Nature-themed mini-golf at Crescent Head Country Club
Natureworks has created a beautifully landscaped 18 hole mini golf course at Crescent Head Country Club in NSW. The project was designed to create a fun, accessible family attraction to support the Club and attract visitors to the town. It reflects the natural coastal environment that is part of Crescent Head’s unique charm and appeal.
A beautiful mini golf course, naturally!
The Club requested that the mini golf course maintain a natural looking landscape to complement the adjacent 6 hole golf course. With a focus on sustainability, they wanted an eco friendly course without the playful theming elements Natureworks is more typically renowned for (see some of our other mini golf projects!).
As a result, the Crescent Head putt putt course is designed sympathetically around natural environmental features – flowing water, timber structures, locally-sourced rocks and native plants.
There is only one ‘themed’ hole on the course. Hole number 3 features a blue 2.4m high curved wave with a surfboard, inspired by the nearby beaches and coastal landscape. This themed feature not only provides a challenging putting experience, it provides a great photo opportunity for visitors.
Photo gallery – The completed 18 hole mini golf course
Designing the mini golf course
The course layout was designed around a central gazebo. This allows the club to host parties and functions and serves as an excellent viewing stage to take in the landscape of the course.
Fully accessible
The facility has been designed to cater for disability access at a level superior to any other course in Australia. It has a fully accessible pathway that allows disabled players to access all 18 putting greens. There is clear ingress into the tee-off areas and egress from each of the holes.
Designed for playability
Risk and reward challenges throughout the course create conditions for excellent playability. We believe we have achieved the Goldilocks effect perfectly! The course is not too long and not too short, not too easy and not too hard – it is just right. Perfect for an entertaining and fun experience for patrons of all ages.
Sustainable practices for low environmental impact
Native plants
In addition to designing and building the course, Natureworks was asked to landscape the areas around the mini golf greens with plants native to the Crescent Head region.
With the help of our botanist, we planted many common plant species as well as some rare and endangered ones. As the plants establish and grow, they will add greatly to the overall experience of the course.
Naturally filtered water system
The course is complemented by an eco friendly biologically filtered pond system featuring a 5-metre wide cascading rock waterfall beside the gazebo. A quaint babbling brook enters the pond system off to the side, and the whole water feature is surrounded by locally sourced rocks from the nearby Bago Quarry.
Hundreds of water plants in the pond system assist with biological filtration and health of the aquatic ecosystem, allowing native fish and frogs to flourish. The system is balanced and controlled by specialised biofilters that allow water to flow to the waterfall, brook, and wetland. Three high volume submersible pumps at the lowest section of the pond sit beneath structural void filter blocks. These are covered with rocks ranging from large to small, allowing water to pass into the pumps while preventing debris from doing so.
Water saving measures
The club was awarded Government funding for three 120,000 litre water storage tanks that were installed under the Mini Golf course site. Stormwater runoff from the mini golf course and gazebo roof is collected in these water tanks and used for irrigation of the Club’s adjacent golf course. The new irrigation and wastewater system is not just an eco-friendly move but a strategic step towards long-term cost reduction for the Crescent Head Country Club.
“It establishes the basis for a great water saving opportunity and sustainable practice for improving the golf course.”
Colan Ryan, Crescent Head Country Club
How the Mini-golf facility benefits the community
- Creates local employment opportunities (during construction and for ongoing operation)
- Provides an alcohol-free recreation area for families (and a safe first-date spot for teenagers!)
- Supports health and well-being via an accessible, social activity suitable for all ages and abilities
- Provides a fun venue for parties, corporate events and group activities
- Provides a new source of revenue for the Country Club and attracts potential members
- Incentivises young people to play golf and join the club when they are adults
- Attracts visitors to the town, benefiting local businesses and the community as a whole.
Fun facts
- The entire project took 22 weeks to complete
- We used 1470 square metres of carpet for the course greens
- It took over 70 cubic metres of concrete to form the greens and pathways
- We placed 180 tons of rocks on and around the course
- We planted over 900 plants in the landscape.
Photo gallery – the course under construction
“The community support for the project has been awesome. We know that everyone appreciates the unique golf course design, and the irrigation will provide further enhancements for the Club, keeping us sustainable for years to come.”
Colan Ryan, Crescent Head Country Club
Project details
| Client | C2 Hills Consultancy, for Crescent Head Country Club |
| Project | 18-hole mini golf course at Crescent Head |
| Audience | Families with children, local residents and tourists |
| Location | 1 Rankine St, Crescent Head, NSW 2440 (see map) |
| Date | 2024 |
| Related products | Mini-golf theming |
| Related catalogues | Mini-golf, Marine & Sea Life |
| Similar projects | Cooberrie Park mini golf, Undersea Putt & Play, Traralgon mini golf |
Mini golf is a family friendly visitor attraction
“With tourism representing a significant portion of our beautiful coastal electorate’s economy, providing even more reasons to visit and stay is a winning formula.”
Pat Conaghan, Federal MP for Cowper
If you want to create a memorable mini golf course, ask us for ideas! We can provide a custom mini golf design service, or advise on cost-effective products that will work with your design.
Contact Natureworks to discuss your vision or get an estimate for a custom project.
