Long Reef
Few public courses anywhere occupy a piece of ground like this. Long Reef sits on an ocean headland at Collaroy on Sydney's Northern Beaches, the Pacific wrapping three sides of the property and the wind never far away. Opened in 1921 and shaped over the years by Dan Soutar, Eric Apperly and Peter Thomson, it is a par 71 of about 5,955 yards where the setting and the breeze, not the yardage, decide your card.
Photo: Long Reef Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Sydney is rich in great private clubs, but Long Reef offers something rarer: a genuinely scenic, oceanfront round that any visitor can play. The course occupies a headland at Collaroy, half an hour up the coast from the harbour, and the views from the high ground take in the Pacific, the beaches and the city skyline on a clear day. It opened in 1921, was rebuilt by Eric Apperly after the war and refined by five time Open champion Peter Thomson in the mid 1990s, and it carries that pedigree lightly.
On a still morning Long Reef is a charming, walkable test of about 5,955 yards. When the sea breeze gets up, and it usually does, it becomes a different and far more demanding course, with exposed tee shots and approaches that must be flighted under the wind. It will not trouble the world rankings, but as an accessible, spectacular and good value round on a Sydney trip, it is hard to beat. Bring a camera and a low, controlled ball flight.
Long Reef at a glance
- Opened
- 1921
- Designers
- Soutar, Apperly, Thomson
- Type
- Clifftop coastal
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 5,955 yds
- Access
- Public, visitors
Designers, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Long Reef Golf Club and leading course databases. The course opened in 1921, originally by Dan Soutar, reconstructed by Eric Apperly after the Second World War and revised by Peter Thomson in the mid 1990s, a par 71 of about 5,955 yards. Long Reef welcomes visitor and green fee play; recent rounds have been in the region of A$66, indicative for 2026 and varying by day and season, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Long Reef rises from the clubhouse onto the headland, and it is the climb to the high ground that delivers the views and the wind together. The fairways are not long, but the exposure makes club selection a guessing game, and the smart play is often a low runner that holds its line against the breeze rather than a high ball the wind can take.
The holes along the top of the point are the ones photographers chase, the Pacific filling the background and the city skyline beyond, while the green complexes ask for a controlled approach and a sure touch on greens that can run quick and firm by the coast. Miss on the wrong side and the recovery is rarely simple.
The closing holes drop back toward the clubhouse and offer a chance to claw back a stroke if you kept the ball in play up top. Long Reef rewards the golfer who respects the wind, picks a sensible line and enjoys the walk. It is one of Sydney's great accessible rounds, and on the right day it is unforgettable.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public access course; visitors and green fee play welcome, with tee times bookable through the club |
| Green fee | Recent visitor rounds in the region of A$66; lower for twilight, higher at weekends (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book ahead, especially for weekends and the calm early mornings before the sea breeze builds |
| Best months | Spring and autumn for the most settled weather; mornings are calmest year round |
| Getting there | Collaroy on the Northern Beaches, about 30 to 45 minutes from central Sydney depending on traffic |
| On the day | Exposed and breezy; bring wind layers and a low ball flight, and allow time for the views |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026; public rates change by day and season, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
The Northern Beaches themselves make a relaxed base, with Manly the liveliest hub, full of hotels, surf and ferries back to the harbour. From here Long Reef is a short drive up the coast, and the beach suburbs put you close to the sand and the cafes between rounds.
For a wider Sydney golf trip, base yourself in the city and pair Long Reef with the great sandbelt and coastal clubs around the harbour. The course slots neatly into an itinerary as the accessible, scenic round between the marquee private layouts.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Long Reef.
Build a Sydney golf trip
We book the Long Reef tee times, pair them with the best of Sydney golf and arrange the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Long Reef questions
Who designed Long Reef and when did it open?
Long Reef Golf Club opened in 1921, originally laid out by Dan Soutar, reconstructed by Eric Apperly after the Second World War, with later revisions by Peter Thomson in the mid 1990s, at Collaroy on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
What is the par and length of Long Reef?
Long Reef is a par 71 of about 5,955 yards, a compact clifftop course where wind and the oceanfront setting matter more than raw length.
Can visitors play Long Reef?
Yes. Long Reef welcomes visitors and green fee play, with tee times bookable through the club. As a popular public access course it is busy at weekends, so book ahead.
Why is Long Reef worth playing?
Long Reef is one of Sydney's most scenic rounds, set on an oceanfront headland with panoramic Pacific views, exposed to the coastal wind and accessible to visiting golfers, an easy add to any Sydney golf trip.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.