NSW North Coast’s signature golf holes - and how to play them
Golf tourism on the NSW North Coast is big business. See our list of the best holes and the expert’s advice on how to tackle them.
Tweed Heads
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tweed Heads. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The NSW North Coast is a travelling golfer’s mecca, with more than 40 courses to choose from between Forster and Tweed Heads.
Long regarded the perfect getaway for domestic tourists, most identify the pull of the North Coast to be its beaches, climate and alternative towns like Byron Bay, Bellingen, Nimbin and Mullumbimby.
Few realise the financial importance of golf holidays in the jigsaw.
The latest ‘Golf in NSW Community Impact Study’ put the value of statewide golf tourism at $103.7 million (2019-20).
Of that the North Coast accounted for $12.8m, second only to Metropolitan Sydney at $46.4m. The Hunter ranked third best at $11.4m.
Compared to all of the prestigious clubs in Sydney, North Coast courses are affordable to play and access.
This would come as no surprise to the tens of thousands of visitors from greater Sydney and South East Queensland who plan weekends and week-long golfing adventures by the seaside.
Another trump for golf on the North Coast is the wildlife players will often encounter, from kangaroos and koalas to dolphins.
Here’s our guide to some of the finest holes in the region and some expert advice on how to play them.
Tallwoods Country Club
This established, world-class, 18-hole championship par 72 course is proudly Australia’s only layout designed by the award-winning Dr Michael Hurdzan.
The course features prolific native vegetation and extensive water features throughout.
Tallwoods Country Club is the home to The Bunker Bar which is perfect for casual dining any time of the day. With a relaxed, informal atmosphere and a passionate team, they create a unique food experience.
Tallwoods has accommodation onsite with 14 two-bedroom bungalows to cater for large or small groups.
11th hole: The Sentinel, 170m par 3
Across Lake Tallwoods, the giant sentinel gums are synonymous with Tallwoods. Four of the tees must cross the water to a well-protected green with bunkers on the left and a hollow on the right. Players will need a wood or a long iron to reach the large green which has plenty of undulations.
17th hole: The Inclinator, 366m par 4
The highest tee on this majestic hole provides ocean and mountain views. A spotted gum stands guard on the right hand side of the fairway and bunkers on the left makes this one of the hardest tee shots at Tallwoods. A well placed tee shot will leave a short iron into the small double-tiered green which is well guarded by bunkers on the left and out the back. This hole will leave memories of your round at Tallwoods.
Harrington Waters Golf Club
Harrington Waters is a hidden gem situated close to the Manning River. Three different graded courses are set out over the nine-hole layout - with the championship course presenting a challenging par 72 over 5890 metres.
Features include fast 328 couch greens, manicured couch fairways, and strategically placed bunkers and picturesque wetlands and waterways on every hole.
The impressive architecturally designed clubhouse is open seven days a week, and takes advantage of the spectacular views overlooking the course.
The Café is fully licenced with cold tap beer. GLF Online ensure the golf shop has a range of men’s and ladies golf clothing, accessories, and the latest released clubs. Lessons can be arranged with the golf pros by appointment.
4th hole: 444m par 5
A straight forward par five with water along the entire right-hand side of the hole. The big hitters will manage to hit the green in two if they dare a driver from the tee. However, anything right is wet and if you don’t connect there is a big fairway bunker to gather you up on the left. There is another bunker 100m out from the green to gather up a weak second shot, and a signature yawning bunker in front of the green to catch anything short.
15th hole: 148m par 3
A medium sized green guarded by a bunker short left. Another bunker short of the green on the right may save you from the water which surrounds the green on all sides. Reaching this hole with a good score can make a player quite nervous. While it’s a short hole, it is demanding to finish on the green to protect your score.
Wingham Golf Club
This country nine-hole golf course in the middle of the Manning Valley includes alternate tees to create a challenging 18-hole competition course.
The course is a par 72 and 6035 metres in length from the blue markers. Like most country courses, we are tree-lined and wayward are duly penalised.
