Discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770, New South Wales lies to the south east of Australia and it’s the most populous state in the country with around seven and a half million inhabitants. In a sports-mad nation, New South Welshmen (of both sexes) love their National Rugby League, Australian Rules football and cricket. And, of course, who could ever forget the fantastic summer Olympic Games that Sydney hosted in 2000?

Amateur golf in the state is administered by GolfNSW, a governing body formed in 2010 by the amalgamation of the NSW Golf Association and Women’s Golf NSW. Over 350 clubs are divided into three metropolitan zones around Sydney with 20 outlying districts for men and 13 districts for ladies. There are also two offshore clubs affiliated from Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.

New South Wales golfers are fortunate to have a number of fine old courses on their doorstep, some of which – like the Australian and Royal Sydney – have been in existence for more than a hundred years. Another two older layouts that first opened for business in 1928, New South Wales and Lakes, are also much admired and cherished. Amongst the more recent courses unveiled in the state, Graham Marsh’s Terrey Hills and Ross Watson’s Magenta Shores have received plenty of plaudits.

Our New South Wales Best In State Rankings were last updated in February 2021. Click the link to read the story.