Best golf destinations in Oceania
Best golf destinations in Oceania
Scenic coastal links and championship parkland fairways in Oceania
Sandbelt-style courses in southern Australia are considered among the finest in the world by golf architects, prized for their sand-based fairways and firm, fast conditions year-round. Coastal courses in New Zealand combine championship design with some of the most dramatic clifftop scenery in the sport.
The destinations on this list range from historic sandbelt clubs with nearly a century of championship golf history to newer coastal resort courses built specifically to showcase dramatic landscape. Both rank consistently among world golf course rankings.
Booking ahead for the most prestigious clubs matters, since several operate restricted access policies for visiting golfers without an existing member connection. Visiting in the cooler months also tends to mean more comfortable playing conditions. Checking course-specific dress codes in advance also matters, since requirements can vary noticeably between clubs in the region.
Lists by region
Bay in New Zealand
Hawke's Bay
Sunlit shores and vibrant marine life
Sea wind sweeps over the clifftop holes at Cape Kidnappers, a Tom Doak design near Te Awanga. American developer Julian Robertson funded the course, which was designed in 2004. Golf Digest ranked it tenth among courses outside the United States in 2007. The ridges give long views over the Pacific.
Country
Fiji
Tropical paradise with diverse landscapes
Vijay Singh, a Fijian star, designed the Natadola Bay Championship Course, which opened to the public in 2009. Fifteen holes show the reef and the Pacific. The Fiji International has been played there. Denarau Island has a Pacific themed course with water on 15 holes. The Pearl runs through rainforest at Pacific Harbour.
City in Australia
Melbourne
The heart of culture and coffee
November to March is the prime season on the Sandbelt, a stretch of sandy dunes south of the city. Royal Melbourne West, an Alister MacKenzie design, hosted the 1998 Presidents Cup, the first held outside the United States. Kingston Heath has over 130 bunkers. Most clubs are private, so plan ahead.
Town in New Zealand
Queenstown
Adventure capital with alpine beauty
The New Zealand Open pairs amateurs with pros in a best-ball pro-am at Millbrook and The Hills. Jack's Point is named for Jack Tewa, a gold finder. It has 360 degree views of the Remarkables and Lake Whakatipu. Its 7th is a par 3 with a steep drop to the lake.
Island in Australia
Tasmania
Wilderness, Wildlife and Wild Coasts
Barnbougle Dunes, by Tom Doak and Mike Clayton, is a links course with the Southern Hemisphere's largest bunker. Lost Farm, by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, has 20 holes. On King Island, Cape Wickham Links is ranked first in Australia. Tasmania has more than 65 courses.
City in Australia
Sydney
Where urban life meets stunning beaches
The New South Wales Golf Club is older than the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Alister MacKenzie and Carnegie Clark designed it at La Perouse in 1926. Two holes run beside the Tasman Sea and Botany Bay. It hosted the 2009 Australian Open, which Adam Scott won. The club is private.
Lake in New Zealand
Lake Tekapo
The Glacial Gem of the South Island
In the high country of the Mackenzie Basin, Mackenzie Golf Club has nine holes about 4 km from town. Cairns Alpine Resort Golf Course is also close. Twizel's Ben Ōhau club has nine holes and 16 tees. Nights bring stargazing in a dark sky reserve.
Town in New Zealand
Arrowtown
Gold Rush History Amid Mountain Beauty
The Arrowtown Golf Club opened in 1937 and has fairways built around schist rock and old stone cottage ruins. Millbrook Resort has two 18 hole courses, the Remarkables and the Coronet, in an alpine bowl. The Hills is a private course. It covers about 500 acres in a glacial valley.
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