We have a licensed clubhouse and Dealis’h Restaurant is the best in the area and open Wednesdays to Saturdays for dinner and Sundays for lunch. There is a 28-room motel onsite, making it a great opportunity for a stay and play.
1st hole: 359m par 4
This looks like an easy hole as it’s straight downhill, but push your drive a little and you’ll be in the trees with no shot at the green. If you go left from the tee you’ll have a shot at the green but the rough is challenging. The target is a long narrow green with little room front to back. Wingham has very hard greens so you must land short of the pin otherwise you’ll face a difficult chip from out the back. This hole will reward two straight shots.
12th hole: 176m par 3
The tee shot needs to thread a shute. Hit it to the right and you’ll find the water hazard. Knock it left and you’ll be out of bounds or at best in the trees with a poor second shot to the green. At 176m it is hard for most members to get there in one. The lower markers, depending on wind direction are hitting a 4-iron, or lower. Like most of the greens at Wingham you must err on being short rather than long. Most players walk away with bogey and are happy.
Kew Country Club Golf Course
Set amid beautiful native gardens, with a player-friendly 18-hole champion style golf course and driving range, Kew Country Club is a delight for all players. The club undertakes continual improvements to keep the course pristine and beautiful. A true escape to serenity.
“From the moment you drive through the entrance, you start to appreciate the club’s dedication to provide a great recreational facility for patrons to enjoy,” Kew Country Club secretary manager Robert Dwyer said.
The club has a well-appointed airconditioned function room that can cater for private functions from 20 to 200 guests. With a fully-stocked bar and a spacious dance floor with a veranda overlooking a the course, it’s a picture perfect spot for a function.
Kew Country Club is only 500m from the Pacific Highway, and the clubhouse and bistro (lunches every day, dinner Fridays) trade seven days a week. Luke Garad is an onsite professional golfer.
1st hole: 327m par 4
This one is a short dogleg left and can set you up for a good front nine. The tee shot is critical as you need to place your shot up the hill to the left so you have clear chip onto the green. Achieve this and you will start your round with a smile.
6th hole: 505m par 5
A testing sharp dogleg to the right while there’s a small waterway which crosses the fairway along with a dam on the left. So you’ll have a decision to make on the tee - lay up short of the water crossing or go for the glory shot to carry the trees and find the fairway further up. Even then you’ll still be a good distance from home. The green is open and flat.
Port Macquarie Golf Club
This is an 18-hole championship layout where you can hear the surf pounding in every day. The licensed club trades seven days a week with a popular bistro that is open every day for lunch and dinner. The clubhouse looks out over the golf course with the Pacific Ocean in the distance.
6th hole: 320m par 4
This hole is a 90 degree dogleg to the right, as the fairway ‘runs out’ at about 200m. Overshoot the corner and you’ll be in a paperbark plantation. There is also a paperbark plantation on the right side of the dogleg to catch any pushed shots. Longer hitters may decide to cut a bit off the corner but there is a waste area if you fall short. The green - guarded by bunkers left and right - slopes dramatically from back to front so you don’t want to be long. Professional tip - longer hitters can reach the green from the tee. It needs a carry of around 260-270m and the line for the green is further right than you think. There is a large pine tree on the line to the green which can prevent a good tee-shot finding the putting surface. A safer play would be a fairway wood slightly over the corner leaving around 80 metres to the flag.
16th hole: 171 metres par 3
The postcard of the course. This beautiful par three has great surrounding gardens and a couple of water hazards lurking nearby just waiting for the occasional poor shot. Three bunkers skirt the green, which slopes from back to front. The green is relatively narrow in depth therefore club selection is crucial to successfully finding the putting surface. Once again it is important to leave the ball below the hole on this green as the downhill putts become rather difficult. A slight decline from the tee to the putting surface means this hole will play slightly shorter than the yardage. Professional tip - avoid hitting over the back of the green.
Crescent Head Country Club
It’s a big package offering with a six-hole golf course, two tennis courts, a bowling green, two restaurants and shortly, Mini Golf.
