How to gain access to Qld’s most elite golf clubs
Queensland is home to some of Australia’s most elite golf clubs. This is how much you’ll need to pay and the strict rules you need to follow in order to become a member.
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Queensland is home to some of the nation’s most exclusive golf clubs, where high-profile clientele, such as sporting icon Ash Barty, enjoy a day on the green.
Although, if you’re not an Australian sporting champion, it can be a bit more difficult to gain access to these exclusive clubs because of long waiting lists, expensive fees and strict rules.
Obtaining membership can often be a lengthy process, with other members having to vouch for your character and you’ll often have to have multiple meetings with club managers to ensure you align with their current clientele.
So take a look at what the requirements are to join some of our most elite clubs.
BRISBANE CLUBS
Royal Queensland Golf Club
The Royal Queensland Golf Club was formed by a group of Brisbane golfers in 1920 who laid out the course on the banks of the Brisbane River.
The club plays a big part in Queensland’s golfing history after it was granted a Royal Charter in 1921 by King George V and hosted three Australian Opens in 1947, 1966 and 1973.
After the state government’s decision to build a second Gateway Bridge over the famous course, construction began on a new championship course which was completed in 2007.
The Royal Queensland is currently ranked 29th in Australia by Golf Digest. It was previously ranked at No. 35, but moved up the list after the course was reconfigured by former golf pro turned course architect Mike Clayton.
The club has also been given the honour of playing host the golf competitions during the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Membership
There has been a waiting list for new male members at the Royal Queensland Golf Club since 2019 but there are limited membership opportunities for women and juniors.
It has one of the most expensive memberships in the state, with full membership costing a hefty $18,000.
Aspiring members must also undergo a lengthy application process, with applicants first proving they are of “good character and repute”, 18 years or older, an active golfer and “likely to be compatible with existing members of the club”.
The applicant must also provide three references to prove all of this, two of which have to have been members of the Royal Queensland for a minimum of two years.
After the nomination is complete the nominee is required to pay a non-refundable fee of $1000 and then your name finally goes on the wait list.
But the process doesn’t stop there.
The nominee then has to attend a meeting with a club representative and their first and second referees. This is so the representative can get a chance to meet the nominee and also answer any questions they may have.
Once interviewed, the candidate’s name and address will be placed on the club’s noticeboard for two weeks before an election is held by all members of the club on whether the candidate should be accepted.
Once the vote is done, the application is once again reviewed by the board and if approval is given, the candidate can finally fork over the membership fees, consisting of a $13,000 entrance fee and a $5,035 annual fee.
New members must then attend an induction to teach them the “structure and ethos of the club”, according to the golf club’s website, and after all that, they finally have full access to the Royal Queensland.
Dress Code
Dress code is strict with all members and guests asked to dress in a way that is in “keeping with the character of Royal Queensland Golf Club”, according to its website.
Shirts must have a collar and white socks are compulsory, with the only exception being club-branded black socks. If you are going to wear long socks they must be pulled up.
Men must wear tailored shorts or pants with a belt and shirts must be tucked in.
For the ladies, shirts can be untucked but they can be no longer than hip length, otherwise they must be tucked into your tailored shorts or trousers.
Clothing items that are not permitted at any time include hooded clothing, denim of any colour, faded clothing or cargo pants.
Brisbane Golf Club
The Brisbane golf club was founded in 1896, with the original Yeerongpilly course designed by three-time Australian open champion Carnegie Clark.
The club hosted the first Queensland Open and Amateur Championships and has hosted the Isuzu Queensland Open a record 21 times.
Throughout its 125 year history the club has survived multiple disasters with the most recent in December when a fire destroyed the golf shop.
Luckily, the heritage-listed clubhouse was able to be saved.
The golf club is currently ranked 87th among Australia’s top golf courses, according to Australian Golf Digest, and 15th in Queensland.
Members at this prestigious club have access to a 270m driving range to practice their swing and an 18-hole golf course.
Membership
The Brisbane Golf club is another elite golf club that carries a hefty price tag with full-time members required to pay a membership fee of over $4000 and an entrance fee of $9000.
To apply you must ensure you have a primary and secondary referee that have been members of the club for more than 12 months to vouch for your good character.
Members are also required to pay for trophies for mens’ competitions on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with a minimum value of $50-$100.
