Image: Royal Adelaide Golf Club
South Australia is continuing to make a name for itself among Australia’s golfing elite, with seven local courses named in Australian Golf Digest’s highly anticipated 2026 Top 100 Golf Courses ranking.
In a list compiled from 7,899 course evaluations submitted by 271 judges across more than 800 courses nationwide, South Australia has delivered another standout performance.
South Australia’s best course is the Royal Adelaide Golf Club, which remains the state’s highest-ranked course, coming in tenth nationally. Kooyonga Golf Club follows it at 21st, Glenelg Golf Club at 29th, and both championship layouts at The Grange Golf Club, with the West course at 49th and the East at 58th.
Further down the rankings, Links Lady Bay Golf Course (69th) and Mount Compass Golf Course (79th) continue to showcase the state’s remarkable golfing scene.
While Victoria dominates the list, South Australia consistently punches above its weight. The state’s top five courses are widely respected throughout the global golf community for their design, conditioning, and tournament pedigree.
Kooyonga, in particular, has enjoyed a huge 12 months. Its recent hosting of the Women’s Australian Open showcased Adelaide to an international audience, and with Kooyonga set to host LIV Golf when it returns to Adelaide in 2027, South Australia’s presence on the global golf calendar has never been stronger.
This year’s rankings were especially competitive, with five renowned courses from around Australia returning to the Top 100 following major renovations, making every position even harder to secure. That makes South Australia’s strong showing all the more impressive.
Golf across the state is more popular than ever. Participation continues to grow, tourism is booming, and Adelaide’s unique blend of championship golf, premium food and wine, and easy accessibility is resonating with interstate and international visitors alike.
Rather than competing on sheer volume, South Australia is continuing to excel through authenticity, heritage, and world-class experiences. From the Sandbelt-style brilliance of Adelaide’s metropolitan courses to the dramatic coastal settings of Fleurieu Peninsula spots, the state offers an enviable golfing portfolio.
So as Australia’s golf landscape continues to evolve, South Australia’s top courses remain firmly among the nation’s elite, setting the standard for excellence both on and off the fairway.
Australia’s Top 100 Golf Courses
- Royal Melbourne (West)
- Kingston Heath
- Cape Wickham
- New South Wales
- Peninsula Kingswood (North)
- Barnbougle Dunes
- Victoria
- Barnbougle Lost Farm
- Royal Melbourne (East)
- Royal Adelaide
- 7 Mile Beach
- The National (Moonah)
- Metropolitan
- Cathedral
- Peninsula Kingswood (South)
- The National (Gunnamatta)
- Ocean Dunes
- Huntingdale
- Royal Sydney (Bay)
- The National (Old)
- Kooyonga
- Lake Karrinyup
- The Lakes
- Commonwealth
- The Australian
- The Dunes
- St Andrews Beach
- Yarra Yarra
- Glenelg
- Joondalup (Quarry/Dune)
- Barwon Heads
- Woodlands
- Royal Canberra (Westbourne)
- Magenta Shores
- Royal Queensland
- Bonville
- Mount Lawley
- Hamilton Island
- 13th Beach (Beach)
- Links Kennedy Bay
- Lonsdale Links
- The Cut
- Brookwater
- Sanctuary Cove (Pines)
- Bonnie Doon
- Elanora
- The Grand
- Port Fairy
- Grange (West)
- Moonah Links (Legends)
- Terrey Hills
- Portsea
- St Michael’s
- Spring Valley
- Moonah Links (Open)
- Concord
- Rosebud (North)
- Grange (East)
- Links Golf & Wellbeing
- The Vintage
- Sorrento
- Cottesloe
- Sandy Links
- Kalgoorlie
- The Western Australian
- Avondale
- Bougle Run
- RACV Cape Schanck
- Links Lady Bay
- The Heritage (Henley)
- Curlewis
- Meadow Springs
- 13th Beach (Creek)
- The Heritage (St John)
- Palmer Coolum Resort
- Narooma
- Pelican Waters
- Brisbane
- Mount Compass
- Sanctuary Lakes
- Sanctuary Cove (Palms)
- Glades
- Federal
- Killara
- Castle Hill
- Lakelands
- Black Bull
- Riversdale
- Pacific Harbour
- Monash
- Stonecutters Ridge
- Settlers Run
- Indooroopilly (West)
- Maroochy River
- Murray Downs
- Warrnambool
- Noosa Springs
- Mollymook (Hilltop)
- Eastern (South)
- Tasmania
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