The Journal · 24 May 2026
Crescent Head Country Club — golf, tennis, bowls
The Crescent Head Country Club sits on the headland — home to Australia's only accredited six-hole golf course, plus tennis, bowls and a bistro. A local guide.
The country club is the second-best view in Crescent Head. The first is from the deck. The second is from the third tee, looking south across the bay while you choose between a 7 iron and the wrong club.
It’s two minutes’ walk from The Deck — down the hill, across Pacific Street. You can play a casual six before lunch, hit the tennis courts in the afternoon, roll a few ends on the bowling green when it’s too hot to do anything else, and stay for dinner. All of it sits on the same patch of headland, all of it open to non-members.
The golf course — six holes, on the headland
Here’s the fun fact: Crescent Head is home to Australia’s only accredited six-hole golf course — a genuinely unusual layout that runs along the southern side of the headland. Several holes look directly out to the ocean — you’ll lose more balls to distraction than to slice.
It has the kind of unselfconscious charm that newer resort courses spend a lot of money trying to fake. Greens are fast. Fairways are honest. Cows on the fence line.
- Green fees: modest, and hire clubs are available.
- Best time to play: early morning, especially in winter when the light is gold and the wind hasn’t picked up.
- Walk from The Deck: 8 minutes. Yes, with clubs.
- Worth knowing: the bar at the clubhouse is open all afternoon. Plan accordingly.
Tennis — two courts overlooking the bay
The country club has two synthetic-grass tennis courts that overlook the estuary and the back beaches. Bookings via the club. Friendly, social, very Crescent.
- Court hire is reasonable. Racquets and balls available to borrow.
- Best in the morning or late afternoon — the courts are exposed.
Bowls — every Sunday afternoon
The bowling green at the country club is full-size, well kept, and the social hub of the over-60 crowd in town. Visitors are welcome. Barefoot bowls Sunday afternoons in summer is more fun than it has any right to be.
- Sets and shoes available at the office.
- Cold pint at the clubhouse bar after.
Mini golf — the new addition
Crescent Head’s new 18-hole mini golf course is right next door to the country club. Built around a small lake with wooden bridges, native plants, and the kind of obstacles that ruin the scorecard but make for great photos with the kids.
- Family-friendly, dog-friendly (on lead).
- Walk from The Deck: 9 minutes.
- Best time: late afternoon, before dinner at the club.
The clubhouse — open to everyone
Don’t sleep on the clubhouse. The bar opens at 11am most days. The bistro does honest pub food — steak, schnitzel, fish, the usual. The view from the deck (their deck, not ours) is exceptional. Sunday lunch is a Crescent institution.
- Open to non-members.
- Bookings recommended on weekends.
- Sunday lunch is the move.
A perfect club afternoon
Walk down from The Deck around 11am. Play the six. Beer at the clubhouse bar. Wander next door for eighteen holes of mini golf with whoever you brought. Walk back up the hill in time to nap before dinner.
Or: Sunday lunch at the club, barefoot bowls after, walk home along the headland as the sun goes down.