New South Wales Golf Club: Fourth Leg of Dr. MacKenzie's Grand Slam

New South Wales Golf Club: Australia's Cliffside Masterpiece

Dr. Alister MacKenzie was a civilian surgeon in the British military before turning to golf course architecture. He designed around 50 courses world-wide, with three immediately recognizable to most avid players: Augusta National, Cypress Point, and Royal Melbourne. A strong case can be made that the good doctor's 1928-vintage New South Wales Golf Club rounds out the top four of his legacy courses.

New South Wales Golf Club - established in 1928

Currently ranked by GOLF Magazine as the 46th-best course in the world, the 6,380-yard layout (from the member tees) climbs and tumbles along the cliffs of the national park area at La Perouse, just outside Sydney, overlooking historical Botany Bay. In 2024, the legacy firm of MacKenzie and Ebert rebuilt and redesigned every green and revetted most of the bunkers, bolstering the classic design to withstand modern equipment and play.

The originally small, mostly elevated table-top putting surfaces were enlarged considerably, reshaped to add variety, and leveled somewhat to keep shots from rolling back off down the fairways. About two years ago, all the greens were resodded with triple bentgrass, and they opened about a year ago.

One of New South Wales GC's recently revetted bunkers, Hole 3

New South Wales GC is a private course, but it does allow limited public play - for a price. Greens fees for guests from abroad are $850 AUS. For Australians from outside New South Wales, the cost is $450 AUS. Residents of NSW are restricted from play unless accompanied by a member.

Considering the cost, the restrictions, and the distance many golfers travel to get "Down Under," the obvious question becomes: Is New South Wales Golf Club worth it?

"This Is The Number One Course I've Ever Played."

The day I visited New South Wales GC, it was blustery, rainy, and cool from the opening tee shot. I had forgotten my rain gear and was armed only with a golf polo, shorts, and a rented set of excellent Callaway clubs. I was paired with Charlie and Erika from New York City, who had come to Australia to visit friends and play nearly 10 courses throughout the country.

After the clouds finally parted around the 9th hole, Charlie shared that he had played Augusta National five times, Pebble Beach multiple times, and several other legendary venues. Standing on the 16th hole overlooking the ocean, he simply said:

"This is the number one course I've ever played."

High praise indeed.

Another spectacular view from the 16th green at New South Wales GC

Playing New South Wales Golf Club

What makes golfers gush about New South Wales GC? First and foremost, it is the raw natural beauty of the property itself. The course occupies protected national parkland leased originally for 100 years for just $1. Thankfully, the lease has since been renewed in preparation for the club's 100th anniversary in 2028.

There are no houses. No intrusive development. Just golf routed through rugged Australian coastline.

The pro shop staff offered one particularly memorable piece of advice before the round:

"Keep the ball in play off the tee."

That sounds simple enough until you realize the course contains multiple blind tee shots, awkward angles, ocean winds, and fairways framed by thick native bushland. Wander too far offline and you may not want to go searching for your golf ball - Australia's deadly snakes are reason enough to simply drop another and move on.

Looking across the rolling terrain and rugged coastline of New South Wales GC

According to Director of Golf Craig Stickling, "Every day here plays differently because of the wind." The routing ensures every player will eventually face difficult crosswinds, awkward approaches, and constantly changing conditions.

Even with a detailed course guide in hand, standing on several tees - particularly Holes 3 and 7 - can feel intimidating when the landing areas are partially or completely hidden from view.

Yet that mystery is precisely part of the charm.

The dramatic coastline surrounding New South Wales GC's unforgettable seaside holes

The ocean stretch on both the front and back nine provides some of the most memorable golf in Australia. The par-5 5th tumbles downhill into a valley before climbing sharply back upward to a blind second shot. Cresting the rise reveals one of the great reveals in golf - endless ocean views crashing against the cliffs beyond the green.

Moments later comes the famed par-3 6th Hole, where the tee shot carries over rocky shoreline and ocean water toward a shallow green guarded by deep bunkers.

The "signature" par-3 6th Hole - short, stunning, and absolutely terrifying in the wind

The back nine continues the assault. The short par-4 14th tempts aggressive players to challenge the coastline while the brutally difficult 15th begins with another blind drive into a saddleback fairway.

Perhaps the most breathtaking moment on the property, however, arrives at the 16th green - perched dramatically beside the ocean after a punishing uphill approach. It was here where Charlie turned and declared New South Wales Golf Club the best course he had ever played.

New South Wales GC, Hole 13

New South Wales Golf Club - The Verdict

Australia is a long journey for most golfers, but if Sydney is on your travel list, New South Wales Golf Club is absolutely worth prioritizing. The greens fees are expensive, but opportunities to play one of the world's top-ranked golf courses are rare.

The 2009 Australian Open was contested here and won by Adam Scott. While the course itself is fully capable of hosting major championships annually, the practice facilities are reportedly too limited for modern professional tournament requirements.

Beyond golf, Sydney itself is one of the world's great cities - packed with history, phenomenal seafood, exceptional wine, and iconic scenery. A harbor cruise past the Sydney Opera House is highly recommended, as are day trips into the Blue Mountains and Jervis Bay National Park.

Even with the recent architectural updates, New South Wales Golf Club still feels timeless. The winds, cliffs, crashing waves, and strategic brilliance of MacKenzie's design combine to create one of golf's truly unforgettable experiences.

If traversing the globe for golf sits on your bucket list, New South Wales Golf Club deserves a place near the very top.

The author on the first tee at New South Wales Golf Club - already soaked and shivering