Visitors can hit-up iconic wine cellars, or explore gourmet dining and local produce at the region’s markets. However, just as everything tastes better with bacon, like most popular tourist centres, a visit to the Barossa is made a whole lot better with golf added to your itinerary. This is a scientific fact.
The Barossa boasts plenty of picturesque courses which offer beautiful vistas and challenging layouts. Venture a little further east, like we will over the following pages and all of a sudden you have a road trip as tasty as any boxload of red you will so easily be coaxed into buying while you’re here.
Whether your plan is to indulge in fine wines or perfect your swing while you’re in the Barossa, the following loose itinerary from the Valley and east towards Berri will allow you to enjoy the best of both worlds, those being golf and the rest of it.
The Barossa, an easy hour’s drive northeast of Adelaide, is a region spanning 40 square-kilometres and is easiest explored by car, which is a great news for golf road trip designers like us.
This picturesque region encompasses the Barossa Valley floor, which is covered in large expanses of vineyards, farmland and historic villages and towns and flanked by rolling hills.
Heading to the Barossa from the City of Churches, the first of the valley’s courses you’ll come across will be Sandy Golf Club. PHOTO: Supplied.
If you’re heading to the Barossa from the City of Churches, the first of the Valley’s courses you’ll come across will be Sandy Creek Golf Club.
Founded in 1904, Sandy Creek is a charming 18-hole, par-72 course stretching 6030 meters. The property is renowned for its impeccably maintained greens and lush fairways, along with strategically placed water hazards and bunkers. Set on gently rolling terrain, it offers sweeping views of
the Barossa Valley from various points. Native flowering gums and shrubs create a habitat for numerous bird species and kangaroos, which are often seen lounging on and around the fairways.
Barossa Valley GC’s Kangaroos won’t heckle you, we promise. PHOTO: Supplied.
Just down the road heading east is Tanunda, a quaint town nestled in the heart of the Barossa. Among its standout features are the Tanunda Pines Golf Club and the adjoining Novotel Barossa Valley Resort.
Over the past 20 years, the golf club has undergone significant enhancements, including redesigned holes, new greens, added bunkers and a transition of all its fairways to Santa Ana couch grass. The course benefits from a surprisingly sandy loam base, which ensures tightly packed fairways and quick, smooth greens.
The next stop on our trip was originally known as the Angaston Golf Club and now goes by the name of Barossa Valley Golf Club. Established in the early 1900s, the club joined the South Australian Golf Association in June 1906. The original nine-hole course, featuring Sand Scrapes, was located on land owned by the late John Dalwitz, situated on the south side of the main road between Angaston and Nuriootpa. Following Dalwitz’s death in 1953, his generosity ensured the land was bequeathed to the Angaston Golf Club. In 1954, plans were made to create an 18-hole layout, leading to the purchase of 162 acres from Penfolds Family Wines Pty Ltd at Kalimna, which was named the “John Dalwitz Links”. The Angaston Golf Club officially became the Barossa Valley Golf Club in 1968.
There are no bunkers on the Waikerie Course. PHOTO: Supplied.
Barossa Valley is a 6026m, par-72 course not very far at all from charming local towns like Nuriootpa, Gawler, Kapunda and the aforementioned Tanunda and Angaston. This members-owned club is set in a peaceful bushland environment, where kangaroos and rare bird species can often be seen being smug that they’re not human and therefore don’t have to hold down jobs. Nonetheless, you and your golfing partners will still enjoy the serene beauty of this gem of a layout.
Making our way out of the Barossa and into the Riverland towards our final destination of Berri, after about an hour and a half behind the wheel cruising on the Sturt Highway, you’ll arrive at Waikerie. Situated about 10km northwest at Sunlands, Waikerie Golf and Country Club and Villas is nestled among rolling sand hills covered with citrus groves.
Despite its modest size, the course delivers exceptional enjoyment for all levels of players and is fantastically conditioned. The layout spans gently undulating terrain surrounded by thousands of box trees and mallee scrub. There are no bunkers on this course, so you can leave your sand wedge at home. Instead, the thoughtfully designed and meticulously maintained green complexes, along with their surroundings, more than compensate for the lack of bunkers. The funds saved from bunker upkeep have been wisely invested in irrigation and creating pristine playing surfaces.
Barmera GC among the riverland’s prestigious golf courses. PHOTO: Supplied.
The layout is one of the Riverland’s premier golf courses. An 18-hole par 72 layout, 5936 metres long with bent grass greens, this is a long and undulating course with doglegs and grassy mounds, which well and truly add to the challenge.
Its feature holes are the 6th, a short Par-3 with trees hiding the green; the 8th hole, a dog-leg to the right with out of bounds to the left and the 13th and 15th “double greens” – one of only two examples in South Australia.
The club’s Golf Package includes unlimited rounds during your stay at the Waikerie Golf and Country Club Villas, as well as one continental breakfast per person during a minimum two-night stay. The Villas feature all the mod-cons, including free Wi-Fi and parking, fresh linen and kitchenettes.
Keep driving for another 45 minutes along the Sturt and you’ll discover Barmera Golf Club, another of the Riverland’s prestigious golf courses. Situated in the heart of Barmera, this great community-run club, which is chock-full of passionate members, offers visitors the chance to play a challenging, yet fun golf course. It isn’t just us who think so – the club received the Golf SA Club of the Year Award for 2022. Two and a half hours from Adelaide, Barmera GC is a par 72, 18-hole course with pristine fairways and exceptionally good greens. Located in the middle of town, it offers modern accommodation onsite, excellent clubhouse facilities, a practice fairway and nets to help you prepare you for your round.