Trophies also need to be donated for honour board events, with a minimum value of $200.
Donations for the ladies’ competitions are also encouraged.
If your looking for a casual game on the green prices vary depending on locality.
International visitors will have to pay $300 while an interstate visitor will pay $250.
If you are a current member’s guest the cost is significantly lowered, with 18 holes costing $90 and 9 holes costing $55.
Dress Code and Etiquette
The dress code must be strictly followed with all members and guests expected to look clean, neat and tidy.
Men must wear a collared shirt that’s tucked in with a belt. If they are wearing shorts then their socks must be visible.
Unacceptable attire includes blue denim, pants with a drawstring or elastic waist, baggy or below knee-length shorts, active wear, singlets, tank-tops or T-shirts, garments displaying advertising or slogans.
Shoes such as rubber thongs, slides, clogs, flip flops, sandals or running shoes are not permitted at any time.
The club encourages any members or guests to challenge anyone they believe not to be following the dress code.
The etiquette information sheet provided on their website states that players should stay after their round of golf for a drink at the clubhouse. If you can’t stick around afterwards then you must ensure that you mention it to your playing partners before the round commences.
Brookwater Golf and Country Club
While Brookwater Golf Club is one of the newest additions to Queensland golf courses, what it lacks in history it makes up for in style.
The course, which has been described as an 18-hole masterpiece, is the work of Australian champion golfer Greg Norman.
Brookwater is considered one of his best-designed courses in Queensland with the origin of its layout becoming somewhat of a legend.
Norman is said to have designed the course in classic Australian style - while eating a meat pie as he sat on a tree stump, after he refused the impressive spread of food put on for him by the local Springfield Land Corporation.
Brookwater is also the place where Australian sporting icon Ash Barty met her now husband Garry Kissick - a professional golfer - as well as where she won her first local ladies’ championship, two weeks after announcing her retirement from tennis.
Brookwater is ranked 34th in Golf Digest’s Top 100 Australian golf courses, and No 1 in Queensland by Top 100 Golf Courses.
Membership
There are plenty of membership options available, with prices differing based on locality, age and skill level.
If you’re a resident then you’re in luck as the joining fee is waived for 7-day memberships, with an annual fee of over $4400.
Unfortunately nonresidents will be hit with a joining fee of nearly $2500 and an annual cost of nearly $5000.
Joining fees are required to be paid upfront where possible, with the availability to pay annual fees over 10 monthly direct debits.
Forms can be filled out online with different options for age groups and access times.
For a casual game on the green, guests are able to play 18 holes for $112.50 or nine holes for $72 on weekdays.
Dress Code
Guests and members are asked to always look neat and tidy.
Unacceptable golf wear for ladies includes tracksuits, rugby jumpers, thongs, swimming or gym attire, T-shirts with loud offensive branding, hats or caps and bare midriffs.
Men are prohibited to wear tracksuits, drawstring shorts, football or rugby jumpers, T-shirts with loud or offensive brandings, singlets, thongs, swimming or gym attire and hats or caps.
Indooroopilly Golf Club
The Indooroopilly golf course is tucked into a corner of the Brisbane river and features 36 holes of championship course.
This course has been a staple in the area since the 1920s and offers a public east course and members-only west course.
Players can interchange each of the four nines to provide six different 18-hole configurations, with their west course being ranked No. 95 by Australia Golf in 2022.
The west course was redesigned by architect Ross Watson between 2006 to 2011
Due to recent member demand there are currently no public tee times available for the “foreseeable future”, according to the club’s website.
Indooroopilly (west) missed out on a Top 100 spot for 2023 in Australian Golf Digest but was named in the 25 ‘fringe-dweller’ courses to keep an eye out for in 2024.
Membership
There are several membership options that vary in golf and clubhouse access for all ages.
A full membership includes seven-day playing rights, access to competitions every day of the week, access to the full-length driving range, putting and chipping greens as well as two on-course practice areas.
These members also get discounts on motorised carts, at the golf shop and the on-site restaurant and bar.
The Entrance fee currently sits at $11,000 with a $4460 annual subscription fee.
For the restricted six-day membership the entrance fee is the same with a $3700 annual subscription fee.
Currently all membership options are either at capacity or have a waitlist in place.
Dress Code
The dress code is strict and detailed.
