Royal Canberra Golf Club

Royal 27-hole parkland set within the Westbourne Woods arboretum

Royal Canberra Golf Club is a private, 27-hole championship parkland course in Yarralumla, Australia, established in 1913 and located about eight minutes from the Canberra CBD. Set within the Westbourne Woods arboretum, it comprises three nine-hole loops — the Westbourne, Yarralumla and Brindabella Courses — playing to a combined par of 109 over roughly 9,157 metres with 86 mapped bunkers. The layout was designed by Commander John Harris in 1962, with later work by Thomson, Wolveridge and Perrett (1997) and a 2016 redevelopment by Ogilvy Clayton Cocking Mead. Facilities include a driving range, putting green, pro shop, restaurant and dining, clubhouse, coaching, cart and club hire, and parking.

Players consistently describe Royal Canberra as a stunning, beautifully presented parkland test, with the tree-lined fairways and lake views of the Westbourne Woods setting drawing particular praise. The original Westbourne holes are often singled out for their superb conditioning and variety, and many reviewers rate the overall experience among the best they've played. The welcoming staff and elegant clubhouse earn frequent mention, reinforcing its reputation as a premier venue for both golf and functions such as weddings. The mix of three nine-hole loops gives the round a varied, scenic character that visitors say leaves them keen to return. The occasional note about seasonal maintenance, such as sand top-dressed greens, is worth checking before booking, but the prevailing impression is of a polished and memorable course.