PHOTO: Supplied.
Even though the final stop on our sojourn is tantalisingly close, Renmark Country Club, a little further along the A20 from Barmera, is well worth a visit before heading to the Loxton and Berri courses. Renmark’s parkland property features meticulously maintained couch fairways bordered by mature pine trees and interspersed with water hazards. Stretching 6,120 meters, the par-72 layout is mostly flat and comfortable to walk. Notably, the 11th hole is celebrated as one of the finest in regional South Australia.
Half an hour’s drive south (yes, passing Berri, our final stop, but not actually stopping there yet because that would ruin our cleverly alliterative feature story title), The Loxton Golf Club and its major sponsor, the community-owned award-winning Loxton Hotel, invite you to “stay and play” with them.
Loxton’s 18-hole, fully irrigated course was ranked in a top 100 Australian country courses list and a list of top 40 Australian public access courses, with green fees of less than $40.
Featuring colourful native vegetation and abundant wildlife, Loxton GC is enjoyable for golfers of all levels. It presents a good challenge, but is fair and rewarding for good play at the same time. The greens are regarded by many top golfers as among the best outside Adelaide for their consistency and high quality.
Located on the outskirts of Loxton, the par 72, 6,100 metre course boasts outstanding Santa-Anna couch fairways, providing a lush, high-quality playing surface all year round.
There are bunkers on 10 holes and a variety of grassy mounds on the surrounds of most holes as well. A highlight is the signature 8th, a stunning dogleg right, with the second shot to a testing, sloping green.
The magnificent and massive Loxton Hotel, like all good pubs, situated in the town’s main street, has 30 motel suites opening to private balconies – some offering spectacular views over the Murray River and others overlooking the sparkling under-shade pool and beautifully landscaped free guest barbeque area.
Open early until late seven days a week, Loxton Hotel’s six spectacular food and beverage zones, dine-in or alfresco, provide golfers with plenty of opportunities for a little rest and relaxation during their stay. Their bistro is acknowledged as one of the best places to dine in the Riverland, with its brilliant blend of pub favourites and modern Australian cuisine.
From Loxton, a quick 20-minute dash north on Bookpurnong Road is the finish line of our epic Barossa Valley to Berri journey. Berri Golf Club offers a challenging 18-hole golf course, and is another layout ideally positioned within the township. The course is open seven days a week for social golf and provides players with a spectacular fully irrigated course. The Big River Tavern, meanwhile, provides full bar service and bistro dining, while the on-course accommodation makes staying and playing easy. As well, a fleet of 15 golf carts is available for hire.
The great Scottish architect Alister MacKenzie visited Adelaide in the early 1920s and wrote: “The ideal hole is surely one that affords greatest pleasure to the greatest number, gives the fullest advantage for accurate play, stimulates players to improve their games and never becomes monotonous. Multiply that by 18 and you have an ideal golf course.”
Multiply that again by nine or ten and you have the perfect Barossa Valley to Berri golf road trip.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE
Wine Tasting at Penfolds
Experience world-renowned wines at Penfolds, where you can tour the historic winery and sample their celebrated selections. Enjoy a guided tasting session and learn about the rich heritage of one of Australia’s most iconic wine brands.
PHOTO: Supplied.
Explore the Barossa Farmers Market
Visit the Barossa Farmers Market to discover fresh local produce, gourmet foods and artisanal products. It is a great way to experience the region’s culinary delights and meet local vendors.
Barossa Valley Chocolate Company tour
Delight in a visit to the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, where you can indulge in handcrafted chocolates and confectioneries. Join a factory tour to see how these delectable treats are made and sample a variety of flavours.
Cruise the Murray River
Embark on a leisurely cruise along the Murray River to soak in picturesque landscapes and spot local wildlife. Enjoy the serene beauty of the river while learning about its rich history and significance to the region.
PHOTO: Supplied.
Hike in the Barossa Ranges
Enjoy scenic hikes in the Barossa Ranges, where trails offer stunning views of the valley and surrounding landscapes. This is a perfect way to appreciate the natural beauty and tranquility of the region.
Maggie Beer Farm Shop
Discover the Farm Shop for a taste of gourmet products made by the renowned chef. Explore the farm, sample a range of local produce and take home some unique culinary treasures.
PHOTO: Supplied.
Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre
Explore the Station’s stunning wetlands and taste a variety of local wines. Take a guided tour through the wetlands and enjoy the scenic beauty of the surrounding vineyards.
WHERE TO PLAY
Barmera Golf Club
Phone: (08) 8588 2350
Website: www.barmeragolfclub.com.au
Loxton Golf Club
Phone: (08) 8584 1490
Website: www.loxtongolf.com.au; www.loxtonhotel.com.au
Waikerie Golf and Country Club and Villas
Phone: (08) 8541 9072
Website: www.waikeriegolf.com.au
Sandy Creek Golf Club
Phone: (08) 8524 4231
Website: www.sandycreekgolf.com.au
Tanunda Pines Golf Club
Phone: (08) 8563 1200
Website: www.tanundapines.com.au
Barossa Valley Golf Club
Phone: (08) 8562 1589
Website: www.barossavalleygolf.com.au
Renmark Country Club
Phone: (08) 8586 8200
Website: www.renmarkcountryclub.com.au
Berri Golf Club
Phone: (08) 8582 3425
Website: www.berrigolf.com.au
© Golf Australia. All rights reserved.