Best Golf Courses for Kids in Adelaide's South: Woodcroft
Two neighbouring Woodcroft clubs, both MyGolf-affiliated, compared for families in Adelaide's southern suburbs.
Adelaide's southern suburb of Woodcroft is home to two neighbouring golf clubs, both running genuine junior pathways through the national MyGolf program.
Thaxted Park Golf Club — Woodcroft
Thaxted Park Golf Club is a member-based club whose junior program has a genuine track record: the club cites several junior graduates who went on to professional golf careers, including Adam Bland.
Runs a "Junior Academy" delivered by the club's PGA professionals alongside the national MyGolf program, structured across three development stages and open to juniors of all abilities and ages. Specific age brackets and fees weren't published — confirm with the club directly.
The Vines Golf Club — Woodcroft
The Vines Golf Club is a Par 71 course styled as the "gateway to Adelaide's southern wine region", supporting the MyGolf program with term-based sessions.
Runs Saturday morning lessons during school term and offers junior membership at what the club describes as "attractive rates", though a specific figure wasn't published — worth a call to the pro shop for current pricing.
Which has the stronger track record?
Thaxted Park's Junior Academy has a documented history of producing professional golfers, giving it a genuine development pedigree beyond a typical beginner clinic.
At a glance
The 2 venues covered in this guide, side by side. "Junior program on file" means our directory holds specific evidence of a junior program, clinic or membership pathway at that club - not simply that children are permitted to play.
| Course | Holes | Type | Public access | Junior program on file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thaxted Park Golf Club (Woodcroft) | Not on file | Full-length course | Limited / conditional | Yes |
| The Vines Golf Club (Woodcroft) | 18 | Full-length course | Limited / conditional | Yes |
Compiled from our course directory records for the venues listed in this guide. Clubs change their junior offerings and access rules between seasons - confirm current details with the club before travelling.
How to read this
Public access is the column most worth checking first. "Public" means anyone can book a tee time. "Limited / conditional" means visitor access exists but comes with conditions - a member introduction, restricted days, or a booking window. "Private members' club" means casual visitor play generally is not available, and a junior would usually need a member connection or a place in a club program.
Every venue in this guide is a full-length course. For a child who has never played a full round, consider starting on the practice facilities or asking the club whether juniors can play a shortened loop, since a full 18 is a long walk for a beginner.
Before you book
2 of these 2 venues have a junior program, clinic or junior membership pathway recorded in our directory: Thaxted Park Golf Club, The Vines Golf Club. Those are the ones most likely to have coaching, junior competition or a structured pathway rather than only green-fee access.
2 of them are private or limited-access (Thaxted Park Golf Club, The Vines Golf Club). Call ahead before making the trip: conditions vary between clubs and change with the season.
Two questions are worth asking on the phone that club websites rarely answer clearly: whether juniors pay a discounted green fee when playing with a paying adult, and whether the club hires out junior clubs. Both make a first visit considerably cheaper, and both are common even at clubs that don't advertise them.