For men, shirts must be collared, have sleeves and be clean. Turtleneck or mock turtle necks are permitted.
Tailored pants or shorts must be neat and clean and worn with a belt. No pants or shorts with a drawstring or elastic top, or any denim of any kind can be worn.
Mens shoes must be clean, fully enclosed and worn with socks. No metal spikes are permitted.
Ladies can turn to the club’s golf shop as a guide to what is appropriate or not.
Enclosed shoes must be worn with socks and no pants or shorts with a drawstring or elastic top can be worn. Denim is not permitted at any time.
All logos and brand names on clothes must be discreet.
A slight easing of rules is permitted in the bar as shirts can be untucked, shoes can be worn without socks and neat and tidy denim can be worn.
Clothing or footwear that could be seen as gym wear or beach wear is not permitted at any times including T-shirts, dirty or torn clothes, work boots or thongs.
NORTH QUEENSLAND CLUBS
Hamilton Island
The Hamilton Island Golf Course is easily one of the best in Queensland, boasting picturesque views and the only course in the country located on its own island.
The golf club is not located on Hamilton Island, as the name would have you assume, but is rather on the nearby Dent Island.
Australian golfing champion Peter Thomson designed this course and during its creation an onsite workforce was established, hosting up to 65 personnel on the island.
Heavy machinery such as bulldozers and trucks had to be transported to the island on a barge during high tide as course engineers battled the rugged terrain and seasonal north Queensland weather.
While it is suitable to all levels of golfers it is characterised as a challenging course with 18 holes that take golfers through the island’s natural, mountainous landscape.
Golfers will typically arrive on Dent island via a ferry from Hamilton Island and spend three to five hours on the course.
Hamilton Island golf course is currently ranked 33rd in the country by Australian Golf Digest.
Membership
Due to the nature of the course memberships aren’t available but golf group rates and green fees are available to grant you access to the elite course.
18-holes will set you back $215 while 9-holes is $155.
Club hire is $65 per person and shoe hire is $20 per person.
If you are travelling in a group of 10 or more friends, discounted accommodation and green fees are available.
The more rounds the group intends to play the cheaper each round gets, for example if a group plans on playing 61 rounds or more of golf then the 9-hole course is $94.50 per person or 18-holes for $136.50 with shared golf buggy and return ferry trips included.
Food and beverages can also be organised at the Dent Island golf club.
Dress Code
The club’s website says men must wear a collared shirt and enclosed shoes while no denim, swimwear or rubber thongs are to be worn on the course.
No dress regulations for women are specified.
GOLD COAST CLUBS
Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club
Sanctuary Cove is split into two 18-hole golf courses – the public Palms and the private Pines.
The Pines was designed by Arnold Palmer, an American professional golfer who was named “Athlete of the decade” in the 1960s and amassed an impressive 92 championships at a national and international level.
Palmer designed more than 300 golf courses around the world but the Pines is considered his Australian signature course.
The course recently underwent a $5 million transformation to restore its greens and teeing grounds and install new irrigation infrastructure and target greens.
The public Palms course reopened in 2011 after an $8.8 million redesign by architect Ross Watson who dubbed it the thinking man’s course on the Sanctuary Cove Golf website.
“The Palms is unique because of its rustic bunker style and unique layout. The Palms is deliberately shorter and requires the player to think more about where the pin is and where they need to be aiming,” Mr Watson said.
Membership
There are five different membership options that offer different access to the golf courses, country club, clubhouse and social events.
The Equity membership allows you access to both golf courses, the private golf club house, the country club and exclusive invitations to private club events. It will set you back over $6500 annually.
Non-members can book online to play on The Palms course while guests of the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort have access to both The Palms and Pines course.
Dress Code
Sanctuary Code offers a visual PDF to ensure dress code is followed and members and guests are dressed suitably.
For women suitable clothing consists of tailored pants, shorts, skirts or three-quarter length pants. Ensure that any shorts or skirts are of a modest length, but shorts are not to be worn inside the clubhouse after 6pm.
Collared or turtleneck shirts are allowed as well as skivvies but they must be specifically designed for golf.
Golf shoes with soft spikes are permitted alongside running shoes, dress sandals are allowed in the clubhouse only.
In a progressive golf rule, socks of any colour, style or length are allowed.
