This is probably my best kept secret in Sydney in terms of things to do. I love coming here to…read morezone out, it's like going to a spa, but cheaper! Great new facility complete with bright vibrant colours on the driving range to represent the grass, lakes and sand. Really stunning just to look at, let alone play here! How it works is you pay for the golf balls in the pro shop, head outside to the range to the golf ball dispenser, place a bucket near the nozzle, scan your receipt and watch the magic of the balls being dispensed. There are two levels and there are auto tees in some bays. The driving range is sloped in such a way that the balls drift towards "drains" which suck in the balls and return them to the dispenser. The facility is very well maintained and looks new and sharp. The standout is the staff. They are true professionals, passionate, know their stuff, and friendly. The lessons are expensive but really worth it if you're looking to improve your game - they really helped me as they were personalised to improve specific issues I was having, rather than structured as a crash course on how to play. There is also mini golf with 2 themed courses, a cafe, and the pro shop sells a range of clubs, bags, and other gear. I'm drawn to the pretty vibrant colours of the driving range and they were what got me into golf. Have come back time and time again.

Sweet double storey driving range on one side, putt putt on the other, this place must have been…read morebuilt with dads-who-get-caught-sneaking-out-for-a-few-holes-and-then dumped-with-the kids-while-mum-goes-out-for-errands in mind. There's a spacious and breezy cafe area with decent sandwiches, coffee and cakes which you can take onto the putt putt course, but there are no bins on the one-way course meaning you have to walk through others' games to get to the one near the entrance. None of the fun windmills, castles with drawbridges or dancing monkeys on this putt putt course, it's just stretches of green, pretty wooden bridges and ponds. And since I have no golfing capabilities whatsoever, the many ponds on the 18-hole course just meant wet hands for me. Highest score meant the I won, right?

You'd be hard put to build a 9-hole golf course in the CBD; this is probably the closest you'll…read moreever get - off the northern end of the Harbour Bridge and turn right (well, nearly). Fitting golf around work is never easy and so swinging in somewhere quite so convenient on the the way in or out is a good option. The course itself is reasonable - quite short, but hills that provide some added challenge and a notable water feature on the 6th. Some of the greens are a bit furry and the bunkers could do with some high-tide sand wash, but this is a public course and you're only paying $19 for the privilege. To reach the Clubhouse, you have to navigate a back lane off Park Avenue, and the carpark is squeezy at the best of times. The Pro-shop sells all the necessities, and lots of kids learn their fairway basics on the practice area across the ninth hole (yep, be careful here). Above the Pro-shop club rooms and a function centre are blessed with terrific views across the northern suburbs - especially beautiful at night when the lights are on.

Cammeray is the Augusta National of Sydney…read more Most of its contemporaries are scrubby courses fighting off the encroach of native bushland where any ball hit off-fairway is as lost as lost can be, yet Cammeray boasts long, hilly, beautifully trimmed fairways, silken greens and friendly trees. Some of the holes aren't so much holes as they are sylvan glades; I half expect some of the trees to start talking Ent-style on several of them. The first hole is a doozy . . . right in front of the clubhouse with everyone watching you, you tee off from an eagle's eyrie high up in the sky with the fairway stretching out below you like a magic carpet. Don't duff the tee shot else all the members will laugh at you. With that said, if you nail it and it sails straight and true up into the stratosphere, you can hold your backswing in place while a chorus of appreciative sea-lion grumbles of approval roll over you from the peanut gallery. Man that's a good feeling.

The Bunker, is the restaurant here at the GGC. And how lucky do we have it. Not only do they dish…read moreout great takeaway lunch meals Wed-Sun, and from Thursday to Sunday you can pick-up deliciously prepared meals you finish at home, a COVID lockdown special since we can't dine in. The Bunker team has done a fabulous job with these meals. Instructions are clear on how to finish/re-heat the meals. Portion sizes are generous and mains range from $15-$20. Has been my families special Friday evening meals since lockdown, as the menu changes weekly. So always something different and delicious! There are usually 3 mains to choose from, one dessert and 2 vegetarian options, as well as 1 gluten free option. All bases covered. You need to order 1-day in advance to ensure availability, as it is all made to order, this is not Pre-made in bulk and then portioned out.

