Palmer Coolum Resort

Palmer Coolum Resort sits along Queensland's Sunshine Coast, roughly ninety kilometers north of Brisbane, in a setting defined by coastal vegetation and views of Mount Coolum, a distinctive volcanic dome that rises above the surrounding lowlands. Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed the course in the early 1990s as part of a larger resort development, routing the layout through native bushland and incorporating natural wetlands and water features that reflect the regional landscape. The course occupies relatively flat terrain, with elevation changes provided primarily by mounding and strategic bunkering rather than dramatic natural contours. The design emphasizes wide fairways and large, undulating greens characteristic of Jones's resort work, with water hazards appearing on multiple holes. Native eucalyptus, melaleuca, and coastal scrub frame many holes, and the layout includes several risk-reward opportunities where players can challenge hazards for better approach angles. The course served as the host venue for the Australian PGA Championship from 1992 through 2009, attracting fields that included international players and providing the Sunshine Coast with its most prominent professional tournament during that period. The resort property includes accommodation, dining facilities, and other amenities typical of destination golf properties in Australia. The course remains accessible to resort guests and outside visitors, functioning as a public-access facility within the broader Palmer Coolum complex. Mount Coolum provides a consistent visual reference point throughout the round, anchoring the course within its coastal Queensland context.