Lakelands Golf Club
It took Jack Nicklaus twenty five years to find the site for his first Signature course in Australia, and he chose the Gold Coast. Lakelands opened in 1997 as a par 72 of bold mounding, broad lakes and clever, demanding approaches, a modern championship test minutes from the beach and bookable by visitors.
Photo: Prakash Kharel, Lakelands Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Lakelands carries a special distinction in Australian golf as the first Jack Nicklaus Signature course in the country, the result of a long search by the Golden Bear for the right piece of Gold Coast land. The red ribbon was cut in February 1997, and the course quickly established itself among the better daily play layouts in the region, a regular in national course rankings and a popular stop for traveling golfers based around Surfers Paradise.
The design is unmistakably Nicklaus, a par 72 of about 6,500 metres from the back tees where the strategy lives in the approach to each green. Generous in places off the tee, it tightens as you near the putting surfaces, with water, mounding and well placed bunkers asking for a thoughtful line and a committed second shot. It is a course that rewards the player who plots a way around rather than simply attacks, and it is all the more appealing for being open to visitors, a quality Nicklaus round you can book and play on a Gold Coast trip.
Lakelands Golf Club at a glance
- Founded
- 1997
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Length
- About 6,500 m
- Access
- Public, bookable
Designer, year, par and length verified June 2026 from the club, Nicklaus Design and leading course databases. Lakelands was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in February 1997 as his first Signature course in Australia; it plays as a par 72 of about 6,500 metres from the back tees. It is a public course bookable by visitors; green fees are seasonal and indicative for 2026, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The character of Lakelands is set by its scale and its water. Nicklaus shaped large, flowing mounds along the fairways and brought lakes into play across the round, framing the holes with a sense of width off the tee that narrows sharply as you approach the greens. The premium is on the second shot, where the angles, the run offs and the bunkering reward a player who has found the correct side of the fairway and committed to the right line.
Several holes ask a direct question of nerve and club selection, with carries over water and greens that fall away from loose approaches. The putting surfaces are large and contoured in the Nicklaus manner, so finding the correct portion matters as much as finding the green, and a poor first putt can quickly become a three putt. Around the greens the chipping areas and gathering bunkers invite the deft short game shot rather than the simple flop.
For the visiting golfer the appeal is a genuine championship test in fine condition, close to the beach and the entertainment of the Gold Coast. It pairs naturally with the resort courses nearby for a varied few days of golf, and its rankings pedigree and Nicklaus name make it a satisfying addition to any southeast Queensland itinerary.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A public, daily play course bookable by visitors; check the current visitor policy and any member event closures 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 rates sit in the mid to upper band for a Gold Coast championship course; check current weekday, weekend and twilight pricing when you book |
| On the day | Smart golf attire and soft spikes; a cart is a comfortable way to play given the scale of the layout |
| Getting there | Merrimac, inland of Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, around an hour south of Brisbane |
| 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; 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
Lakelands sits minutes from Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, so the full range of Gold Coast accommodation is on the doorstep, from beachfront towers to quieter resort hotels inland. It makes an easy base for a golf and beach trip, with restaurants, the casino and the coast all close at hand.
For the golfer, Lakelands is central to the Gold Coast cluster, pairing with Links Hope Island and the two Sanctuary Cove courses to the north and the Greg Norman course at Brookwater toward Brisbane. A few days based on the coast can comfortably take in several of the region's best layouts.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast.
Build a Gold Coast golf trip
We pair Lakelands with Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove and Brookwater, and sort the lodging around the Gold Coast. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Lakelands Golf Club questions
Who designed Lakelands Golf Club?
Lakelands was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in February 1997. It holds the distinction of being the first Jack Nicklaus Signature course built in Australia, the result of a long search by Nicklaus for the right Gold Coast site.
What is the par and length of Lakelands?
Lakelands plays as a par 72 of about 6,500 metres from the back tees. It is a modern parkland championship layout where much of the challenge lies in the approach to large, contoured greens, with water and mounding throughout.
Can visitors play Lakelands Golf Club?
Yes. Lakelands is a public, daily play course bookable by visitors. Reserve a tee time through the club or an online partner, confirm seasonal green fees and any member event closures before booking, and the club also caters for groups and society days.
What other courses are near Lakelands?
Lakelands sits inland of Surfers Paradise, so it pairs naturally with Links Hope Island and the two Sanctuary Cove courses to the north, and with the Greg Norman course at Brookwater toward Brisbane, an easy multi course Gold Coast golf trip.
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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.