Tee off with panoramic views of the Pacific Coast as your backdrop. As one of the most picturesque golf courses in Australia, it’s not unusual to spot dolphins and experience the whale migration as you line up your shot.
We’re proud to feature the only accredited six-hole golf course in Australia. Open to the public all year, this is a once-in-a-lifetime golfing experience for the avid to social golfer.
Visit our well-stocked pro shop for the supplies you need or to hire clubs, pull buggies or drive carts.
2nd hole: 105m par 3
Don’t let the short distance of the signature second hole deceive you, this is a difficult shot. Hitting from an elevated position, you’ll have to carry a sheer cliff face to find the green while the Pacific Ocean frames the hole to the right. The coastal breeze will play an important part in club selection. The small green has a boomerang shaped bunker to the rear.
3rd hole: 267m par four
The hole doglegs to the right, and a long iron or lofted wood from the tee will open the green up for a short iron approach to a narrow-entranced green which widens for that lofted approach. The green is surrounded by grass bunkers. There is an option for a direct shot to the green from the tee, which is fraught with danger and would be suitable only for a gun golfer. Those daring to go for the money shot will see that the ocean sits out the back of the green, while Pebbly Beach is on the right, and there are trees in your eye-line (everything points to the safe approach).
South West Rocks Country Club
South West Rocks Country Club is an outdoor entertainment mecca where the course adds more wow factor to this small destination town.
The large Country Club facilities include three championship bowling greens, an indoor ten pin bowling alley, 25m swimming pool, four tennis courts (including pickle ball), and superb food and beverage facilities.
The 18-hole championship golf course is known for its tight turning tree-lined fairways and fast bent grass greens. With 20 motorised golf carts and a fully stocked pro shop this golf course is set to host the 2023 NSW Country Championships, the Macleay Valley Veterans Tournament and will also be a 2024 NSW Open qualifying course.
4th hole: 140m par three
This is the shortest of four demanding par threes in the design, but don’t be fooled by the distance. You’ll need to thread your shot through some encroaching gums, and over a picturesque water hazard to a well bunkered undulating green. A par or birdie here will give you bragging rights in the bar.
15th hole: 383m par 4
The longest and most demanding hole on the course. Players face an elevated and tight turning tee shot while the left hand side is guarded by a water hazard. Many reach for the driver to give hope of reaching the green in two. But even if you safely find the fairway it’s still a mid to long iron over a second water hazard which crosses the fairway in front of the green. A large sloping green ensures putting continues to challenge even the best. Locals advise laying up for the second shot - and then pitching it on to walk away with a bogey five.
Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club
Nambucca has to be one of the most picturesque public golf courses in Australia. Its unique location on Stuart Island surrounded by the Nambucca River makes it a magnificent setting for a game of golf. Where else can you play golf while watching dolphins swim by in the pristine river while an abundance of bird life including pelicans, osprey and sea eagles fly overhead.
The par 69, 18-hole layout designed by Ross Watson is both a challenge for the experienced player and enjoyable for an average golfer. It is a flat easy walk on fairways lined with she oak and paperbark trees. Our bent grass greens are often described as the best north of Newcastle.
The clubhouse and Island Restaurant are open seven days a week as is the fully stocked pro shop.
13th hole: 128m par 3
A short hole with a carry over a water hazard. The hole is almost always affected by breeze and features a large undulating green. Players are treated to a visually spectacular view over the Nambucca River south towards Mt Yarrahapinni in the distance.
16th hole: 388m par 4
The club’s toughest par four plays nine months of the year into a strong northerly and for the other three months down breeze. The mangroves and river are out of bounds and run the length of the hole down the left, while there’s also a water hazard on the right. The carpet-like fairway begs for accuracy and length. The often lengthy approach shot is to a skinny tiered green.
Bowraville Golf Club
The new Bowraville golf course features a nine-hole layout with alternate tees. The course has only recently opened and the new clubhouse (incorporating undercover and outdoor synthetic bowling greens) will open later this year. These facilities will include a new dining area and have scope to cater for functions.
