Located at the mouth of the Hunter River , two hour's drive from Sydney , Newcastle is one of only two courses in NSW given international recognition by the panel of experts rating the World's Top 100 Courses . It has recently been rated “International Honorable Mention”, meaning that it has won sufficient points to be worthy of inclusion in the Top 100 courses in the USA . As only a handful of the World Panel has played in Newcastle , it speaks volumes that those who have played this hidden gem rate it so highly.

A true championship course of 6200 meters (6780 yards), it is based on undulating sand dunes like those of the great historic links of Great Britain and Ireland . However, instead of fairways lined by gorse and heather, Newcastle is carved out of a forest of Eucalypts and angophoras abounding in native flora and fauna, including kookaburras, bearded dragons and kangaroos, making it a delightful as well as a challenging course to play. Although the course is situated only a few kilometers from the busy industrial city and port of Newcastle , the wide bands of trees separating the fairways give a feeling of peaceful isolation from the cares of the world.