
24. Yarra Yarra
25. Royal Sydney
26. The Glades
27. Lake Karrinyup
28. The Lakes
29. Joondalup (Quarry/Dunes course)
30. Royal Canberra (1-18)
31. The Golf Club, St Andrews Beach
32. Elanora
33. Laguna Whitsundays
34. The Grange (West course)
35. Club Pelican
36. The National (Ocean course)
37. Moonah Links (Open course)
38. Hyatt Regency Coolum
39. Magenta Shores
40. The Grand
41. Mt Lawley
42. Port Fairy
43. Terrey Hills
44. Hope Island
45. Huntingdale
46. Pacific Dunes
47. Glenelg
48. Secret Harbour
49. Twin Creeks
50. Portsea