The new course layout was designed by golf architect Richard Chamberlain and the new greens shaped by Peter Reibel (a Bowraville local who returned home for this job after shaping courses in Egypt, Singapore, Malaysia and previously the Gold Coast). All the new greens are tiered or layered and there are no ‘pancakes’. Water is a feature on several of the holes and the wide fairways are a favourite of big hitters and high handicappers alike. The new course is significantly more challenging than the one it replaced.
The course and clubhouse is part of the Bowraville Sports Hub, which will incorporate a number of sports including undercover bowls and a variety of football codes. It was a major undertaking with substantial community volunteer labour. Funding was provided by NSW Office Of Sport and Nambucca Valley Council and it is expected to be fully operational later in the year.
7th hole: 484m par 5
This is a challenge for players of all ability levels. A big dogleg downhill with a water hazard across the fairway at the 250m mark. From there it’s 230m uphill to an elevated, layered green. Big hitters can be tempted to carry that hazard to chase a birdie but it can be a sucker shot. A beautiful wide fairway still needs a straight shot off the tee to avoid tree trouble. It’s a relief to finally get to the green but that short stick will have a bit of work to do on the layered green.
9th hole: 160m par 3
To get that birdie you need to fly it over water to a tiered green and make it stick. If you don’t feel like backing yourself, play to the steep banks that frame the green to the back and side and hope to get up and down for the par. Alternatively just lay up to the apron at the front and get that chipping mojo happening. A bogey is no shame here. A true risk/reward hole.
C.ex Urunga Golf Course
C.ex Urunga offers an incredible package of amenities and stunning views of the Kalang and Bellinger rivers. Play a round of golf on our nine-hole course, hit the tennis courts, or try your hand at croquet on our lush green. The excitement doesn’t end there - meet us at The Shank Inn Restaurant for delicious modern Australian cuisine, with lunch specials starting at just $16 for members.
C.ex Urunga has something for everyone, from meat raffles on Thursdays and Fridays to the spacious auditorium with breathtaking river views, making it ideal for weddings, celebrations, or conferences accommodating up to 200.
Right next door is the Urunga Riverside Holiday Resort, offering 32 self-contained apartments.
1st hole: 332m par 4
A dog leg to the right that will encourage players to take a gamble. Aggressive players must carry the water and tall trees to drive the green or have a short chip onto the putting surface. Those who play conservatively will be faced with a mid-iron to the green, which has bunkers on either side while there’s water out the back.
9th hole: 116m par 3
A small bunker guards the front and a large bunker is out the back. This picturesque hole sits below the clubhouse and provides a testing hole to finish.
Bellingen Golf Course
This captivating 10-hole course is a work of art, meticulously crafted amid the natural splendour of the region.
From challenging par threes to lengthy par fives, the layout which nestles alongside the Bellinger River offers an intriguing journey for golf enthusiasts, regardless of their skill level.
Our clubhouse with a gorgeous sun-lit deck serves as a dynamic hub of social and culinary delights, including a highly regarded Thai restaurant.
6th hole: 165m par 3
Here players find themselves standing on what could arguably be the most picturesque tee box on the Mid North Coast. The hole is a worthy opponent, with a narrow pathway leading to a green that is deceptively nestled into the terrain’s slope. Golfers are well-advised to avoid overshooting the green to the left, as the ensuing chip shot back can prove a handful.
18th hole: 536m par 5
The grand finale of our course is a sprawling beast. The openness of the tee box belies the challenge ahead - undulating slopes along the fairways and a pair of steep bunkers guarding the left side towards the green. Hitting the green in two garners a standing ovation from the audience on our sun-drenched deck.
Safety Beach Golf Club
A challenging 5658m 18-hole par 72 course situated on Safety Beach Dr. The club is renowned for its resident kangaroo population.
Our clubhouse is open seven days a week with all the bells and whistles - bar service, poker machines, TAB betting, Keno, Foxtel and big screen TVs to watch golf, rugby league, racing etc. It has a big veranda looking towards the ninth green and practice green. There are practice nets on the way to the first tee and a driving range just beyond the 10th tee. We also have a barbecue for social events.
