This year’s rankings of Australia’s top golf courses have seen two ACT clubs make the top 100. Sport columnist SIMON ANDERSON shares which ones made the list.

EVERY week in Canberra thousands of golfers test themselves on the city’s courses, from scratch handicappers to the weekend warriors.

Recently though, it was the clubs themselves that were competing for a spot on the annual list of Australia’s top 100 courses.

The list, compiled by “Australian Golf Digest”, ranks hundreds of courses across the country on metrics including design, difficulty, memorability, aesthetics and ambience.

This year’s rankings have seen two of the ACT’s courses inside the Top 100: Royal Canberra, which dropped three spots at 28 and Federal which remained at 80.

“Australian Golf Digest’s” Top 100 editor Steve Keipert told “CityNews” the two Canberra courses have been mainstays in the rankings, and it was no surprise to see them both feature again.

“Royal Canberra has been the best course in the city for as long as I can remember,” Keipert said.

“After the renovations a few years ago it seems to be drawing more attention.

“Federal is an obvious number two and it has certainly made its presence felt on our list.

“The second half of our ranking can be quite volatile because the scores are so much tighter, but Federal is one that sits in the 80s almost every time. For four rankings in a row it has been in that bracket of 10, it is a really steady performer.”

The recognition means a lot to the clubs, especially those towards the top of the rankings who have reciprocal membership arrangements in place with other clubs interstate that also rank highly in the yearly poll.

For Royal Canberra’s director of golf Steven Sandilands, it is a nice acknowledgement for the work he and his team put in every day at the club.

“We were delighted to once again be named in the top echelon of Australian Golf Courses,” said Sandilands.

“The club is coming up to its centenary year celebration in 2026 and it is one of our aims to be considered one of the country’s finest courses for years to come.

“Our goal is to continue to provide world-class facilities that foster and encourage a great golfing experience for our members and their guests, and we have our ‘Centenary’ strategic plan in place, which provides a clear vision of the future and prioritises the allocation of resources to major projects.”

Both Federal and Royal Canberra have been regulars on the list for years –  Royal had a highest ranking of 5 in 1991 and Federal reached 36 in 1989 –  but no third ACT course has cracked the Top 100 for years.

Keipert believes there are a couple of local courses that are well placed to make a charge in the near future.

“It is so much more competitive than ever before between the new courses being built and old classics being renovated,” said Keipert.

“I would say for Canberra, Yowani is probably the one that has been most likely – it last made the top 100 in 2004.

“I also keep hearing people talk about Queanbeyan. It is one that has been a tournament venue for the ladies tour.

“Gold Creek is another one, but in terms of the scores we get through from our panel, they are on the outside looking in – it is a two-horse race for Canberra currently.”

Despite the challenges over the past few years for many sectors, golf has thrived during covid. 

As Keipert has heard across the board while compiling the list, clubs have seen an uptick in playing numbers and memberships.

“It doesn’t matter whether I have spoken to course superintendents, general managers or club pros, they all say the same thing: the course has never been busier,” said Keipert.
“I have heard stories of clubs turning away prospective members because they didn’t think they could fit them in, and didn’t think it was fair to bring them in because the existing members were playing so much.”

It is a trend that Sandilands has seen at Royal Canberra, which did have a period towards the back end of last year where no golfers were permitted on the course.

“Covid was obviously challenging for the industry in general,” said Sandilands.

“That being said, we have seen a surge in demand which has resulted in strong membership growth. 

“Canberra went through lockdowns predominantly unscathed until the final lockdown in 2021.

“We ended up being closed for six weeks, which allowed us to complete course renovations and a major clubhouse renovation.”