Best Golf Courses for Kids in Geelong
Six real public courses across Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, from a council-run beginner course to a structured junior pathway at Curlewis.
Victoria's second-largest city has a genuinely strong spread of public golf courses, from a council-run beginner course built for four-year-olds to a structured junior pathway on the Bellarine Peninsula.
Barwon Valley Golf Club - Belmont
Barwon Valley Golf Club is an 18-hole public course in Belmont, just minutes from central Geelong, with discounted junior green fees and junior membership categories.
One of the regular host venues for the Geelong Junior Golf Academy's school-term coaching clinics.
Curlewis Golf Club - Curlewis
Curlewis Golf Club runs one of the Bellarine Peninsula's most developed junior pathways, from school-holiday beginner clinics through to a competitive Junior Flyers membership ($289/yr) with an official handicap.
Its adjoining Range @ Curlewis facility adds a two-tier mini-golf course and driving range bays, priced for kids under 12.
Queenscliff Golf Club - Queenscliff
Queenscliff Golf Club is set on Swan Island at the tip of the Bellarine Peninsula, open to public green-fee play with clearly discounted junior rates ($20 for 9 holes, $25 for 18).
A cadet membership for under-12s ($90/yr) makes it an affordable entry point for young golfers.
East Geelong Golf Club - East Geelong
East Geelong Golf Club is a budget-friendly, publicly accessible course winding through Eastern Park and the Botanical Gardens, with very low-cost green fees.
Hosts periodic Geelong Junior Golf Academy clinics for primary-school-aged beginners.
Balyang Par 3 Golf Course - Newtown
Balyang Par 3 Golf Course is a council-run par-3/short course in Newtown, right by the Balyang Sanctuary, open 7 days a week.
Purpose-built as an easy, low-cost introduction to golf for young children and families - only a pitching wedge and putter are needed, with club hire available.
13th Beach Golf Links (Short Course) - Barwon Heads
13th Beach Golf Links is best known for its championship Beach Course, but its purpose-built 9-hole Short Course is open to the public and ideally scaled for junior beginners.
Backed by a junior membership pathway across five age brackets for families wanting to progress further. (Note: the complex's separate Creek Course is private/members-only.)
Where should a four-year-old start?
Balyang Par 3 in Newtown is purpose-built for absolute beginners as young as four, with no need for a full set of clubs.
At a glance
The 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barwon Valley Golf Club (Belmont) | 18 | Full-length course | Public | Yes |
| Curlewis Golf Club (Curlewis) | Not on file | Full-length course | Public | Yes |
| Queenscliff Golf Club (Queenscliff) | Not on file | Full-length course | Public | Yes |
| East Geelong Golf Club (East Geelong) | Not on file | Full-length course | Public | Yes |
| Balyang Par 3 Golf Course (Newtown) | Not on file | Par-3 course | Public | Yes |
| 13th Beach Golf Links (Short Course) (Barwon Heads) | 9 | Short course | Public | 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.
Course length matters more than parents expect for a first outing. 2 of the 6 venues here are a shorter format - a par-3, short course, pitch and putt, practice facility or 9-hole layout - which usually means a faster round, less walking and less pressure from groups behind. For a child who has never played a full round, that is normally the better starting point than a championship-length course.
Before you book
6 of these 6 venues have a junior program, clinic or junior membership pathway recorded in our directory: Barwon Valley Golf Club, Curlewis Golf Club, Queenscliff Golf Club, East Geelong Golf Club, Balyang Par 3 Golf Course, 13th Beach Golf Links (Short Course). Those are the ones most likely to have coaching, junior competition or a structured pathway rather than only green-fee access.
All the venues listed here are recorded as public access, so a parent can normally book without a member connection. Tee-time availability still varies, especially on weekend mornings.
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.