A fully stocked pro shop is run by our resident pro Terry Perfrement. Terry provides lessons for all age groups, bookings are available via the pro shop.
There are competitions run every day of the week with the main ones being ladies comp Tuesdays, and men’s Wednesdays and Saturdays.
5th hole: 283m par four
A straight and short hole - with a few nasty hazards. A dam in front of the ladies tee demands a carry of about 120m. A further 70 metres along is a huge fairway bunker which comes into play for the big hitters. The green is guarded on the left by a bunker and if a shot from that is too clean you’ll likely be swimming in the dam on the other side. There is another dam left of the bunker and the cart track, but this comes into play mostly for the big hitters if they go left. The green is long but narrow with undulations.
11th hole: 121m par 3
This green sits on the side of a hill. Cross a bridge to the blue and white markers where you are faced with a shot across a huge dam. The green is steeply tiered and there is not much room for error, particularly on the top tier. There are two bunkers below the green on the right if you’re short. If your shot is long when the flag is mid green then look forward to a very nasty downhill putt (don’t expect to stay on the green). There is an alternate tee box for this hole which approaches the green from the side - need to aim right if you want to stay on the green.
Grafton Golf Club
The course is set in stunning natural bushland with an abundance of wildlife. It proves a challenging layout to the true golfer, but is pleasantly gentle to the less experienced player. The course is undulating, offering 328 and couch greens, limited water, and a tight configuration. The clubhouse bar is open seven days a week and meals are available Tuesdays to Saturdays for lunch and dinner Wednesdays to Saturdays.
1st hole: 135m par 3
Our opening hole is a downhill par three from an elevated tee in front of the clubhouse veranda. Players will attempt to avoid the three greenside bunkers surrounding the generous sized putting surface. A picturesque starting hole with the right side lined by trees.
10th hole, 148m par 3
Grafton Golf Club’s newest par three is a majestic hole with a challenging sloping green. A large steep front bunker protects the green. The safe play is to aim right side of the green and work the contours.
Maclean Golf Club
The club is often referred to as the ‘Hidden Gem’ and is one of the Northern Rivers great country golf courses. We have a full 18 holes with great undulations, nestled in a scenic environment with plenty of wildlife and a challenging layout. There are clubhouse and bar facilities, as well as a bistro and fully stocked pro shop with resident PGA professional, Paul King.
13th hole: 468m par 5
From the tee you are confronted with heavy scrub on the left down a steep slope onto some flat ground where there is a dam on the left and large trees on the right. The second shot is blind over a rise with a slight dogleg to the right and a large tree encroaching on the right at the turn. The fairway here is well guarded on the right by shrubs and a copse of small trees while to the left is heavy bush and another dam. Here the fairway also has a right to left slope and shallow gully running across it to make a flat stance a rarity. In front of the green to the left is a large flat area but the right has a deep bunker and severe undulations. The left hand side of the rather long green has another dam covering its full length. The green itself has a back-to-front bias with enough ups and downs to keep you honest.
17th hole: 143m par 3
A picturesque killer of a hole. The golfer is faced with a full length water carry to a raised green with out of bounds to the left for the full distance. All sides of the green are steeply sloped with heavy grass cover. The putting surface has a swale running halfway across the green to the right (Death Valley), making for some difficult putts. To walk away with a par is a relief, to get the nearest the pin is massive.
Woodburn-Evans Head Golf Course
This is a friendly country course, which offers its fair share of challenges. The tree-lined fairways require good club selection from the tees to the greens.
With some interesting contours and roll-off areas, you’ll be tested on both approach play and putting shots.
Native wildlife provide another attractive feature of the course, with sightings of koalas and wallabies on a regular basis.
The licensed clubhouse is open seven days a week, and we welcome visitors to join us for a round in one of our regular competitions or for a social game.
