Hidden Fairways: 25 overlooked Australian golf courses you should play in 2025
From stunning coastal layouts to quirky country fairways, these 25 Australian golf courses offer unique experiences that go beyond the usual round of golf.
For many golfers, the idea of travelling across Australia to play a variety of courses is more a dream than reality. The costs, time, and logistics of such an endeavor often mean most of us stick close to our home course.
However, exploring lesser-known courses across this great country—even those a short drive away—can be a rewarding experience.
Playing new and unfamiliar layouts can sharpen your game by testing your ability to adapt. Without the luxury of knowing where to miss the green or being certain of yardages, you’re forced to rely on feel and strategy.
It’s also a chance to discover the charm of Australia’s smaller, often overlooked courses, which offer plenty of character and fun without the intimidating price tag of high-profile layouts.
Here’s a hand-picked list of 25 courses to consider in 2025, ranging from hidden gems to quirky, unpolished diamonds. Some of these are courses I’ve been lucky to play, and others remain firmly on my must-visit list.
NEW SOUTH WALES
1. Oberon Golf Club – Set in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Oberon Golf Club is one of the hilliest and most picturesque country courses in New South Wales. Sitting at an altitude over 1000m, with huge gum trees and overlooking Lake Oberon, this is a memorable place to play golf.
2. Corowa Golf Club – A Murray River classic just north of the border with 27 holes and a rich history. Ideal for golf trips.
3. Dorrigo Golf Club – Drive through Bellingen and continue into the hills near the Dorrigo National Park. It’s been a 9-hole gem set in a beautiful part of the country.
4. Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club – A coastal beauty surrounded by water – it’s on an island in the middle of the Nambucca River mouth. Stunning location.
5. Harrington Waters Golf Club – One of the best 9-hole courses in the country featuring couch fairways and Bermuda green. A delightful golf course with seaside vibes on the Lower North Coast of NSW.
6. Calderwood Valley Golf Course – An undulating public golf course just south of Wollongong that lies at the base of the picturesque escarpment. Known for its immaculate fairways and mountain backdrop, this is a hidden treasure for golf in the Illawarra region.
7. Belmont Golf Club – A coastal favourite near Newcastle that is underappreciated among the Australian golf community. The back nine is especially good with the best holes running along Nine Mile Beach just south of Newcastle.
VICTORIA
8. Mornington Golf Club – Maybe the Mornington Peninsula’s most underappreciated golf course, you’ll get to play every shot in the book on a stunning piece of land with views back towards the city and across the bay.
9. Peterborough Golf Club – This place is unexpectedly spectacular. A quirky 9-hole course set on a seriously amazing bit of clifftop land. Don’t miss it if you’re scouting around the Great Ocean Road.
10. Warburton Golf Club – If Oberon is NSW’s hilliest golf course, then Warburton may be the hilliest in Victoria. A picturesque riverside course set against the Yarra Ranges, we’ve been fascinated with this place since we watched Under The Card’s feature on the golf course.
11. Axedale Golf Club – A relatively new irrigation system has made this quaint golf course lying on undulating land alongside the Campaspe River (east of Bendigo) a good place to check out.
12. Drouin Golf & Country Club – We want to play this course simply because five holes are in the middle of a racetrack. And this place looks like a nice place to walk around let alone play golf at the same time.
13. Hidden Valley Golf Club – This place is the only resort-style course on the list. It’s only 30 minutes north of Tullamarine and features a Craig Parry-designed golf course. And it’s got a proper island green.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
14. Embleton Golf Club – A serene 9-hole track just 7kns out of Perth’s CBD is a perfect place to learn the game or spend a few hours with good friends.
15. Sun City Golf Club – We had this on the list last time but we’re still wanting to get the word out about it. A magnificent golf course anyone can play that will leave all golfers wanting to play it over and over again.
16. Margaret River Golf Club – If you’re travelling to this majestic part of Australia, the Margaret River Golf Club looks like a great place to stop and swing the club.
QUEENSLAND
17. Ravenshoe Millstream Country Club – A hidden gem in the Tablelands region of Queensland, this is a lovely little community golf course that offers an escape from the usual golfing hotspots. Plus it has a great name.
18. Magnetic Island Golf course – Confession, we played this course last year but it was such a little gem, on such a beautiful island that we’re encouraging everyone to go play it for yourself. We’re going to do our best to get back there in 2025.
19. Miriam Vale Golf Club – A very well-maintained 9-hole course in the lush Gladstone region, this small course is a great addition to any Queensland road trip.
20. Maleny Golf Club – This Sunshine Coast standout boasts immaculate greens and a great design across rolling hills. Oh and Adam Scott has played here too.
Tasmania
21. Elderslie Golf Club – Located in the Derwent Valley about 30 minutes from Hobart, this is a quiet 9-hole course with plenty of charm. Maybe a good side trip when head down to play the next golf course on this list.
22. 7 Mile Beach – This was on the list last time! 7 Mile Beach, just outside Hobart has been tantalisingly close to opening for some time now – but it will be worth the wait.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
23. Clare Golf Course – Just under two hours north of Adelaide, the Clare Valley is a little gem and a perfect getaway at any time of year. Throw in the lovely Clare Valley Golf Course for under $50 a round, and you’ve got yourself a perfect weekend destination.
24. Kenton Valley Golf Course – Less known than other golf courses in the Adelaide Hills, Kenton Valley offers a relaxed setting for a round with friends or an introduction to the game. The nine-hole course includes multiple greens on several holes, creating a varied layout on the second loop compared to the first.
25. Little Para Golf Course – Recently renovated with a Trackman-equipped range and one of the most visually impressive mini-golf courses in the country, Little Para exemplifies a community golf space that could serve as a model for others nationwide.
