By David Luis 
Torquay Golf Club is a public Great Ocean Road course where 18 holes cost A$100 to A$110 for non-members. It scores 4.3 out of 5 in our Torquay Golf Club review. The setting justifies the price off-peak, and the A$80 May to August afternoon rate is the best value.
The club began in 1920, grew to 18 holes in 1952 and was bought by RACV in October 2008. Ogilvy Clayton, the Geoff Ogilvy and Mike Clayton design team, reworked the current course. It sits at the start of the Great Ocean Road, about 75 minutes from Melbourne.
GCR Score: 4.3 / 5
Verdict: Recommended for a Surf Coast golf trip, especially off-peak or on the cheaper May to August afternoon rate.
Best For: Visitors on a Great Ocean Road trip, stay-and-play guests, RACV members
Think Twice If: You want a cheap round at peak times or a purely local-feeling club
Last Reviewed: 4 October 2026.
At a Glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Great Ocean Road, Torquay VIC 3228 |
| Course type | Links-style layout with wetlands, lakes and ocean views |
| Holes / par | 18 holes, par 71 |
| Length | White tees 5,670m (slope 129); yellow tees 5,145m (slope 130); black tees listed at 6,347 yards |
| Designer | Ogilvy Clayton (Geoff Ogilvy and Mike Clayton) |
| Ownership | RACV since October 2008; club started in 1920 |
| Hours | Open daily, 7am to 6pm |
| Public 18 holes (off-peak) | A$100 non-member; A$80 RACV member |
| Public 18 holes (peak) | A$110 non-member; A$90 RACV member |
| Ordinary 7-day membership | A$2,358.41 a year (2026-27) plus a A$400 joining fee |
| Phone | (03) 5261 1677 |
| Official website | Torquay Golf Club |
All prices are Australian dollars and GST inclusive. Peak periods run Friday to Sunday, public holidays and 26 December to 25 April. Rates can change.
How a Local Club Became a Resort Course
The club history reads like a small-town story. It started in October 1920 on crown land, shifted across Spring Creek in 1924, and in 1933 landowner Alfred White gifted the leased land rather than collect the agreed 500 pounds.
The 18-hole par-70 course opened in October 1952 after five members bought 123 acres, subdivided half into house lots and sold the rest to the club below market value. In 1959 the clubhouse was moved using a building from the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
It is a nice bit of Victorian golf history, and it explains why the club has more than 1,250 members today.
The Course Today
It is now a wide-open links-style course with couch fairways, wetlands and ocean views. RACV describes the fairways as generally wide and inviting, and Inside Golf praised the greens as “true, yet tricky”.
Hazards include bunkers, wetlands and lakes. Course ratings vary by listing. One source lists a slope of 133 and a rating of 72.0 from the black tees, while the club’s own tee table shows slopes of 129 and 130 from the white and yellow tees.
A fair warning: some listings still show the older par-70 numbers from the pre-RACV era. Use the current par 71 card. Our Inside Golf travel source recommends playing it any time you are in the area and calls it suitable for all levels.
Our key takeaway: the setting is the star. The course is playable by mixed groups and pretty enough to forgive a poor score.
Green Fees
| Time | Non-member 18 | RACV member 18 | Non-member 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-peak (Mon-Thu) | A$100 | A$80 | A$80 |
| Peak (Fri-Sun, holidays, 26 Dec-25 Apr) | A$110 | A$90 | A$85 |
| Special rate (May-Aug, Mon and Thu from 1pm) | A$80 | A$55 | Not listed |
Juniors pay A$25 to A$35, and under-10s play free with a paying adult. Cart hire for non-members is A$65 for 18 holes (A$70 in peak), and club hire starts around A$35.
The sweet spot is the May to August afternoon rate. A$80 for 18 holes at the start of the Great Ocean Road on a winter Monday is a better deal than the A$110 peak weekend price, though you will be playing in winter weather.
Public players register as a public member on the booking page first, then view tee times. Whether a handicap is needed is not stated there, so ask.
