Newcastle Golf Club
Eric Apperly laid out Newcastle Golf Club on rolling sandhills at Fern Bay, north of Sydney, and his eighteen holes have run virtually untouched since 1937. A par 72 of about 6,200 yards a short iron from the Hunter River and a few hundred metres from the Pacific, it is a timeless, sand based course rated among Australia's finest.
Photo: Newcastle Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Newcastle Golf Club moved into the dunes at Stockton, now Fern Bay, during the 1930s, and Eric Apperly's full eighteen hole layout opened in 1937 and has remained virtually untouched ever since. A par 72 of about 6,200 yards on rolling sandhills, it sits a short iron from the Hunter River and a few hundred metres from the Pacific, north of Sydney in the Hunter region.
Apperly carved his holes out of rugged bushland and routed them up, over and around the heavy slopes of the site, so the fairways bend with the wild movement of the land rather than against it. The sand based turf gives it a firm, fast character closer to the Melbourne Sandbelt than to most courses in New South Wales, and it is consistently ranked among the best in the country, a fine and characterful round on a wider Australian golf trip.
Newcastle Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1937
- Designer
- Eric Apperly
- Type
- Sandhills
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,200 yds
- Green fee
- On request, indicative
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Newcastle Golf Club and leading course databases. Eric Apperly's eighteen holes opened in 1937 and remain virtually unchanged, a par 72 of about 6,200 yards on sandhills. Visitor green fees are available on request and vary by season. Always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Newcastle is a sand based course, and it plays firm and fast, the fairways tumbling through the dunes and Apperly's holes working with the natural slopes of the land. The greens are subtly contoured and the bunkering rugged, in the sandpit style of its era, so the running approach is often the smart play.
It is not long by modern standards at about 6,200 yards, but the movement of the ground, the firm turf and the coastal wind keep it a genuine test of shotmaking and imagination rather than power. The variety of the terrain makes for a memorable round from first to last.
The course is often likened to the Melbourne Sandbelt for its sandy base and natural character, high praise in Australian golf, and it has long held a place among the country's top courses. A short drive from the Pacific, it rewards the player who can shape a shot and read a bouncing fairway.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visitors; book a tee time in advance |
| Green fee | Available on request and varying by season (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book through the club ahead of time, particularly at weekends |
| On the day | A firm, sand based, walkable course; the running game is rewarded |
| Getting there | Fern Bay, just north of Newcastle and about two hours from Sydney |
| Best months | Spring and autumn for the firmest turf and most comfortable temperatures |
Visitor green fees verified as available on request June 2026; figures are indicative and change by season and year, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base in Newcastle or along the nearby coast, both close to Fern Bay and offering hotels, beaches and dining. It is an easy stop between Sydney and the Hunter Valley wine country.
For a fuller New South Wales trip, pair Newcastle with the great Sydney courses to the south and the Hunter Valley wineries inland. Spring and autumn bring the firmest turf and the most comfortable golfing weather.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Newcastle Golf Club.
Plan an Australia golf trip
We pair Newcastle with the great courses of Sydney and the Hunter and sort the lodging and logistics around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Newcastle Golf Club questions
Who designed Newcastle Golf Club?
Newcastle Golf Club was laid out by Eric Apperly, whose eighteen holes opened in 1937 and have remained virtually unchanged, a par 72 of about 6,200 yards on sandhills at Fern Bay.
Can visitors play Newcastle Golf Club?
Yes. Newcastle is a members club that welcomes visitors. Book a tee time in advance, particularly at weekends, through the club.
How much does it cost to play Newcastle Golf Club?
Visitor green fees are available on request and vary by season. Pricing changes, so always confirm directly with the club before booking.
Where is Newcastle Golf Club?
Newcastle Golf Club is at Fern Bay, just north of Newcastle in New South Wales, about two hours from Sydney and a few hundred metres from the Pacific.
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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.