Club Captain - John Robinson Jnr
7th hole: 328m par 4
A dogleg left that can be the beginning of a downfall for many, being the start of a tough run home to finish the front nine. The tee shot can be hard to judge - many players won’t need a driver here as either being too short or too long means your approach shot will be blocked by trees that overhang the fairway. If you’re lucky, a miss to the right from the tee can find you in a clearing with an open shot to the green. For those that find themselves obstructed by the trees on the approach shot, the mound to the right of the green can be strategically used to steer your ball onto the green. This green also showcases many changing gradients where you will rarely ever find yourself with a straight putt from any distance and more often than not having to deal with a bend in two or more directions.
10th hole: 439m par 5
It’s a shorter par five, but don‘t let that fool you. For those with a long and well placed drive on the right side of centre you might be enticed to take the risk of shooting over the water for the green on your second shot. For those playing the hole in regulation you need to pick the perfect distance to lay up on the fairway with your second shot. The green is surrounded on the left half by a large water hazard, and guarded on the right by narrow bunkers with a high lip which you definitely don’t want to find yourself playing out of. To round it out there is a two-tier green where you can be left with a long and challenging putt. If you can walk away from this hole with a par or better you should count yourself lucky.
Ballina Golf & Sports Club
The club is the leading Northern Rivers destination for all golfing enthusiasts who enjoy a golf course of championship standard. Our easy walking, tree-lined 18 hole course is nestled next to the stunning North Creek in East Ballina, with cooling ocean breezes that positively enhance your experience.
Our Club attracts quality golfing, social and community events and a place where our members are proud to host guests and visitors to the Ballina Shire.
With our modern clubhouse and Asian Green Restaurant, the club offers a warm and friendly atmosphere with all the facilities of a modern regional club.
Our pro shop is comprehensively stocked with clubs from leading golf manufacturers. We have a full range of hire equipment for both men and ladies, in left and right hand, hand buggies and a fleet of electric golf carts.
4th hole: 457m par 5
Our soon to be feature hole on the front-nine is our 4th, a strong par five for both men and women. Under construction, the Craig Parry designed green and surround will be protected by a water hazard short of the green, making it a true ‘three-shotter’ for most. From the men’s tees, a strong player will try and turn one around the sharp right-to-left dogleg. Anything past the large tuckeroo is in the go zone to carry the water for your second shot. The smart play is to get to the front of the water in two and play a short iron to the green. The exciting new green should be open to play this summer.
11th hole: 314m par 4
Our 11th is the signature hole of the course. Running along North Creek, the course slowly opens to views of the picturesque waterway. A short, well protected par four, this hole can treat a player to birdie or wreak havoc on your scorecard. A savvy golfer will lay up to the first of two fairway traps and have a shot from inside 150m to the green. The bold play is driver from the tee, hoping to avoid the second fairway trap and having a chip or a putt for your second shot.
Teven Golf Course
Teven has become the first and only nine-hole public access course in Golf Australia’s Top 100.
Recently rebuilt and redesigned, this boutique course is a must for golfers of all abilities. The course was designed to challenge but mostly to be a fun experience.
The first course in Australia to boast tee-to-green Sir Grange Zoysia, it offers an excellent playing surface and quick greens.
There is a fully stocked pro shop and newly built clubhouse which has a great view and offers light meals and local beers on tap. Booking essential 6687 8386.
2nd hole: 268m par four
Accuracy off the tee, with a long iron, is vital as a creek meanders along the length of the hole and cuts across and down the right hand side of the green. The green slopes towards the creek so a well placed tee shot gives you the best angle into the green.
9th hole: 151m par 3
Affectionately nicknamed The Scorpion, due to the sting in its tail, this challenging hole boasts the most hole-in-ones as well as the most strokes on the course. A precise tee shot won’t necessarily guarantee a good score as the green is extremely challenging.
More Coverage
Originally published as NSW North Coast’s signature golf holes - and how to play them
Woman’s despair after tobacconist firebombing destroys home
A woman living above a firebombed northern NSW tobacconist has been left devastated after the inferno ripped through her home, leaving her with “nothing but the clothes on her back”.
Farmer crash death accused to take Covid claim to trial
The trial of a North Coast man who has blamed a “Covid-induced blackout” for a horror crash which snatched the life of a much-loved local farmer is up in the air. Here’s the latest.