By David Luis 
Sanctuary Lakes does not look like most Melbourne golf. Instead of Sandbelt heath and tea-tree, you get wide couch fairways, big lakes and a links-flavoured routing laid over the old Cheetham Salt Works flats at Point Cook.
It is also one of the few Greg Norman courses in Australia that you can simply book. A$95 for 18 holes is a fair question mark against the name on the gates. This Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club review weighs what that fee buys.
GCR Score: 4.2 / 5
Verdict: Recommended for western-suburbs golfers who want a proper championship layout open to the public.
Best For: Public golfers in Melbourne’s west, Greg Norman design fans, members chasing reciprocal rights
Think Twice If: You want Sandbelt turf, a walk-on bargain or a quiet, sheltered round
Last Reviewed: 4 October 2026.
At a Glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | 70 Greg Norman Drive, Sanctuary Lakes (Point Cook) VIC 3030 |
| Course type | Links-style, lake-laced championship layout |
| Holes / par | 18 holes, par 72 |
| Length | 6,489m from the black tees; five tee sets down to 5,313m |
| Designer | Greg Norman Golf Course Design, lead designer Bob Harrison; opened 2000 |
| Public green fee | A$95 for 18 holes, A$55 for 9 (club website) |
| Access | Open to the public seven days a week; golf shop from 6:30am |
| Gold 7-day membership | A$2,960 plus A$109 Golf Australia fee and A$120 works levy |
| Dress code | Collared shirt on course; neat attire in clubhouse, denim allowed inside |
| Phone | (03) 9395 2888 |
| Official website | Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club |
All prices are Australian dollars. Confirm GST, twilight availability and current rates directly before booking.
What You Are Actually Playing
This is a big, open, windy course that rewards a ball flight you can control. The club promotes water carries, driveable par 4s and large bunkers. The fairways are Santa Ana couch and the greens are bent.
The tee choice is generous. The black tees stretch to 6,489m at a slope of 136, but there are blue, white, pink and red options too, so a mixed group can play together without anyone suffering.
The site matters. This used to be part of the Cheetham Salt Works, which explains the flat, exposed feel and why the ground is so open. Golf Australia lists the course in its Top 100, and Australian Golf Digest ranked it 74th nationally in 2024-25, as GolfPass lists.
Our key takeaway: it is a championship test on a flat canvas. Judge it on shot-making and wind management, not on dramatic elevation.
Green Fees and Hire
Visitors pay A$95 for 18 holes or A$55 for nine. That is for the public, and the club is open seven days.
| Item | 18 holes | 9 holes |
|---|---|---|
| Public green fee | A$95 | A$55 |
| Pull buggy | A$10 | A$5 |
| Golf cart | A$55 | A$30 |
| Club rental | A$40 | A$25 |
Older directory listings still show a much lower green fee of around A$66, so ignore any site that has not been updated. The club’s green fee page carries the current numbers. Weekday, weekend and twilight splits are not shown there, so ask when you book.
Membership
The subscription ladder is wide, with age steps that suit younger golfers. Every golf category also adds a Golf Australia fee, and most add a works levy.
| Category | Subscription | Extras |
|---|---|---|
| Gold (7-day) | A$2,960 | A$109 Golf Australia fee + A$120 works levy |
| Silver (5-day) | A$1,920 | A$109 + A$120 |
| Intermediate 3 (31-35) | A$2,422 | A$109 + A$120 |
| Intermediate 2 (26-30) | A$1,935 | A$109 + A$120 |
| Intermediate 1 (21-25) | A$1,212 | A$109 + A$120 |
| Young Adult (18-20) | A$885 | A$109 + A$120 |
| Junior (17 and under) | A$551 | A$79 Golf Australia fee |
| Lifestyle (7-day) | A$850 | A$109 + A$120; includes 10 rounds over 365 days |
The official membership page lists reciprocal rights to more than 18 clubs and Board Event eligibility for most categories. A joining fee is not shown on that page, so ask before you sign.
