Inside Golf’s Top 100 – Australia’s Best Public Access Golf Courses

Barnbougle Dunes.

WE asked for your help in a nationwide call to action and Inside Golf readers certainly delivered, more than 3,000 offering their educated opinions as to which public golf facilities they believed to be Australia’s best.  

When coupled with the ratings from our panel, which comprised writers and editorial contributors, industry experts, club pros, touring professionals and a range of knowledgeable golfing enthusiasts from all over the country, and we’ve come up with a comprehensive list.  

Some will agree, others may not, with our rankings of the Top 100 Public Golf Experiences sure to create healthy debate and plenty of conversation. 

All states are represented, with the list including regional gems, local favourites and bucket-list destinations.  

We reasoned there’s no better source of insight than the golfers who walk the fairways every week, therefore unlike other rankings, we put the power in the hands of those who matter most – you, our readers.

In our 20th anniversary year, you’ve been a part of history in helping decide Inside Golf’s first Top 100 and we thank you for taking part. 

As Inside Golf publisher Sam Arthur expressed when he came up with the idea of compiling a top 100. 

“This is something we’ve wanted to do for years — and now it’s finally happening,” he said. 

See below and on the page following – it has finally happened.

Barnbougle Lost Farm.

Tassie golf on top 

Any keen golfer who hasn’t visited the north of Tasmania and Barnbougle, seeing the Dunes and Lost Farm courses rank #1 and #2 on our Top 100 list, and it may just convince you it’s worth the trip. 

Barnbougle Dunes came out on top, a golf course described as being made by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts. Designed by Tom Doak in partnership with Mike Clayton, it is a seaside links winding through sand dunes, a course more often than not that forces golfers to also navigate the buffeting sea breezes as a part of the challenge. 

Next-door to the Dunes, Barnbougle Lost Farm offers a similar examination, with some believing Lost Farm to be the equal of, if not superior to, its highly respected neighbour.

With Ocean Dunes coming in at #9, a course also featuring rolling dunes and 360-degree ocean views, along with another King Island course in Cape Wickham at #12, not to mention the almost completed Matt Goggin-inspired Seven Beach in Hobart, not included this time around but sure to warrant consideration when we next rank Australia’s best, and Tasmania presents as a bucket list destination for those golfers yet to experience it. 

Moonah Links.

Golf on the Mornington Peninsula 

While the majority of sandbelt courses in Melbourne are private facilities, the opposite is the case when heading south down the freeway to the Mornington Peninsula.

The Peninsula is Golf country, with a vast array of quality golf courses, most accessible to visitors and public golfers, and it came as no surprise that seven courses in the region ranked amongst the best 20 on the top 100 list.

Leading the way was St Andrews Beach (#3), followed by The Dunes Golf Links (#5). The two Moonah Links courses were inside the top 10 (Legends #6, Open Course #10), while Portsea (#14), Rosebud North (#17) and RACV Cape Schanck (#19) were included in our top 20.

If venturing down to the southern tip of Victoria, there is plenty of choice and with some planning and by making a booking before you arrive, the majority of courses on the Mornington Peninsula are ready and available to accommodate visiting golfers.

Bonville Golf Resort.

Bonville fly’s the flag for NSW

While the leading Tasmanian and Victorian courses may have dominated the top 20 on our list of the best 100, Bonville, with its rolling hills and tree lined fairways was the NSW favourite, with Inside Golf readers joining our esteemed panel in ranking the course located near Coffs Harbour at #4. 

A course which many say has a look and feel not dissimilar to Augusta National, Bonville is a regional standout, a course which has hosted professional events, and again with a booking, and for those utilising the on-site accommodation, if ever in northern NSW this is one to enjoy. 

Of the other states, the spectacular Joondalup led the way for WA at #8, Brookwater Golf and Country Club, a high quality facility south west of Brisbane was ranked as Queensland’s best (#11) and Links Lady Bay (#47) the highest ranked in South Australia. 

The criteria 

WE asked readers to submit their list of Australia’s best public access courses, with our aim to honour the standouts, those that offer exeptional value, unforgettable play, and are accessible to all, from casual golfers and weekend warriors to the seasoned campaigners and regular players. 

Our ranking focused on public courses, those open to all golfers, either as fully public, pay-to-play, or via limited guest access and was judged against a carefully considered ranking criteria.

• Design & Layout: Does the course offer strategic shot-making and architectural integrity?

• Conditioning: How well is the course maintained year-round?

• Setting & Ambience: From coastal cliffs to bushland backdrops — does the location leave a lasting impression?

• Playability: Is the course fair and fun for all skill levels?

• Overall Experience: Think customer service, clubhouse facilities, value for money, and that intangible “X factor.”

Some readers offered a handful of their favourites, others a full list, we thank all who took part and contributed to our top 100 list.