Lakeside Country Club

A quick, challenging par-3 layout among Gold Coast wetlands and roaming kangaroos

Lakeside Country Club is a 9-hole, par-28 parkland course in Coombabah on Queensland's Gold Coast, open on a daily-fee basis with no membership required. The layout consists of eight par 3s and one par 4 over a narrow, tree-lined track dotted with bunkers, with an average round taking about 1.5 hours. Wedged between protected wetlands and Lake Coombabah, the course is home to abundant wildlife including kangaroos, koalas, goannas, swans, ducks and the occasional snake. Facilities include a pro shop, cart hire and club hire.

Lakeside enjoys a reputation as a relaxed, scenic spot for a quick fix of golf, and players regularly highlight the novelty of sharing the fairways with kangaroos and other wildlife. Don't be deceived by all those par 3s — visitors note the narrow corridors, trees and bunkers make this a genuinely challenging test of your iron play. The course is generally praised as tidy and well kept for a nine-holer, and many golfers describe it as a welcoming, social club popular with players of all ages and abilities. Impressions of the experience are largely warm and positive, though service can feel uneven depending on the day. Bring a camera, and if you're visiting as a tourist, plan your transport ahead, as the location can be tricky to reach without your own car.