Emerald Lakes Golf Club sits in Carrara on Queensland's Gold Coast, approximately midway between Brisbane and the beachfront resort areas. Designed by Graham Marsh and opened in the late 1980s, the course forms the centerpiece of a residential community development that emerged during the Gold Coast's rapid expansion period. Marsh, a successful Australian professional who won multiple times on the European and Australasian tours before turning to course design, created a layout that reflects the flat coastal plain topography common to the region. The course is characterized by its extensive water features—lakes and canals thread through much of the property, coming into play on numerous holes and giving the facility its name. The routing incorporates these water hazards as primary strategic elements, requiring golfers to carry or navigate around them on approach shots and occasionally from the tee. The landscape includes tropical and subtropical vegetation typical of southeast Queensland, with mature trees now framing many fairways after decades of growth. Emerald Lakes operates as a members' club with visitor access, serving both the local residential community and traveling golfers exploring the Gold Coast's collection of courses. The facility includes practice areas and a clubhouse that caters to regular member play and social functions. The course represents the style of resort-influenced design common to Australian coastal developments of its era, where water management and visual appeal were integrated into relatively flat terrain.