For the the tenth consecutive year The Golf Course Guide has presented a list ranking Australia’s best Public Access courses. The Guide was the first to use this term to encompass both public courses and those private clubs that provide access to green fee players. They were also the first Australian publication to adopt a numerical and statistical ranking process, and to make this process transparent to our readers. The Guide remains the only publication (as far as we are aware) that provides rankings under discreet criteria (40% Design; 40% Conditions and 20% Aesthetics) and they will not match the preferences of every golfer. However, by presentation of essentially three lists, it attempts to list those courses that they will find most pleasing – whether their preferences are for design strategy, immaculate playing surfaces, or simply beautiful surroundings.

There were few changes and fewer surprises this year, with ongoing drought in southern Australian states and harsh economic conditions that have seen a few courses disappear from the drawing boards with only a couple of new openers. Barnbougle Dunes, a world class links (ranked in the world top 100 courses) on Tasmania’s rugged North Coast, designed by Tom Doak and Mike Clayton, seems to be firmly entrenched at the Number One spot, this year reclaiming lost ground in the Conditioning stakes as our judges applauded the maturing fescue playing surfaces and continued to enthuse about the stunningly beautiful and challenging design. No doubt it’s a stern test of ability, and holes into the wind play brutally long, but this golf course has something for everyone with generously wide fairways and multiple tee options that really do simplify the challenge for longer markers. At the time of going to press we understood that Doak’s other Australian design at St Andrews Beach on the Mornington Peninsula was to re-open as a Public Access course – we love this layout and it is certainly top 10 potential.

The Legends Course at Moonah Links has retained second spot courtesy of its outstanding playing surfaces (Conditions topped only by The Open Course next door). Ross Perrett’s design is a great example of what our judges seek – a course that provides strategic options for players of all abilities, and permits everyone to truly enjoy the experience. It is this criteria that principally differentiates our list from the rankings in other publications, and the main reason for the relatively poor ‘design’ showing of courses such as The Open and Brookwater, which we believe are great designs for the stronger player, but in many places too penal for the majority of public access golfers.

Joondalup’s best holes (the Quarry/Dunes nines) present a thrilling challenge and strike fear into the golfer’s heart from many of their elevated tees. However, a well struck shot is always rewarded and can make many a relieved player smile with satisfaction – just what we’re looking for! Combined with even better-groomed playing surfaces this year and some small improvements that open up the vista, Joondalup claimed the No. 3 spot just ahead of the other top WA contender, Kennedy Bay. This marvelous links some 60km south of Perth re-opened to a rave reception from our judges about its exceptional playing surfaces, fine design and outstanding aesthetics. No golfing trip to the West is complete without a visit to Kennedy Bay and Joondalup.

The Dunes, Tony Cashmore’s wonderful links created on the Mornington Peninsula, and the course that ushered in a new standard of ‘pay for play’ golf in Victoria fifteen years ago held its No. 2 spot in the Design Rankings, again a near-perfect test of strategy and ability for golfers of every level, but slipped to No. 5 overall due to relatively superior conditioning at courses above it. The Dunes also heralded the “renaissance” of links golf in this country, as designers right around the coast began to recreate the style of course that gave birth to our great game. Only one course in our top 10 – Joondalup – does not look and play as a links, yet even here the Dunes nine has some ‘linksy’ holes.

Magenta Shores and Pacific Harbour, two Ross Watson creations that jumped up our list last year have retained their respective placings, as have Barwon Heads and Thirteenth Beach – Beach Course.

The Cut tumbled a few spots overall, effectively just down one spot on the design ladder and a few rungs beneath better-conditioned contenders in our judges’ collective view. To have a course of such high caliber outside the top 10 emphasises just how spoiled we are for choice and quality as green fee golfers in this country.

Other noteworthy movers were the renamed Championship Course at Capricorn (formerly the Old Course) now up to 16th spot; The Creek Course at Thirteenth Beach now ranked 24 as some minor redesign of the ‘creek’ itself and significantly improved conditioning were truly appreciated by our panel; Eynesbury at 27; and Ranfurlie up 21 spots to No. 29 despite barely moving in the Design list even though some of our judges feel that it deserves more design accolades. Paradise Palms leapt into the 35th spot from outside the top 50 with Graham Marsh involved in some redesign work and the new owners committing funding to dramatically improve playing surfaces and returning this great North Queensland track to the lofty position it once held. Unfortunately the reverse situation lingers at Turtle Point, Laguna Whitsundays, once ranked as high as No. 2.

Apart from the return of Kennedy Bay, only The Coast, Tuggerah Lakes and Yering Meadows were absent last year, and of these only Yering, the new home for Croydon Golf Club in the Yarra Valley is a new construction. This design is another fine example of Ross Watson’s work, awarded 23rd Design spot by our judges, who noted the generous landing areas flanked by plenty of water, wonderful creative bunkering and lots of options for all players without any brutal forced carries. The greens are already a delight with multiple tiers and variety in pin positions. As the fairways and roughs mature we are certain to see this layout move up our rankings.

As in past years, scoring was extremely close, and a small change in points awarded under any of the three criteria resulted in a significant move on the ladder. Whilst Barnbougle held a clear lead over second-placed Legends, all top 10 courses scored over 92%, the top 20 over 89% and a score above 80% was required for the Top 100. Many other courses missed the lists by narrow margins. Cobram-Barooga - West, Liverpool, Mirage and Warrnambool featured in 2009 but dropped off the current list.

** Sanctuary Cove Palms course is closed for 18 months for renovation. Closure occurred after votes were submitted