Links Hope Island
Peter Thomson brought the spirit of British links golf to the Gold Coast at Hope Island. A par 72 of mounded fairways, pot bunkers and firm, running ground, it pays homage to the great seaside courses the five time Open champion knew so well, all within a manicured resort community, a distinctive round you can book and play.
Photo: Links Golf and Wellbeing, Hope Island Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Links Hope Island is the Gold Coast's tribute to the seaside golf of the British Isles, the work of a man who knew it better than almost anyone. Peter Thomson, winner of five Open Championships, designed it with his partners Mike Wolveridge and Ross Perrett and opened it in 1993, shaping a links style course of rolling mounds, deep pot bunkers and firm, running turf in the heart of a manicured resort community at Hope Island.
Many of the holes nod directly to the great links Thomson mastered in his playing days, asking for the bump and run, the low flighted shot under the wind and the canny use of slopes and contours around the greens. It is a par 72 of about 6,400 metres that plays quite differently from the lush parkland and water courses that dominate the coast, a refreshing change of style and a real strategic test. Best of all, it is bookable for visitors, making it one of the more accessible quality rounds on the northern Gold Coast.
Links Hope Island at a glance
- Founded
- 1993
- Designer
- Peter Thomson
- Type
- Links style
- Par
- 72
- Length
- About 6,400 m
- Access
- Resort, bookable
Designer, year, par and length verified June 2026 from the club, Planet Golf and leading course databases. Links Hope Island was designed by Peter Thomson, Mike Wolveridge and Ross Perrett and opened in 1993; it plays as a par 72 of about 6,400 metres from the back tees in a links style. It is a resort course within the gated Hope Island community, bookable by visitors; green fees are seasonal and indicative for 2026, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Links Hope Island is golf shaped by a links sensibility. Thomson and his partners built mounded, undulating fairways and firm, fast playing surfaces, so the ball runs and the ground game comes into play in a way that is rare on the Gold Coast. Off the tee the premium is on finding the level lie and the right angle, with the contours feeding good shots forward and pushing loose ones into trouble. It rewards the golfer who thinks like a links player rather than simply firing at flags.
The bunkering is unmistakably links in flavor, deep pot bunkers and revetted faces that demand respect and reward avoidance. Around the greens the run offs and swales invite the bump and run, the chip and the putt from off the surface, the creative short game shots that Thomson loved. Several holes pay clear homage to famous links templates, and the wind, when it blows in off the water, adds the final layer of challenge, turning a benign hole into a stern one.
Within its resort setting the course is well presented and very playable, firm enough to honor its links intent without the brutality of a true seaside test. For the visiting golfer the appeal is the variety it adds to a Gold Coast itinerary, a genuine links style experience from a master of the form, and the practical bonus of being a quality course that welcomes visitors to book and play.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course within the gated Hope Island community, bookable by visitors; check the current visitor policy and any resident or guest requirements when you reserve |
| How to play | Book a tee time through the club or an online booking partner; carts and clubs are available for hire, and the club caters for groups and society days |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 high season rates are mid to upper for a Gold Coast resort course; check current weekday and weekend pricing and any twilight rate when you book |
| On the day | A cart friendly links style course that runs firm; smart golf attire, soft spikes, and a willingness to play the ground game |
| Getting there | Hope Island on the northern Gold Coast, around 45 minutes south of Brisbane and beside Sanctuary Cove |
| Best months | April to October is the prime window, warm and dry; summer is hot and humid with afternoon storms common |
Access and fees verified June 2026 against the club; rates and visitor policies are seasonal and change, so always confirm the current price and tee time directly before booking. See our Australia green fees guide for the wider picture.
Where to stay nearby
Hope Island and the neighboring Sanctuary Cove village offer resort accommodation right beside the golf, with the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort a short drive away and a natural base for a two centre golf stay. The marina precincts, restaurants and the Gold Coast beaches are all close at hand.
For the golfer, Links Hope Island sits at the centre of the northern Gold Coast cluster, pairing with The Pines and The Palms at Sanctuary Cove next door and the Greg Norman course at Brookwater toward Brisbane. A few days based around Hope Island can comfortably take in several of southeast Queensland's best layouts, with Surfers Paradise and the hinterland within easy reach.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Hope Island and the northern Gold Coast.
Build a Gold Coast golf trip
We pair Links Hope Island with Sanctuary Cove and Brookwater, and sort the lodging around the northern Gold Coast. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Links Hope Island questions
Who designed Links Hope Island?
Links Hope Island was designed by the five time Open champion Peter Thomson with his partners Mike Wolveridge and Ross Perrett, and opened in 1993. It is a links style course that pays homage to the great British seaside links Thomson knew so well.
What is the par and length of Links Hope Island?
Links Hope Island plays as a par 72 of about 6,400 metres from the back tees. It is a links style layout with mounded fairways, pot bunkers and firm, running ground, which makes it play quite differently from the parkland and water courses common on the Gold Coast.
Can visitors play Links Hope Island?
Yes. It is a resort course within the gated Hope Island community and is bookable by visitors. Reserve a tee time through the club or an online partner, confirm any visitor policy and seasonal green fees before booking, and the club also caters for groups and society days.
What other courses are near Links Hope Island?
Links Hope Island sits beside Sanctuary Cove on the northern Gold Coast, so it pairs naturally with The Pines and The Palms there, and with the Greg Norman course at Brookwater toward Brisbane, an easy multi course golf trip in southeast Queensland.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, year, par, length, access and seasonal fee context verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.