By 
GCR Score: 4.5 / 5
Verdict: Highly recommended for Sydney’s most complete public coastal golf experience
Best For: Links fans, visitors, photographers, and golfers comfortable in strong wind
Think Twice If: You dislike exposed conditions or expect inexpensive suburban green fees
Last Reviewed: 2 July 2026
I would play Long Reef Golf Club for the setting even before studying the scorecard. The course occupies an extraordinary Collaroy headland, with ocean visible from every tee and green. This Long Reef Golf Club review explains why the round mostly justifies its premium.
The course is public, unlike many scenic Sydney clubs. Current guide prices run from A$82 Monday through Thursday to A$93 on weekends. Those rates buy a genuine links-style challenge, not merely attractive photographs.
Wind changes the course more than raw length. A calm 5,955-metre layout can become brutal when the southerly arrives. Peter Thomson once called this Sydney’s best golf-course site.
Membership presents the opposite access story. Every category is full, with a significant waitlist and a A$7,500 adult joining fee. I will cover those costs, visitor booking, ratings, standout holes, conditions, and nearby alternatives.
For me, public access makes the spectacular setting genuinely useful rather than merely aspirational.
At a Glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Anzac Avenue, Collaroy NSW 2097 |
| Course Type | Coastal links-style |
| Holes | 18, par 71 |
| Course Length | 5,955m from black markers |
| Black Rating | Scratch 72, slope 128 |
| Green Fees | A$82–A$93 for 18 holes |
| Visitor Access | Public social golf seven days |
| Membership | Full; significant waitlist |
| Dress Code | Strict |
| Buggy Hire | Confirm live booking price |
| Founded | 1921 |
| Phone | (02) 9971 8113; pro shop (02) 9982 2943 |
| Official Website | Long Reef Golf Club |
All prices are Australian dollars. Confirm the live tee sheet and GST treatment before payment.
Course Overview
Image: Long Reef Golf Club
Long Reef is a compact championship course whose exposure makes it play much longer. The black markers measure 5,955 metres against par 71.
The club began during 1921. Dan Soutar shaped the original course, while Peter Thomson completed major redesign work during 1994.
Low dunes, firm contours, coastal rough, and ocean wind create links character. The layout lacks towering trees, so trajectory control matters constantly.
The Golf NSW Long Reef profile confirms public access and ocean views from every tee and green.
Our key takeaway: select clubs for the wind you feel, not the distance printed on the card.
Course Design and Standout Holes
The closing stretch delivers Long Reef’s strongest mix of strategy and scenery. Bunkers, slopes, and changing wind directions prevent repetitive golf.
The 217-metre tenth is a long par three from black markers. Exposed air can add two clubs, while the safer miss changes with wind direction.
The 462-metre fifteenth offers a reachable par five in favourable wind. Into a southerly, even reaching the preferred lay-up zone becomes demanding.
The 400-metre seventeenth is the visual signature. Its ocean-edge setting looks generous from above, yet rolling ground and bunkers complicate every approach.
The 359-metre eighteenth returns toward the clubhouse. Protecting a score requires a controlled drive rather than one last reckless swing.
Green Fees and Visitor Access
Long Reef welcomes public players seven days, but prime coastal times command premium prices. Public online booking is the simplest access route.
| 2026 Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Thursday, 18 holes | A$82 | Current published guide rate |
| Friday, 18 holes | A$87 | Current published guide rate |
| Weekend or public holiday | A$93 | Current published guide rate |
| Twilight | Dynamic | Check public booking portal |
| Club hire | About A$50 | Reserve through pro shop |
| Motorised cart | Confirm pro shop | Weather and availability apply |
The public timesheet opens through MiClub. Social groups and corporate packages are also available, while member competitions protect selected morning periods.
- Check wind and rain before choosing a time.
- Book through the public portal.
- Reserve any cart or hire set separately.
- Confirm maintenance and temporary restrictions.
Course Conditions
Long Reef generally presents firm coastal turf and excellent greens. Exposure helps surfaces dry, although salt, wind, and drought can create seasonal colour changes.
The course can look browner than irrigated parkland without playing poorly. Running shots often suit the design.
Strong rain and wind can close exposed areas or restrict carts. Ask about green renovation dates because premium visitor pricing raises expectations.
Migrating whales and dolphins may appear offshore during winter. They are a genuine bonus, not part of the green-fee guarantee.
Membership and Annual Subscriptions
Long Reef membership is expensive and currently waitlisted across every category. Applicants pay a non-refundable A$200 waitlist fee.
| Category | Published Annual Fee | 2026 Joining Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Seven-day | About A$3,315 | A$7,500 |
| Six-day | About A$2,855 | A$7,500 |
| Five-day | About A$2,380 | A$7,500 |
| Intermediate, 22–25 | About A$1,580 | 25% of adult fee |
| Junior | About A$635 | Confirm club |
Age discounts reduce the joining fee for adults under 40. Annual subscriptions can change before an applicant reaches the front.
Seven-day renewal equals roughly 36 weekend public rounds. First-year break-even exceeds 116 rounds after adding the A$7,500 joining fee.
That calculation ignores competitions, practice access, priority times, and community value. Casual players should remain public visitors.
GA Handicap at Long Reef
Image: Long Reef Golf Club
The black course carries scratch 72 and slope 128. That rating confirms the wind and contours add difficulty beyond modest length.
The red markers measure 5,303 metres, with scratch 76 and slope 134. Women play the published layout to par 73.
