The Lakes Golf Club
A championship course threaded through the sandy ground and lagoons of Eastlakes, The Lakes is a par 72 that has hosted the Australian Open more than a dozen times. Laid out in 1928 and reworked by Mike Clayton and Geoff Ogilvy in 2007, it sits minutes from Sydney Airport yet plays a world away from the city.
Photo: Andy Hoang via Google.
The verdict
The Lakes is Sydney's quiet aristocrat, a championship course threaded through the sandy ground of Eastlakes that has hosted the Australian Open more than a dozen times. It sits a short drive from the airport and the eastern beaches, yet plays a world away from the city, a low and exposed property where water and wind do the defending. For the traveling golfer it is the Sydney round that the best players talk about, a layout that rewards control over power.
Laid out in 1928 and reworked over the decades, most recently by Mike Clayton and Geoff Ogilvy in 2007, The Lakes trades on strategy rather than spectacle. The par is 72 and the members card measures a little over 6,290 yards, but championship setups stretch it considerably and the breeze can add several clubs to any approach. Pair it with New South Wales Golf Club out on the headland at La Perouse and you have the makings of a serious two course Sydney golf trip.
The Lakes at a glance
- Opened
- 1928
- Designer
- Ogilvy Clayton
- Type
- Sand and water
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,290 yd
- Green fee
- Private
Designer history, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from The Lakes Golf Club and leading course databases. The course opened in 1928 and was most recently redesigned by Mike Clayton and Geoff Ogilvy in 2007, a par 72 whose members card measures a little over 6,290 yards and which stretches further for championship play. The Lakes is a private members club; visitor green fees apply on limited days and on application. Always confirm current rates and access directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Water is the recurring theme at The Lakes, named for the lagoons that wind through the property and press up against fairways and greens throughout the round. The opening holes ease you in across firm, running ground, but the closing stretch is where the course earns its tournament pedigree, with carries over water and greens guarded so that the safe miss is rarely the easy one.
The par 3s are a particular strength, varied in length and angle and often played into a stiffening sea breeze that makes club selection a guess until the ball lands. The bunkering is classical and the greens, rebuilt in the modern era, are quick and subtly contoured, asking for the correct tier rather than simply the right surface. This is a course where local knowledge of the wind is worth several shots.
The finish, a run of holes flirting with water from tee to green, has decided more than one Australian Open and gives the visiting golfer a genuine taste of championship pressure. A par on the home hole, played to a green pinched by the lake, feels like a small victory. The Lakes never tricks you, but it asks every question, and a good score here is one to remember.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; limited visitor and reciprocal play, generally midweek (often Monday and Thursday) and subject to member priority |
| Green fee | On application; a premium private club rate (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Arrange well ahead through the club or your trip planner; pair with New South Wales Golf Club for a strong Sydney pairing |
| On the day | Walking is traditional with caddies and carts available; a smart dress code and a well regarded clubhouse |
| Getting there | Eastlakes, about 10 minutes from Sydney Airport and 20 minutes from the city center |
| Best months | September to November and March to May for the kindest Sydney weather; the course is playable year round |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; visitor policies and rates at private clubs change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit with the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
The Lakes sits between Sydney Airport and the eastern suburbs, so most visiting golfers base themselves in the city or at the beaches of Coogee and Bondi, all within easy reach. Business travelers often stay near the airport for the short transfer, while a golf trip built around Sydney works best from a central or eastern base with the harbor and restaurants on hand.
From a Sydney base you can pair The Lakes with New South Wales Golf Club on the Botany Bay headland and the parkland of the city's other private clubs, then spend the evenings on the water. Few golf cities in the world combine championship courses, beaches and dining as easily, which makes Sydney a natural anchor for an Australian golf tour that runs on to Melbourne's sand belt.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Lakes.
Build a Sydney golf trip
We arrange the tee times at The Lakes and New South Wales Golf Club, pair them with Melbourne's sand belt if you have the days, and book the city around them. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Lakes questions
Who designed The Lakes Golf Club?
The Lakes opened in 1928 on sandy ground at Eastlakes in Sydney and has been reworked over the decades, most recently by Mike Clayton and Geoff Ogilvy in a 2007 redesign that sharpened its strategy and bunkering.
What is the par and length of The Lakes?
The Lakes plays to a par of 72. The members card measures a little over 6,290 yards, and championship setups stretch it further, with the sea breeze adding length to many holes.
Can visitors play The Lakes Golf Club?
The Lakes is a private members club with limited visitor and reciprocal play, generally on selected midweek days and subject to member priority. Arrange a tee time well ahead through the club or your trip planner.
Has The Lakes hosted the Australian Open?
Yes. The Lakes has hosted the Men's Australian Open many times, including the 2010, 2011 and 2012 championships, which is why it is regarded as one of Sydney's premier championship venues.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer history, opening year, par and length verified June 2026; access and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.