Top 10 Golf Courses NSW - North Of Sydney
- Guest Writer
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 18
From secret billionaire playgrounds to rainforest-framed fairways, this stretch of coastline hides some of New South Wales most dramatic and character-filled golf experiences. Here's my Top 10 Golf Courses in NSW.
Golf Courses Hunter Valley NSW & Hunter
1. Ellerston – The Unicorn of Australian Golf
Built by Greg Norman for Kerry Packer, this is the most exclusive golf experience in the country. Hidden in the hills and accessible only by invitation—usually by helicopter—Ellerston is a surreal, private-world experience with 20 staff tending to just one group. For most golfers, playing here is less likely than a trip to Augusta.
2. The Vintage – Norman's Wine Country Masterpiece
Set in the heart of Hunter Valley wine country, The Vintage is classic Greg Norman: long, bold, and bunkered. With vineyard vistas and elevation changes, this layout is as much about setting as shotmaking.
3. Cypress Lakes – Golf Among the Grapes
Built by American architect Steve Smyers during a period of drought and difficulty, Cypress Lakes offers a true resort vibe with wine-country charm. From pond-crossing short par 4s to elevation-rich back nines, it's full of quirks and character.
4. Newcastle Golf Club – Grit and Greatness
Founded in 1905, Newcastle’s story is as much about resilience as it is about world-class design. Perched on coastal sand dunes with a design lineage tracing back to Eric Apperly and then later by Bob Harrison, it’s one of the few truly historic NSW layouts with soul and substance. It is one of Australia’s “Top 30” golf courses.
Newcastle Golf Club is set within a forest filled with eucalypts and angophoras, rich in native plants and wildlife. It is only a 15-minute drive from Newcastle CBD and the airport.
Find places to stay below for your next golfing trip
5. Pacific Dunes – From Sand Mine to Sanctuary
Once a sand mine, now a wetland wonder. James Wilcher’s transformation of this land into a nature-infused golf experience is a tale of redemption. Expect strategic play, standout par 3s, and water lurking around every corner.
Coff's Coast Golf Courses
6. Bonville – Australia’s Augusta
Towering gums. Rainforest silence. Fairways cut through cathedral-like woodland. Bonville’s setting is serene and cinematic. It’s not just called “Australia’s Augusta” for marketing—it earns the title with every tranquil, isolated swing.
Central Coast Golf Courses
7. Magenta Shores – Brutal Beauty by the Beach
Nestled between lake and ocean, this beast of a links-inspired course is a stern test—favoured by LPGA pros for its teeth. Built partly over reclaimed landfill and carved into coastal dunes, it offers raw challenge and reward in equal measure.
8. Kooindah Waters – Love It or Hate It
A flat wetland course with water everywhere and one famously divisive hole—the par-4 3rd with a tree smack in the landing zone. The railway-sleeper styling and bold design choices make this course one of Australia’s most talked-about.
Forster Tuncurry Golf Courses
9. Forster Tuncurry – Grit, History & Heart
A true community-built course with coastal grit, Forster Tuncurry combines history with raw regional charm. The Tuncurry course is a hidden gem on the Mid North Coast, with few players leaving untouched by its natural beauty. Designed by Kel Nagle and Mike Cooper, it was crafted from the seaside bushland in Northern Tuncurry by its members. The championship layout challenges golfers of all skill levels. Demanding from the tee, the rolling couch fairways and relatively flat putting surfaces reward players who drive the ball well. Over the years, the Banksia and Tea Tree rough have been thinned out by dedicated volunteers, making this great layout more user-friendly. The course excels at handling rain during extended wet periods; its sand base ensures perfect playing conditions even when nearby clubs are closed for days or weeks. It's a must-play if you're passing through the area.
Byron Bay Ballina Golf Courses
10. Teven Valley – The 9-Hole Knockout
The first 9-holer to crack Australia’s Top 100 Public Access list. Teven Valley stuns with rainforest surroundings, creek crossings, and perfect Zoysia turf. Designed by Craig Parry, it's short, scenic, and full of heart—just 30 minutes from Byron.
Although there are challenges, the course is designed to be enjoyable, providing a fun experience for players of any skill level. The layout facilitates a swift yet satisfying round, with each hole presenting unique challenges while preserving a general sense of enjoyment.
Article supplied by
Mark Hawley Managing Director and Founder Golf Golf Journeys