Membership
Membership is split by age and playing days, with a published 2026-27 schedule. That openness is a plus.
| Class | 5-day | 6-day | 7-day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary (25+) | A$1,533.41 | A$1,918.41 | A$2,358.41 |
| Intermediate (18-24) | A$625.91 | A$796.41 | A$972.41 |
| Junior (under 18) | A$291.93 | A$357.93 | A$407.43 |
The joining fee is A$400 for ordinary members and A$200 for intermediates. Juniors pay none. RACV “Years of Membership” discounts run from 0% to 20% on subs, so long-term RACV members pay less.
The 5-day option is split by gender, with men restricted on certain days and women on others, and male 6- and 7-day members face a restriction until Tuesday afternoon. Read the conditions before you pick a category. For national context, see what Australian golf clubs actually charge.
Facilities and Stay and Play
- Practice area with practice bunkers
- Cleveland hire clubs and electric carts
- Restaurant, bistro and full bar
- Sports Lounge (White’s Paddock)
- 92 ocean or course-view rooms at the RACV resort
- Day spa, tennis courts, heated indoor pool and gym
The resort side matters. You can book accommodation, golf and dinner in one place, which makes it suit a weekend away rather than just a round.
Dress Code
Standard golf wear is expected: tailored pants or shorts with a collared shirt. Neat denim and women’s active wear are allowed alternatives. Sporting shorts or socks, loose tracksuit pants, ripped clothing, male singlets, non-enclosed shoes and midriff-baring tops are out.
The club also asks for “Ready Golf” and aims for rounds of around four hours and 12 minutes. Soft spikes are required.
Best Time to Visit
Late April to May is the sweet spot. Peak pricing ends on 25 April and the weather is usually still mild. Spring is the next best.
Summer is busy and priced at peak rates. Winter is cold and wet, but the A$80 afternoon rate is hard to ignore.
Nearby Alternatives
Across the water, our Curlewis coastal course review covers another Victorian coastal option on the Bellarine Peninsula. For a private Peninsula alternative, see how Sorrento Golf Club compares. Browse our Surf Coast and Victorian course reviews for more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to play Torquay Golf Club?
Non-members pay A$100 for 18 holes Monday to Thursday and A$110 in peak periods. Nine holes costs A$80 or A$85. RACV members pay less, and a May to August afternoon special is A$80.
Who designed the Torquay Golf Club course?
Ogilvy Clayton, the design partnership of Geoff Ogilvy and Mike Clayton, reworked the course after RACV bought the club in 2008. The redeveloped course is a par 71 with wide couch fairways, wetlands, lakes and ocean views.
How much is Torquay Golf Club membership?
For 2026-27, ordinary 7-day membership costs A$2,358.41, 6-day A$1,918.41 and 5-day A$1,533.41. Ordinary members also pay a one-off A$400 joining fee, and juniors pay no joining fee.
Is Torquay Golf Club owned by RACV?
Yes. The club says RACV purchased it in October 2008 and then upgraded its facilities into the current resort complex. The club itself was founded in October 1920. RACV members pay lower green fees, for example A$80 instead of A$100 off-peak.
How far is Torquay Golf Club from Melbourne?
About 75 minutes by road, according to travel coverage. It is at 1 Great Ocean Road, Torquay, at the gateway to the Great Ocean Road and Surf Coast.
Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Ogilvy Clayton design with wide fairways and ocean views
- Clear published fees and membership schedule
- Resort facilities for stay-and-play weekends
- Discounted May to August afternoon rate
- Welcoming to all abilities
What Could Be Better
- A$110 peak rate is high for a public round
- Resort feel can overshadow the local-club character
- Cart hire adds A$65 to A$70
- Some listings still show outdated par and length figures
- Access can change on event days, so check the booking page before you travel
Final Verdict
Torquay Golf Club earns 4.3 out of 5. It is a handsome, well-run coastal course with honest published prices and a resort wrapped around it.
Pay peak money and it feels fair rather than a steal. Go off-peak or take the winter afternoon deal and it is excellent value for a Surf Coast round.
See how it stacks up against Australia’s best in our Best Golf Clubs in Australia roundup.
Author Note
I score resort-owned clubs on the course first and the packaging second. 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.