The Lifestyle option costs A$850 for ten rounds. Add the A$109 Golf Australia fee and A$120 works levy and the total is A$1,079, or about A$108 a round. That is more than the A$95 public fee, so it only pays off if the extra membership benefits matter to you. A free Social membership for non-golfers adds dining discounts. For national context, see what Australian golf clubs publish.
The Junior Story
A Golf Australia feature explains how the club paid off its original developer in 2015, after about 15 years of operation, and then pivoted hard towards the community. Its Cadet membership costs A$79 a year with instruction included, and a Parent Flexi option at A$99 drew more than 120 members in its first months.
That context matters. It explains why a Greg Norman club feels family-friendly, and why the terrace welcomes non-golfers.
Facilities
- Driving range and golf academy
- Golf pro shop
- Greg Norman Bar and Restaurant
- Members lounge
- Lakeside clubhouse for functions and events
The Greg Norman Bar and Restaurant overlooks the course and lake. The club has said it wants the wider community to enjoy the terrace, so a post-round meal should not need a membership; confirm opening hours with the club.
Best Time to Visit
Autumn and spring give you the best of the weather and the turf. On a flat site with no tree cover, wind is the main variable, so check the forecast before you book. A stiff breeze across open ground and water changes club selection on every hole.
Summer afternoons can be hot, so morning tee times suit. Winter rounds are cooler and usually breezier. The site is flat.
Dress Code
On course, wear clean golf attire with a collared shirt. Singlets, sleeveless tops, football-style shorts and bare feet are out, and shoes must be non-metal spike. In the clubhouse, neat or smart casual is fine, and denim and hats are acceptable.
Getting There and Nearby Alternatives
Sanctuary Lakes is about 25 minutes from the CBD via the West Gate Freeway, according to the club. Parking is on site.
Prefer an inner-east private club? Read our Box Hill Golf Club review. For a Victorian coastal comparison, see the Curlewis on the Bellarine Peninsula. More courses are in our Melbourne and regional Victorian course reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the public play Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club?
Yes. The club says it is open to the public seven days a week. The published public green fee is A$95 for 18 holes or A$55 for nine, with the golf shop opening from 6:30am.
Who designed Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club?
Greg Norman Golf Course Design created the course, with Bob Harrison as lead designer. It opened in 2000 on the former Cheetham Salt Works site at Point Cook and plays as a par 72.
How long is Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club?
From the black tees the course measures 6,489m with a slope of 136. Blue, white, pink and red tees shorten the round, down to 5,313m, so mixed groups can play together. The course is a par 72 and the site is flat and exposed to wind.
How much is Sanctuary Lakes membership?
Gold 7-day membership is A$2,960 plus a A$109 Golf Australia fee and A$120 works levy. Silver 5-day is A$1,920. Lifestyle membership is A$850 and includes ten rounds. A joining fee is not published.
Is Sanctuary Lakes worth A$95?
For a par-72 Greg Norman layout with five tee sets and an on-site restaurant, yes for most golfers. Expect a flat, windy links-style test rather than Sandbelt sand and heather. Lifestyle membership works out higher per round than A$95.
Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Open to the public seven days with a clear published fee
- Five tee sets suit mixed-ability groups
- Greg Norman layout with water carries and driveable par 4s, listed in Golf Australia’s Top 100 per GolfPass
- Wide membership ladder with age steps and a Lifestyle option
- Junior programme and on-site restaurant
What Could Be Better
- Flat, exposed site with little wind protection
- A$95 is not cheap for a public round in outer Melbourne
- Weekday, weekend and twilight splits are not listed online
- Joining fee is not shown on the membership page
Final Verdict
Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club earns 4.2 out of 5. It is a legitimately good course that anyone can book, with sensible tee choices and a club that has clearly worked on its community.
The price is fair rather than cheap and the flat site will not thrill architecture purists. If you live west of the city and want a serious round without chasing a member, it is an easy recommendation.
See how it stacks up against Australia’s best in our Best Golf Clubs in Australia roundup.
Author Note
I score championship-style public courses on design, price clarity and how easy they make it to book. How we score is set out on our review methodology page.
Last reviewed: 4 October 2026. Rates and access can change; confirm directly before travelling.