Mens suitable attire is mostly the same but jeans or denim are allowed in the clubhouse.
Clothing that is forbidden includes sports jerseys, sandals or rubber thongs, denim shorts, tracksuits, running shorts, cut-off or ripped jeans, singlets, cargo pants and printed T-shirts.
RACV Royal Pines and Resort Golf Course
The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria owns resorts in both Queensland and Victoria, with the Royal Pines being one of five different golf courses across their establishments.
The Resort was originally established in the 1980s with the 27-hole course designed by Japanese architect Tomojiro Maruyama.
The course first hosted the ANZ ladies masters two years after opening and has now become the home of the event.
After course additions in 1996 and 2004 the club is now home to three different courses – Gold, Green and Blue.
Membership
Membership options at the Royal Pines include a seven-day membership costing just shy of $4000 a year and a junior option from $629 per year. All membership include the use of a motorised cart.
To apply for a membership you must send an email to the resort to receive the application.
Non-members will be charged a green fee of $125 for 18-holes on the green or gold course or $105 for the blue course.
Dress Code
Royal Pines has a similar dress code to other Queensland clubs, with a collared shirt compulsory alongside shoes and neat casual attire.
Lakelands Golf Club
Lakelands Golf Course is located right near the heart of the Gold Coast, utilising surrounding bushland and water obstacles.
The course is labelled as golf champion Jack Nicklaus’s first signature Australian design after it took him 25 years to find the perfect location.
It is said to be one of the best maintained courses in Australia and is ranked 70th by Golf Digest after losing its previous rank of 66th.
Membership
Lakelands advertises their memberships as “the best serving the best” on their website and provides multiple different packages.
A seven-day membership is available with limited positions, while five-day membership currently has a waitlist.
For membership prices people will need to contact the Golf Club.
Green fees for the public are $120 per person on weekdays and $125 per person on weekends.
The club also offers prepaid access passes and corporate memberships.
Dress Code
On the Lakelands website they outline the appropriate dress as “neat” with strictly no denim or cargo pants permitted while collared shirts and enclosed footwear is a must on the course.
Links Hope Island
Links Hope Island is an 18-hole course connected to a residential resort 45 minutes from Brisbane Airport and 45 minutes from Coolangatta Airport.
The course first opened in 1994 and debuted in the No 8 spot for the best golf courses in Australia list by Golf Digest.
Today it ranks in the 50th position and is characterised as a nod to old-fashioned British golf by its designer, Australian golf champion Peter Thomson.
Alongside its champion course, Links also takes a focus on wellbeing with its day spa, yoga classes, luxurious event spaces and restaurants and bars.
Membership
Four golf memberships are available, including a seven day, midweek, next generation (ages from 18 to 24 and 25 to 29) and a junior membership.
All members gain additional benefits such as discounts on food and beverages when dining, select ticketed events, beauty treatments, green fees and range balls and room hire.
A social membership is also available which provides members with discounts on resort facilities and green fees during the height of Hope Island Resorts social calendar.
The full cost of the memberships is only available if you contact the golf club directly.
Dresscode
The dress code and etiquette for Links Hope Island is fairly strict on-and-off the course.
In terms of dress code, men must wear a collared shirt, full buttoned shirt or mock turtle golf shirt with tailored pants or shorts.
Ankle or full-length socks must be worn with golf shoes or flat soled sports shoes. Metal spikes are forbidden.
For women, tailored shorts, pants or skirts should be worn and must be of an appropriate length.
T-shirts, tracksuits, jeans, board shorts or swimming costumes are not permitted on the course at any time.
Due to the nature of the clubhouse a minimum standard of neat clean casual attire is required, but attire that is for the purpose of the day spa or yoga classes is permitted.
Etiquette on the course includes a one-practice-swing limit, briskly walking between shots and walking directly to your ball first unless you reach someone else’s ball first.
The Glades Golf Club
The Glades Golf and Spa first opened in 2000 bringing innovation and a massive transformation to the Gold Coast.
The course is a Greg Norman-design and features a unique putting surface of creeping bent grass, which grows better in warm climates than the traditional Bermuda common grass.
The course lies between Robina and Mudgeeraba and features a wildlife sanctuary.
The course spans over 64ha of land and is 7264m in length, with almost 100 bunkers.
