Lakelands Golf Club

Lakelands Golf Club in Merrimac, on Queensland's Gold Coast, is a Jack Nicklaus design that opened in the early 1990s. The course occupies gently rolling terrain characteristic of the region's coastal hinterland, with water features integrated throughout the routing. Nicklaus incorporated multiple lakes and wetland areas into the design, which influence play on a significant number of holes and give the course its name. The layout reflects the architect's strategic design philosophy from this period, with emphasis on risk-reward options and multiple tee positions to accommodate different skill levels. The course sits inland from the Gold Coast's beachfront resort corridor, in an area that saw considerable residential and golf development during the 1980s and 1990s. The subtropical climate supports year-round play, with couch grass fairways and bent grass greens typical of the region's better courses. The property's natural topography provides some elevation change, though the terrain is not dramatic by comparison to more mountainous inland courses. Lakelands operates as a private member club and has served the Gold Coast's golfing community for three decades. The facility includes practice areas and clubhouse amenities standard for clubs of its type in the region. While not a tournament venue on the national professional circuit, the course represents one of several Nicklaus designs in Australia and contributes to the Gold Coast's concentration of golf facilities, which has made the area a popular destination for recreational golf in Queensland.