If it’s more temperate weather you’re seeking this winter, four courses in Queensland should be on your radar.
We will surprise precisely no one by suggesting that Queensland is the place to be as the colder weather sets in. Western Australia’s north or the Northern Territory will also warm your bones, but the golf options in those regions are a little light on for those eager to travel with clubs. So, by process of elimination, we present our Sunshine State to you this winter – a time when everything north of the Tweed River becomes the envy of all those based below it. Here is a golf option in Brisbane, two more on the Sunshine Coast and a left-field but lovely diversion a little further north.
Nudgee Golf Club
Few Queensland courses have ever experienced the physical transformation that befell Nudgee Golf Club. An extensive upgrade of the Gateway Motorway a dozen years ago consumed land containing seven holes of the existing 36-hole facility in Brisbane’s north-east. As compensation, the club received $20 million, part of which it used to redesign its two courses in a way that yielded land to accommodate the expanded motorway. James Wilcher was the architect called in for the job and the redesigned Kurrai and Bulka courses continue a tradition of respect for the land. The Bulka is shorter than Kurrai, but deliberately so to create a point of difference, although golfer traffic indicates little if any favouritism between the pair – even though the Kurrai has hosted the Queensland PGA Championship since 2022.
The land the two courses sits upon is almost entirely flat. It’s also an exposed site, prone to strong winds that whistle across the two layouts. Wilcher penned two courses that fit the landscape. He provided ample playing corridors in most instances and toughened the examination closer to the hole. As such, Nudgee has two distinctive features: undulating greens – some wildly – and flashed-up bunker lips, many of which disguise how much safety exists on the other side. nudgeegolf.com.au
Maroochy River Golf Club
Few places scream winter golf quite like the Sunshine Coast, and Maroochy River Golf Club is one of the region’s standout reasons to visit. Just minutes from beaches, cafés and holiday hotspots, the club pairs a superbly presented championship layout with some of the friendliest hospitality in Queensland golf. Designed to challenge better players without intimidating visitors, the course meanders across rolling terrain with wide fairways, strategic bunkering and excellent conditioning year-round. The expansive practice facilities make it an ideal stop for golfers looking to sharpen their game, while mini-golf and a relaxed clubhouse atmosphere ensure non-golfers and families are equally well catered for. If you’re plotting a warm-weather golf getaway before Christmas, Maroochy River deserves a place near the top of the list. maroochyrivergolfclub.com.au
Noosa Springs Golf & Spa Resort
The words ‘Sunshine Coast winter’ do not require much elaboration. While the southern states are reaching for extra layers, Noosa Springs is enjoying warm, settled days, low humidity and a golf course in immaculate condition. The Graham Papworth-designed layout winds through the terrain with a confidence that belies the layout’s setting. Elevation changes create drama and the finishing stretch along the water is among the most picturesque in Queensland resort golf. As a one-stop destination, Noosa Springs genuinely delivers: accommodation, a well-regarded restaurant, spa and play-and-stay packages to suit varying groups. Winter is also when availability opens up, making it easier to secure preferred tee-times without the high-season scramble. noosasprings.com.au
Tin Can Bay Country Club
If the thought of another grey morning has you reaching for the weather app, Tin Can Bay offers a compelling reason to point the car north. Nestled between the Fraser Coast and Rainbow Beach, this laid-back Queensland gem delivers exactly what a winter golf escape should: sunshine, sea breezes and an enjoyable round that never takes itself too seriously. The charming 18-hole layout weaves through natural bushland and is packed with character, none more memorable than the famous “footprint” green, complete with five toe-shaped bunkers. Beyond the fairways, the relaxed coastal town offers fishing, dolphin encounters and easy access to some of Queensland’s most beautiful waterways. And if one ball sport isn’t enough, the club’s popular barefoot bowls sessions provide the perfect post-round wind-down. tcbcc.com.au
Winter on the edge
If you want to change tack entirely and really embrace everything that’s exhilarating about the cooler months, head in the opposite direction. Tasmania in winter is a landscape of snow (in places) and frost, short days and brilliantly crisp weather. On King Island, however, you’ll get a milder but potentially wilder version of the Tassie winter.
Few golf courses in the world get out of the box as quickly and to such dizzying effect as Ocean Dunes, set on the eastern shore of King Island. The first four holes – beginning with a blind, risk-reward drive over a dune to a par 5 that rambles downhill – each play along Bass Strait with greens misted by waves crashing along the coastal rocks. The 10th and 11th holes also play above the ocean, and several others provide gorgeous panoramic views of the sea. Broad, upland, links-inspired holes provide delightful if heavily consequential strategic options, but the punishing roughs and intense gales make rounds here a measure of endurance as much as golf acumen. Nevertheless, this is one of the world’s most spectacular golf settings, now ranked inside the World’s 100 Greatest courses (outside America) by Golf Digest. Meanwhile, the now-available stay-and-play packages – Ocean Dunes’ on-site accommodation is set to open before the year is out – make it even more appealing. oceandunes.com.au
