Seventy-two holes of stableford competition across four courses, with 1,000+ golfers aged 25+ from 40 countries converging on the Gold Coast for the 31st annual World Masters on 11-17 October 2026. The Glades, Links Hope Island, RACV Royal Pines, and Lakelands make up the rotation — four genuinely different layouts that keep the week from feeling repetitive. Golfers are divided by age and gender, the Super Veterans category (80+) included since 2022, meaning you can show up at any stage of life and find a bracket where the competition is genuine.
The event trades on serious golf administration and committed competitors. The Gold Coast just happens to be a very pleasant place to spend a week playing it.
The 4 Competition Golf Courses
Event Details
Dates: 11-17 October 2026 (31st annual event)
Location: The Glades, Links Hope Island Golf Club, RACV Royal Pines, Lakelands Golf Club
Entry: Competitive registration fees apply — check official website
Official website: gogolfing.com.au/gold-coast-masters
Dates and details are subject to change — always confirm at the official website before you visit.
Getting There
The four courses are spread across the Gold Coast. Hope Island is in the northern Gold Coast (about 30 minutes from Surfers Paradise), while Royal Pines and The Glades are in the Benowa/Robina area (about 15 minutes from Surfers). Each course has its own car parking. A hire car or rideshare is the most practical way to move between venues across the week.
What’s Nearby
The courses sit in landscaped inland settings, but the Gold Coast’s beaches, theme parks and dining precincts are within 15-30 minutes depending on which course you’re playing. Robina Town Centre is close to Royal Pines and The Glades for shopping and dining after a round.
Event Background
Gold Coast World Masters Golf emerged directly from the 2009 World Masters Games, a multi-sport event that drew athletes 30+ from across the Pacific region. Golf proved popular and well-organised enough at those games that the organisers determined it deserved its own standalone annual championship. What started as a satellite event to a broader games became an independent competition in 2010 and has run every October since.
The four-course rotation around the Gold Coast’s best facilities keeps the competition fresh while showcasing genuinely different course designs and conditions. It’s not the same venue with the same difficulty year after year. Golfers return because they’re playing different tracks in a competitive environment that’s organised to international standards — and because the Gold Coast in October (warm, spring weather, 24-26 degrees) is difficult to argue with as a destination.
The introduction of the Super Veterans category in 2022 solved a structural problem: ageing out the most experienced players. By creating a competition bracket for golfers 80+, the event acknowledged that competitive appetite doesn’t diminish with age — it just requires fairer matchups. The category has stayed because the demand was real. That responsiveness is why golfers keep returning to the Coast year after year.
Nearby Accommodation
Surfers Paradise is a central base with easy driving access to all four courses. Broadbeach is well positioned for the Benowa/Robina courses, with beachside accommodation and good dining. If you’d prefer to stay close to the fairways, the Robina area has serviced apartments near Royal Pines.