Coffs Harbour (The Lakes) - New South Wales - Australia

The 27-hole complex at Coffs Harbour Golf Club has all the trappings of an up-to-date modern golf facility so it’s hard to imagine it stated out as far back as 1940 with a basic 9-hole course designed by three-time Australian Open winner Carnegie Clark.

Coffs Harbour lies in the shadow of nearby Bonville International, which lies 11½ kilometres to the south via the Pacific Highway, but golfing visitors to the area would be making a big mistake if they only played the nationally-ranked near neighbour and missed out on here.

The three 18-hole courses are configured as follows: “The Lakes” comprises holes 1-9 then 10-18, “East Lakes” consists of holes 10-18 then 19-27, with “West Lakes” incorporating holes 19-27 then 1-9. All the opening holes pose interesting questions to start the round and the finishing holes are just as challenging.

Highlight holes on The Lakes include the two par threes on the front nine, at the 138-metre 3rd and 151-metre 6th, where small ponds protect the front left of both greens. On the back nine, the short par four 16th is a tough nut to crack, with the approach shot forced to carry water to the front right of a sand-protected green.