Magenta Shores Golf Club
Ross Watson built Magenta Shores in 2006 on a slender peninsula between Tuggerah Lake and the Pacific on the New South Wales Central Coast. A par 72 links of about 90 minutes from Sydney, it ranks among Australia's top fifty courses and anchors the adjoining Pullman resort, a rare seaside links within easy reach of the city.
Photo: Ravinder Kalvakuntla via Google.
The verdict
Magenta Shores opened in 2006 to a Ross Watson design, laid out on a narrow strip of land between Tuggerah Lake and the Tasman Sea just north of The Entrance. Watson moved sand to build genuine links character, rumpled fairways, dunes and revetted style bunkering, a par 72 that has settled into the upper reaches of Australia's rankings, around the top forty to fifty nationally.
It is the centrepiece of the Pullman Magenta Shores resort, which makes it one of the most accessible top class links in the country, roughly ninety minutes north of Sydney. The course is semi private: tee times are limited and go to members, golfers with a recognised handicap and guests of the resort, so it pays to plan and book ahead. For a Sydney golf trip it is a coastal contrast to the city's sandbelt and clifftop courses, and an easy add for a night or two on the Central Coast.
Magenta Shores at a glance
- Opened
- 2006
- Designer
- Ross Watson
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Setting
- Lake and ocean peninsula
- Green fee
- Indicative AUD 99 to 124
Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026 from Magenta Shores and leading course databases. The course was designed by Ross Watson and opened in 2006, a par 72 links ranked among Australia's top fifty. Indicative green fees were reported about AUD 99 walking and AUD 124 with a cart, and vary by season and access. Always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Watson's routing makes the most of a tight site, swinging between the lake on one side and the ocean dunes on the other. The links character is real: firm fairways that feed the ball, deep bunkers cut into the dunes and greens open at the front to let a running shot find the surface. The sea breeze is the defining hazard and turns the exposed holes into a stern test.
The par 3s are strong and the closing holes ask for nerve into the wind, with the dunes and native grasses punishing anything wild. Off the back markers, with a slope of 142, it is a proper challenge; from the forward tees it remains fair and hugely enjoyable.
Conditioning is consistently high, helped by the sandy base, and the walk among the dunes with the Pacific in earshot is a genuine pleasure. It is the kind of links seaside golf Australia does so well, and a surprise to find within an easy drive of Sydney.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Semi private; limited tee times for members, handicap holders and resort guests |
| Green fee | Indicative about AUD 99 walking and AUD 124 with a cart, varying by season (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book ahead through the club or the Pullman resort; visitor times are limited and sell out |
| Staying and playing | Guests of the adjoining Pullman Magenta Shores resort get the easiest access to tee times |
| Getting there | Near The Entrance on the NSW Central Coast, about 90 minutes north of Sydney |
| Best months | Spring and autumn for the most comfortable links conditions; playable year round |
Green fees verified June 2026 and reported about AUD 99 walking and AUD 124 with a cart; access is semi private with limited visitor times, and figures change by season, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is the Pullman Magenta Shores resort beside the course, with apartment style accommodation, a spa and the easiest path to a tee time. The wider Central Coast around Terrigal and The Entrance adds beaches, restaurants and a relaxed seaside pace within a short drive.
Magenta Shores pairs beautifully with a Sydney golf trip, a coastal links to set against the city's famous sandbelt and clifftop courses. Spring and autumn bring the most comfortable conditions, though the mild climate keeps it in play all year.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Magenta Shores.
Plan a New South Wales golf trip
We arrange access and tee times at Magenta Shores and build it into a Sydney and Central Coast golf trip with the resort stay sorted. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Magenta Shores questions
Who designed Magenta Shores Golf Club?
Magenta Shores was designed by Ross Watson and opened in 2006. It is a par 72 links on a peninsula between Tuggerah Lake and the Pacific on the New South Wales Central Coast.
Can visitors play Magenta Shores?
Yes, but access is semi private. Limited tee times go to members, golfers with a recognised handicap and guests of the adjoining Pullman resort, so book well ahead.
How much does it cost to play Magenta Shores?
Indicative green fees were reported about AUD 99 walking and AUD 124 with a cart, varying by season and access. Rates change, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where is Magenta Shores Golf Club?
Magenta Shores is near The Entrance on the New South Wales Central Coast, about 90 minutes north of Sydney, on a peninsula between Tuggerah Lake and the ocean.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.