Pelican Waters Golf Club
Greg Norman and Bob Harrison laid out Pelican Waters among the lakes and wetlands of Caloundra, on the southern tip of the Sunshine Coast. Opened in 2001 and given a Greg Norman Golf Design refresh in 2023, it is a strategic, water lined par 72 that has long been one of the coast's strongest public rounds.
Photo: Pelican Waters Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Pelican Waters is the Sunshine Coast's flagship Greg Norman course, the work of Norman and his long time design partner Bob Harrison among the canals, lakes and wetlands of Caloundra. It opened in 2001 and earned a steady place among the region's better daily play layouts, then received a renovation by Greg Norman Golf Design completed in 2023 that modernized the bunkering and conditioning while keeping the original strategic intent.
It plays as a par 72 of roughly 6,350 metres from the back tees, a length that gives it real teeth from the tips while remaining enjoyable from the forward markers. Water is the constant theme, in play across much of the round, so the design rewards the player who picks a sensible line and commits to it over the one who simply hits hard. With its Norman pedigree, its recent upgrade and its open access, it is a natural anchor for a southern Sunshine Coast golf trip.
Pelican Waters Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 2001
- Designer
- Greg Norman
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Length
- About 6,350 m
- Access
- Public, bookable
Designer, year, par and length verified June 2026 from the club, Greg Norman Golf Design and leading course databases. Pelican Waters was designed by Greg Norman with Bob Harrison and opened in 2001, with a Greg Norman Golf Design renovation completed in 2023; it plays as a par 72 of about 6,350 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
Pelican Waters is golf shaped by water. Norman and Harrison routed the holes through a landscape of lakes, canals and protected wetland, so the hazard is rarely far from the line of play and the premium is on choosing the correct side and committing to the shot. Off the tee the design offers width to the player who reads the angles, but it punishes the lazy line that flirts with the water, and the second shots often ask for a confident carry to greens guarded on one flank by the lakes.
The 2023 renovation by Greg Norman Golf Design sharpened the bunkering and improved the playing surfaces, giving the course a crisper, more modern look without losing the strategic bones of the original. The greens are well contoured and fair, rewarding the approach played to the correct portion, and the short game around the putting surfaces calls for imagination where run offs and sand gather the missed shot.
For the visiting golfer the appeal is a genuine Greg Norman championship test in fine, recently upgraded condition, set in a pretty waterside community at the quieter southern end of the Sunshine Coast. It pairs well with the resort courses to the north for a varied few days, and its open access makes it easy to fit into a trip.
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 Sunshine 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, and a steady mind for the water hazards helps the card |
| Getting there | Pelican Waters at Caloundra, on the southern Sunshine Coast, around an hour north 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
Caloundra and the surrounding Pelican Waters community offer a relaxed spread of apartments and resort accommodation, with the broader Sunshine Coast and Mooloolaba a short drive north. The beaches, the boardwalks and the waterways are all close, making it a comfortable base for a golf and beach trip.
For the golfer, Pelican Waters anchors the southern end of the Sunshine Coast cluster, pairing with Twin Waters at Mudjimba, Mount Coolum at Coolum Beach and Noosa Springs to the north. A few days based around Caloundra can comfortably take in the best of the coast's golf, with Brisbane within easy reach.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Caloundra and the Sunshine Coast.
Build a Sunshine Coast golf trip
We pair Pelican Waters with Twin Waters, Mount Coolum and Noosa Springs, and sort the lodging around Caloundra and the coast. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Pelican Waters Golf Club questions
Who designed Pelican Waters Golf Club?
Pelican Waters was designed by Greg Norman with his design partner Bob Harrison and opened in 2001. Greg Norman Golf Design carried out a renovation completed in 2023 that modernized the bunkering and conditioning while keeping the original strategic layout.
What is the par and length of Pelican Waters?
Pelican Waters plays as a par 72 of about 6,350 metres from the back tees. It is a water lined parkland championship layout where the strategy is built around lakes and wetlands that come into play across much of the round.
Can visitors play Pelican Waters?
Yes. Pelican Waters 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 Pelican Waters?
Pelican Waters sits at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast, so it pairs naturally with Twin Waters at Mudjimba, Mount Coolum at Coolum Beach and Noosa Springs to the north, an easy multi course Sunshine 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.