Membership
The Glades offers a seven and five-day membership, which waive green fees, gives access to members-only tee times, a world handicap and a club rewards program.
Pricing is only provided to prospective members.
Dress code
On the website the club states it maintains “a strict standard of dress.”
Men must wear a collared shirt with tailored pants or shorts with golf or sports shoes.
Women can wear any current golfing fashion that is deemed acceptable.
Metal spikes and denim are forbidden to be worn on the course.
SUNSHINE COAST CLUBS
Noosa Springs Golf Club
The Noosa Springs golf course was one of Graham Papworth’s first major designs and is known as one of the more challenging courses in Queensland.
Gaining its name from the freshwater springs that surround the area, players have to bear in mind the large number of water obstacles when navigating the course.
The club is characterised by a 6189m par-72 championship course, a grass tee driving range, on-site spa, accommodation, restaurant and fitness centre.
The spa is inspired by Roman baths and provides treatments such as hydro massage, flotation pools, infra-red sauna, steam room, blitz shower and thermal capsule.
Membership
A full membership allows customers to invite up to three guests at a discounted rate, and waves any green fees.
Members can also enjoy discounts on range balls, food and beverages, golf shop merchandise, spa treatments and are given access to the fitness centre, tennis courts and a heated swimming pool.
For membership prices or applications customers will have to email or call the resort.
To play, guests are able to pay $135 for 18 holes or $75 for 9 holes, which includes the use of a motorised cart, with equipment hire available.
Dress Code
When using the course and practice facilities, men must wear a collared shirt with tailored shorts and trousers and women must wear a golf shirt with pants, skirt or a golf dress.
T-shirts, singlets, gym wear, beach wear, football jerseys, denim, cargo pants or high visibility workwear are not allowed on the course or practice facilities.
This goes for any unsuitable footwear as well such as thongs, crocs, sandals or bare feet.
Twin Waters Golf Club
The Twins Waters Golf club is a resort-style course with water and sand bunkers littering the fairways.
It was designed by Peter Thomson and upgraded in 2005 by Dr Tsutomu Yamaji to give the 18-hole course a much needed facelift.
The course is now rated 16th in Queensland and 99th in Australia, according to Top 100 Golf Courses.
Membership
Twin Waters membership comes with a $5000 joining fee and a cost of $3350 for a full-time membership.
There is also a $424 food and beverage levy and a golf union fee of $90 that stacks on top as well.
Members will receive discounts on golf carts, food and beverages and practice range balls.
They also get complimentary tennis court hire and green fees.
Although full-time memberships come with a large cost, members will still be required to pay the $12 competition fees and for locker and club storage.
To play a one-off casual game will cost $100 for an 18-hole game or $65 for 9 holes.
Dress Code
In the membership terms and conditions Twin Waters states that members and guests using the club’s facilities are required to be neat and tidy in smart casual attire with enclosed footwear.
It also specifies that “as a matter of custom and good taste, gentlemen do not remove shirts on the golf course or tennis courts.”
No short shorts, tank tops, jeans, tennis shorts or swimwear are allowed on the golf course and each player must have a full set of golf clubs.
Palmer Coolum Golf Course
The Palmer Coolum Golf Course is located between Maroochydore and Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.
It first opened in 1988 and is one of five designs by American course architect Robert Trent Jones Jnr.
Many national and international golf champions have undertaken the stunning course, including Bubba Watson, Adam Scott, Y.E. Yang, Greg Norman and Darren Clarke.
Since 2002 the course has hosted the Australian PGA Championship and is ranked 97th in the county by Australian Golf Digest.
Owned by the Australian billionaire Clive Palmer, it is currently undergoing a $100 million refurbishment that has been rife with controversy over construction worker lockout.
Membership
While there are no membership options available on their website, green fees are listed for individuals, groups and juniors.
It costs $105 per person for 18-hole play and $60 per person for 9-hole play with no inclusion of a shared golf club - that costs $26-$30 extra.
Dress Code
All shirts must be collared for men, while sleeveless collared shirts are acceptable for women only. Football or Rugby jerseys are not permitted.
Shorts must be recognisable tailored golf shorts and trousers must be tailored and are not to be tucked into socks.
All types of denim are not allowed on the course; shorts cannot have exterior pockets, drawstrings or an elastic waistband; and no swimwear is allowed.
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