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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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