Kiama Golf Club and the other golf courses around Kiama

Choose between three courses in 15 minutes

Kiama is a good base for a golf weekend. Three 18-hole courses sit within a quarter of an hour of the apartments, and each one plays differently: a short, tree-lined riverside course at Kiama Downs, an open links course above the ocean at Gerringong, and a country course in the Jamberoo Valley.

Prices are the clubs' own published visitor rates. Green fees change, so check before you go.

Play Kiama Golf Club on the Minnamurra River

Kiama Golf Club is the town's home course, at Kiama Downs between the Minnamurra River, Rangoon Island and the ocean. The club has been on this site since 1930, and golf in Kiama goes back to the early 1900s: the club's history page records the first 9-hole course on Chapman Point, behind Kendalls Beach.

The course is 18 holes, par 66 for men and par 69 for women. It measures 4,949 m off the blue tees and 4,673 m off the reds, so it rewards accuracy more than length. Expect tree-lined fairways, views to the Illawarra escarpment and a run of par 3s on the back nine. The longest holes are the par 5 7th (498 m) and par 5 12th (510 m). Golf NSW describes it as one of the region's strongest all-weather courses, and it is open to visitors all year.

Green fees and hire

• 18 holes: $45 Monday to Friday, $50 weekends and public holidays
• 9 holes: $32 weekdays, $36 weekends
• Twilight from 3pm: $28 weekdays, $32 weekends
• Juniors: $10, seven days
• Cart hire for non-members: $47 for 18 holes on weekdays, $50 on weekends
• Club hire: left- and right-handed sets and junior sets are available from the pro shop

Book a tee time

Tee times must be booked ahead, and you report to the pro shop before you tee off. Book online through the club's public booking page, or phone the pro shop on (02) 4237 7300. Social golf runs seven days, with plenty of morning times, and you may be paired with other players on busy days. Competition days are Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and Wednesday is the women's competition day.

The pro shop opens from sunrise to 6pm. If the weather has been wild, check the club's Facebook page, where it posts course closures.

Dress code

Neat golf wear: collared or mock-neck shirts for men, and sleeveless tops for women need a collar or high neck. No singlets, bare midriffs, track pants or bike pants. Covered shoes are required, and metal spikes are not allowed. Scooters, e-bikes and golf bikes aren't permitted on the course.

Eat at the Kiama golf club bistro

You don't need to play to use the clubhouse. The bistro, Mystics at the Golfie, is open daily and makes an easy casual family dinner close to the apartments. The club lists these hours:

• Coffee: from 6.30am
• Breakfast: 8am to 11am
• Lunch: 11.30am to 3pm
• Dinner: 5.30pm to 8pm
• Clubhouse: 10am until late on weekdays, 9.30am until late on weekends

Hand-made pizza is on from Wednesday to Sunday, and the club runs lunch and dinner specials. You can book a table on the club's website. From Thursday to Sunday, a courtesy bus runs from 5.30pm: phone the club on (02) 4237 7300 to ask for a pickup and check whether it covers your address. Hours change, so check before you go.

For more evening options, see our guides to where to eat in Kiama and Kiama pubs.

Play the links course at Gerringong

Gerringong Golf Club sits on Crooked River Road between Gerringong and Gerroa, above Walkers Beach, and Golf NSW notes views of the ocean from every hole. It is pure links-style golf with few trees, so the wind is a big part of your score. The ground is hilly, and the club has a large range of carts for hire.

It is the longest of the three: 18 holes, par 72, at 5,638 m off the blue tees and 5,182 m off the reds. The club began with a 9-hole course in December 1981, opened the back nine in December 1989 and opened the full course in May 1993, much of it built by volunteers.

Green fees and hire

• Monday to Thursday: $45 for 18 holes, $35 for 9 holes
• Weekends and mid-week school holidays: $55 for 18 holes, $40 for 9 holes
• Twilight from 3pm: $35
• Juniors (17 and under): $20
• Carts: $40 for 9 holes, $50 for 18 holes
• Hire: pull buggy $5, adult clubs $15, junior clubs $10

Book through the "Book a Round" page on the club's website or phone (02) 4234 3333. Social golf runs seven days. The dress code is short: no singlets or thongs, nothing with offensive logos, and covered shoes are compulsory.

The clubhouse is small and fully licensed, with beer, a limited wine list and simple food such as pies and sausage rolls, plus a covered outdoor area for a drink after your round. It is cashless, and you can't take your own alcohol onto the course. For a proper meal afterwards, head into the village: see Gerringong cafes and restaurants and our Gerringong guide.

Try a valley round or footgolf at Jamberoo

Jamberoo Golf Club is the inland option, an 18-hole course in the Jamberoo Valley bordered by Hyam's Creek and the Minnamurra River. Destination Kiama lists it at 4,842 m and par 67: not long, but it asks for accuracy. You play with rural, bush and mountain views, and the club says about 96 bird species have been recorded on the course.

Destination Kiama lists green fees from $22 to $30. Social golfers are welcome seven days, with bookings through the club's online system, and the club asks you to check the course status before you head out. Club competitions are only open to members and visitors from affiliated clubs.

The club also runs footgolf, which mixes golf and soccer: you kick a football into oversized holes in as few kicks as possible. Games can start from 2pm, seven days, and bookings are essential on (02) 4236 0404. Destination Kiama lists footgolf from $12 to $18, and children under 15 must be with an adult. It is a good pick for a family or a group who don't all play golf.

Make a day of it in the village: see our Jamberoo guide and Jamberoo Action Park.

Bring the kids or learn the game

All three clubs welcome juniors. Kiama Golf Club charges juniors $10 for 9 or 18 holes, has run school holiday clinics for children aged 7 to 12, and you can book lessons through the club website. Gerringong's golf professional coaches from Tuesday to Saturday, and juniors play for $20. Jamberoo runs its "Champagne 9" and "Get Into Golf" programs for beginners.

For a non-golfer in the group, a twilight 9 holes after 3pm is the cheapest way to try a real course. Pair it with our guide to things to do in Kiama with kids.

Plan a golf weekend from Kiama Ridge Waters

A four-ball fits comfortably in one apartment at Kiama Ridge Waters, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms for up to six guests. A larger golf group can book several apartments at 2 Surfleet Place. See group stays or compare the apartments.

• Kiama Golf Club: about 9 minutes by car
• Gerringong Golf Club: about 13 minutes by car
• Jamberoo Golf Club: about 14 minutes by car
• Check-in and check-out: check-in from 3pm, check-out by 10am, so book an early tee time on your last day or a twilight round on arrival

A sample long weekend: twilight at Kiama on Friday, a morning round at Gerringong on Saturday with lunch in the village, then Sunday breakfast at the Kiama clubhouse before the drive home. Sydney is about 1 hour 45 minutes away by car; see Sydney to Kiama.

If the weather turns, check the clubs' pages for course closures and see our Kiama weather guide and rainy day ideas. When you are ready, check dates.