What makes for a happy comfortable golf club. I think it's the customer service, which Gordon Golf…read moreClub excels at, club facilities where you can eat and drink after a tough 9 or 18 holes. But it's the golf that counts, how you can play the course. The worst thing for a new golfer (I am a new golfer), is having the stress of making golfers wait for extended periods of time while you hack away at the pristine fairways. The course itself is an excellent learning course, wide fairways, limited difficult hazards and well kept and maintained greens. The course gets extremely busy seven days per week and you will find yourself waiting at each and every hole for at least 5-7 minutes. However, the golf groove is not lost by these hole and T-Off waits because the surroundings are beautiful and peppered with Disney like animals.On a good day of you move fast and play say between a 1 to 2 over per hole the golfer can get through and be drinking in the clubhouse in just about 3.5 hours with space on either side of that time limit. Or you can shorten your golf adventure and play 9 Holes and having a nice lunch at 'The Bunker' (thebunker@gordongolfclub.com). Lesson, there will always be club Knob-heads to keen to offer advice, criticise or inform on club rules and regulation. My advice smile and nod and go on your way. If they become tedious only then tell them in an assertive manner to 'fuck off'.

The waiting list is extensive- so expect to wait a minimum of six months unless you have…read moreconnections. Even then the waiting process can still take months. When applying you need a current member to refer you in your application. Elanora has plenty of social events including family fun days to wine tasting and bridge. Lunch and dinner are available at an additional cost, with the bar stocking plenty of wine, spirits and beer. The Shirley Temple (non-alcoholic lemonade and grenadine) is simply thirst quenching after a long game of golf. Members can either play nine or eighteen holes of golf. Golf carts are available for use, but are somewhat limited in numbers so it is best to book in advance. Private golf lessons are also available. Elanora Country Club has a strict dress code which is outlined on their website. Make sure to abide by these rules to ensure entry into the club. Elanora prides themselves on tradition and it is expected that members dress accordingly. Accommodation is available at Elanora Country Club for members who wish to stay overnight. Elanora Country Club also boasts neatly manicured tennis courts which members frequently hire out. The club can also cater to functions which you have organised.

Private golf club right in the city? Yep, it comes at a price: hefty joining fee, all sorts of…read moremembership application criteria, dress codes, rules and regulations that you have to follow, but hey, this is golf. Membership is worth it if you're looking long term, keen to play regularly, and happy to deal with the 'clubby' stuff - lots of which has been around for a hundred years (like this club). Nine fancy new holes make up the back nine - flat but with the added challenge of plenty of water hazards and glass-fast greens. Nine renovated holes make up the front nine, due to re-open in Autumn 2012. While the course is partly closed, membership numbers are restricted and it's not always easy to get peak time tee-slots, but things look a lot easier once the full eighteen holes are back in play. Very professional golf shop staff - also available for lessons though not clinics while the facilities are depleted. And the clubhouse ... built originally in 1924 it's grand and elegant, posing handsomely above the practice greens. Although members bemoan the decline in the social side of the club, which in its heyday saw functions and get-togethers every weekend, it's now a popular function venue, and the odd site of a bride strolling over the fairway for photos is not uncommon. Golf is open to non-members - though it's more expensive than public clubs - and functions can be arranged by both members and the public.

Excellent place to shop for golf clubs and accessories. Price is competitive and the staff friendly…read moreand helpful. Plenty of parking in front of the store. You can get an idea of what's available online, but for personal service, visit the store. Ask for the proprietor Chris. Behind the stern face is actually a nice bloke.

From the owner: With all the famous brands in golf like Callaway, Cleveland, Cobra, Ping, Taylormade, Titleist &…read moreWilson Staff - just to name a few