A male GA 18 golfer receives about 20 shots from black markers. Daily conditions can alter the final calculation.
Pennant and Competition Golf
Long Reef supports a serious competition culture with events every day. Wednesday is the main men’s competition, while Thursday is reserved for women.
The club fields representative pennant teams and junior pathways. Wind experience gives home players an obvious advantage during interclub matches.
Visitors should ask about open competition places and handicap requirements. Social golf remains available around protected member times.
Reciprocal Rights
Long Reef maintains a broad Australian reciprocal network. Partners include Forster Tuncurry, Tura Beach, Goulburn, Virginia, Kingston Beach, Portsea, and Tocumwal.
Members need a general-manager introduction letter before travel. They should confirm host availability and fees before requesting that letter.
Facilities
The facilities are golf-focused and make excellent use of the ocean setting. The clubhouse overlooks Fishermans Beach.
- Practice: putting green, chipping area, nets, and practice fairway
- Golf shop: coaching, equipment, fittings, carts, and club hire
- Dining: Long Reef Golf Club Café with coastal outlooks
- Accessibility: ParaGolfer equipment supports eligible players
- Events: corporate golf, charity days, weddings, and functions
Best Time to Visit
Image: Long Reef Golf Club
April through May offers the best balance of mild weather and firm turf. September through November brings longer daylight and active coastal breezes.
Winter temperatures commonly sit near 9–19°C. Whale migration adds interest, but exposed mornings can feel colder than Sydney forecasts suggest.
Summer reaches roughly 20–28°C with stronger demand. Early tee times avoid heat, crowds, and the most unsettled afternoon wind.
How to Get There
Long Reef sits about 20 kilometres north of Sydney CBD. Driving usually takes 35–55 minutes, depending on Northern Beaches traffic.
Public buses serve Collaroy, followed by a walk or rideshare. Carrying clubs makes driving easier, and on-site parking is available.
Dress Code
Dress code level: Strict. Men need collared shirts, tailored trousers or shorts, socks, and suitable golf shoes.
Neat denim and cargo-style clothing are allowed, which is unusual. Drawstrings, board shorts, sports shorts, T-shirts, football wear, and steel spikes are prohibited.
Public golfers may wear clean sneakers. Men’s shirts must remain tucked inside trousers or shorts.
Nearby Alternatives
- Bayview Golf Club: sheltered parkland golf with less ocean exposure
- Mona Vale Golf Club: coastal variety and a more suburban setting
- Northbridge Golf Club: shorter, hillier harbour golf at a lower fee
Explore more NSW golf club reviews. Long Reef remains the strongest public coastal option north of Sydney.
Who Is This Club For?
Image: Long Reef Golf Club
This club is a good fit if you value ocean scenery, firm turf, and changing wind strategy.
This club is a good fit if you want premium Sydney golf without a member invitation.
Skip this one if A$90 public golf feels excessive. Skip it during strong wind if high ball flight controls your game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the public play Long Reef Golf Club?
Yes. Long Reef welcomes public and social golfers seven days, subject to member competitions and available tee times. The online MiClub portal is the easiest booking route. Visitors should reserve carts and hire clubs separately, then confirm course maintenance before travelling.
How much are Long Reef Golf Club green fees?
Current 2026 guide rates are A$82 Monday through Thursday and A$87 on Friday. Weekends or public holidays cost A$93. Twilight and promotional pricing can vary through the live booking portal. Confirm the final fee and GST treatment before making payment.
Is Long Reef Golf Club membership open?
No. Long Reef states that every playing category is full and carries a significant waitlist. Applicants pay a A$200 non-refundable membership waitlist application fee. The 2026 adult joining fee is A$7,500, while seven-day annual subscriptions are publicly listed near A$3,315.
What is the Long Reef Golf Club dress code?
Long Reef applies a strict golf dress standard. Collared shirts, tailored clothing, socks, and golf shoes are expected. Clean sneakers and neat denim are allowed for public players. Drawstring clothing, board shorts, T-shirts, football wear, and steel spikes are prohibited.
Is Long Reef a true links golf course?
Long Reef is best described as links-style rather than ancient natural links. Its low coastal ground, firm contours, bunkers, rough, and constant ocean wind produce genuine links strategy. Peter Thomson’s 1994 redesign strengthened those characteristics across the compact headland layout.
What are the best holes at Long Reef?
The long tenth tests club selection in exposed wind. The fifteenth becomes reachable or extremely long depending on direction. The seventeenth is the visual signature beside the open ocean. The eighteenth demands one final controlled drive back toward the clubhouse.
Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Ocean views from every tee and green
- Meaningful public access seven days
- Firm, strategic links-style design
- Excellent greens and memorable closing holes
- Strong practice, junior, and accessibility programmes
What Could Be Better
- Weekend visitor fees approach A$100
- Strong wind can overwhelm inexperienced players
- Every membership category is waitlisted
- A$7,500 joining fee weakens first-year value
Final Verdict
Long Reef Golf Club earns 4.5 out of 5. Public access, coastal strategy, scenery, and conditioning create a standout Sydney experience.
Premium fees and difficult membership reduce value. However, very few accessible courses offer this quality of setting.
Play Long Reef on a manageable wind day. Choose a sheltered alternative when weather or budget matters more than scenery.
See our review methodology for scoring details.
Author Note
I assess golf clubs through current access, design, cost, and the details visitors discover too late. Learn more about our editorial approach.
Last reviewed: 2 July 2026. Rates and access can change; confirm directly before travelling.
