Nature’s finest golf courses within the Scenic Rim

Caught yourself daydreaming of rolling fairways, tree-lined courses and smooth greens? Give a round of golf at the local club a rest this week – instead, take yourself on tour to meticulously kept courses where towering mountains serve as your backdrop while you swing for par.

You’ll find five golf facilities spread across the Scenic Rim, ranging from 9 to 18 holes primed for players of all levels to enjoy.

Gather your golf crew, pack your clubs and tee off on these stunning courses.

Par: 18 Holes, Par 72. Length: 6,393m.

The jewel in the crown of Scenic Rim golf courses, this hub of golf was named the #1 Resort Golf Course in Queensland by Golf Course Guide. A stay at this golf resort lets you live, breathe and play golf on a Championship course just like Greg Norman, the first tour professional to call this club home. Kooralbyn Valley Golf Course features a winding design carved into a series of valleys, hills and lakes, providing plenty of elevation change including the 220m Par 3 5th dropping more than 40m to the green. Expect tiff eagle greens, couch fairways and tees. The front nine winds through natural valleys and watercourses, whilst the back nine flirts with 10 hectares of lakes in the valley basin. The wildlife is abundant, with hundreds of kangaroos feeding daily.

Feeling hungry? Trust the three onsite eateries; Lilies Restaurant and Bar, Ringtails Country Club and The Pavilion Tavern, to keep you fuelled as you play with buffet breakfasts, a la carte dining, beers on tap, and hearty pub feeds available between them. Similarly, stay where you play in The Kooralbyn Valley’s accommodation ranging from Presidential Suites to King Suites and lodgings that’ll keep you well rested and on your game.

Par: 9 holes with 18 separate tees, Par 70. Length: 5,562m.

Situated 500m above sea level with views stretching over the surrounding scenic reserves out to the Gold Coast, this acclaimed 9-hole, 18-tee golf course is a delight to play any time of the year. Unlike coastal courses, Tamborine Mountain Golf Club doesn’t flood in the wet season and often sits several degrees cooler thanks to its elevated location. Book 18 holes and discover why it’s dubbed heaven in the hinterland as you play along well-manicured kikuyu fairways and superbly maintained bent grass greens.

Round out a day on the green with a well-deserved beer and woodfired pizza at Fortitude Brewing Co. in the heart of Tamborine Mountain, where you can talk putting with pints from their selection of 15 taps and made-to-order pizzas. Live like a PGA pro for the evening and book accommodation at Veranda House Country Estate, where you can soak away muscle soreness in an outdoor spa with vistas out to the ocean, before retiring to your luxe-room.

Par: 9 Holes with 18 Different Tee Blocks, Par 72. Length: 6069m.

Manicured fairways await at Boonah Golf Club, an oasis of lengthy greens interlaid with bunkers and creeks in the middle of country fields. Perfect your swing away from the hustle and bustle of big smoke courses and see how you fair against their signature hole; a par 4, 9th/ 325m, 18th/ 352m challenging water carry for the big hitters who like to drive the green, which is well guarded by bunkers. Boonah Golf Course will also work your short game on two Par 3s. Both are attractive from the tee and strategically designed to demand accuracy and precise club selection.

Grab a post-game feed from the Clubhouse to enjoy on their furnished terrace or lawn overlooking the course, each offering panoramic views of the mountains and countryside. Stay locally to make the most of this course and opt for hospitality at its finest in the Old Church Bed & Breakfast, sleeping in a historic Church built in 1889. When booking, quote “Boonah Golf Club” and you’ll unlock their specialty package including complimentary wine, course transfers and prices.

Par: 18 hole 9 green composite, Men 70, Ladies 72. Length: Men 5,663, Ladies 5,233.

With wide fairways, minimal obstacles and spacious greens, Canungra Golf Club’s course is perfect for playing with mates who are still developing their love of the game. Opened in 1972, this course was designed to accommodate players of all skill levels with minimal bunkering and water hazards, while providing a challenging layout. The shortest par 3 at 138m requires a delicately placed shot to hold the green and the longest par 5 at 514m offers a wide fairway with the last 100m uphill to an elevated bunkered green to test the best of the big hitters.

Playing through the 5,663-metre-long course is thirsty work – luckily, a five-minute drive is all that separates you from the Canungra Hotel, where an extensive range of tap beers, delicious pub classic meals and six different types of chicken parmigiana await. Playing at the top of your game requires a clear mind, and the secluded Eagles Nest property is perfectly perched overlooking Lamington National Park to inspire tranquillity and serve as home base for your golfing weekend away.

Par: Blue-72; White-70; Women’s Red-72; Yellow-72; Men’s Red-69. Length: Blue-5836m; White-5537m; Red-5196m; Yellow-4953m.

Breathe in that fresh country air as you drive, chip and putt along 18 holes of gently undulating land and tree-lined fairways at Beaudesert Golf Course. All 5,836 metres of carefully maintained grass greens are irrigated daily using recycled water from the main dam, so rest assured the fairways hold their emerald colour year-round. A small creek flows through the course with a variety of creatures (think wallabies and water birds) enjoying the natural habitat, so get acquainted with our friendly locals as you hone your accuracy while navigating the course’s natural obstacles.

Following a round of 9 or 18 holes, treat yourself to a juicy steak from Ned’s Restaurant conveniently found beside the pro shop. To turn your golfing tour into a weekend away, swing through the first nine on day one, then stay the night a short walk away at the Kerry Court Motel, before tackling the back nine on fresh legs.