Sanctuary Cove The Pines
Australia's only Arnold Palmer signature course is one of the Gold Coast's headline rounds. Carved through more than a hundred hectares of established pine forest at Sanctuary Cove, The Pines is a muscular par 72 where corridors of timber and a string of man made lakes frame almost every shot, a genuine championship test wrapped in resort comfort.
Photo: Kaptain Kerr via Google.
The verdict
The Pines is the heavyweight of Sanctuary Cove, and a course of real national standing. It is the only Arnold Palmer signature design in Australia, laid out by Palmer and his long time partner Ed Seay and opened in 1988 through more than a hundred hectares of mature pine forest on the northern Gold Coast. The timber gives the holes their structure and their drama, turning the round into a march down green corridors where the tee shot must be both long and straight.
Water is the other defining feature. Fourteen of the eighteen holes are shaped around a chain of six man made lakes, so the course continually asks the golfer to weigh risk against reward, to take on a carry or play safe and trust the next shot. Stretching to around 7,197 yards from the back tees, with a stiff scratch rating to match, The Pines is a serious championship test, yet from the forward markers it remains a thoroughly enjoyable resort round. For the visitor staying at the InterContinental, it is the marquee Gold Coast experience.
Sanctuary Cove The Pines at a glance
- Founded
- 1988
- Designer
- Arnold Palmer
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Length
- About 7,197 yd
- Access
- Members and resort
Designer, year, par and length verified June 2026 from Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club, the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort and leading course databases. The Pines was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay and opened in 1988; it is Australia's only Arnold Palmer signature course and plays as a par 72 of about 7,197 yards, with fourteen holes shaped around six man made lakes. It is a members club with access for resort guests; any green fee is seasonal and indicative for 2026, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Pines is defined by its corridors of pine and its water. Off the tee, towering rows of timber narrow the eye and demand a committed, well shaped drive, with little room to bail out on the wayward side. Find the fairway and the course rewards you with a clear look at the green; miss it and the trees turn a simple par into a scramble. It is a test of nerve and ball striking from the very first hole.
The lakes raise the stakes. With fourteen holes touched by water, the approach shots in particular ask hard questions, carries that must be flown all the way and angles that tighten as the flag moves toward the hazard. Palmer and Seay built large, contoured greens that are well bunkered and quick, so even after a good drive and a clean iron the work is not done. The par 5s offer genuine risk and reward for the bigger hitter, while the par 3s over water are among the most photographed holes on the coast.
Conditioning matches the billing, with the lush, tropical presentation you expect of a premier Gold Coast resort course. For the visiting golfer the appeal is the rare chance to play an Arnold Palmer signature design in Australia, a course with the length and the water to test the best, set in a beautiful forest of pine just minutes from the beaches and the marina at Sanctuary Cove.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A members club where play is available to guests of the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort and through stay and play packages; there is no general public green fee |
| How to play | Book as an in house resort guest, through a stay and play package, or as the guest of a member; the golf concierge can arrange tee times |
| Green fee | Resort guest and package rates apply and are seasonal; any 2026 figure is indicative, so confirm the current rate and any package when you book |
| On the day | A cart friendly championship course with real length and water in play; smart golf attire and soft spikes expected, and a strong all round game needed from the back tees |
| Getting there | Sanctuary Cove on the northern Gold Coast, around 45 minutes south of Brisbane and 30 minutes north of Surfers Paradise |
| Best months | April to October is the prime window, warm and dry; summer is hot and humid with afternoon storms common |
Access details verified June 2026 against Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club and the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort; access centres on resort guests and members and rates are seasonal, so always confirm the current policy and price directly before booking. See our Australia green fees guide for the wider picture.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, which sits within the gated village beside the marina and gives in house guests the most reliable access to both Sanctuary Cove courses, The Pines and The Palms. A stay and play package here makes the golf, the dining and the spa effortless, with the beaches of the Gold Coast a short drive away.
For a wider trip, Sanctuary Cove anchors the northern Gold Coast cluster, pairing naturally with Links Hope Island next door and the Greg Norman course at Brookwater toward Brisbane. A few days based around Hope Island and Sanctuary Cove can take in several of the region's best layouts, with Surfers Paradise and the hinterland within easy reach.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Sanctuary Cove and the northern Gold Coast.
Build a Gold Coast golf trip
We arrange stay and play at Sanctuary Cove, pair The Pines with The Palms, Links Hope Island and Brookwater, and sort the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Sanctuary Cove The Pines questions
Who designed The Pines at Sanctuary Cove?
The Pines was designed by Arnold Palmer and his partner Ed Seay and opened in 1988. It is the only Arnold Palmer signature course in Australia, carved through pine forest on the northern Gold Coast, and plays as a par 72 of about 7,197 yards.
What makes The Pines special?
It is Australia's only Arnold Palmer signature course, a muscular par 72 routed through more than a hundred hectares of pine forest with fourteen holes shaped around six man made lakes. The combination of tree lined corridors and water makes it one of the Gold Coast's premier championship tests.
Can visitors play The Pines?
The Pines is a members club, but play is available to guests of the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort and through stay and play packages. There is no general public green fee, so the simplest route is to stay at the resort or arrange access as a member's guest, and confirm the current policy before booking.
How does The Pines compare to The Palms at Sanctuary Cove?
The Pines is the longer, tougher championship course, an Arnold Palmer signature par 72, while The Palms is a shorter, more strategic par 70 redesigned by Ross Watson. Most visitors play both as part of a stay at Sanctuary Cove.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, year, par, length and access policy verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.