I'm going to Sydney in mid-September and would like recommendations for golf courses in the area/vicinity (about $100 US Dollars w/ club rentals). Thank you.

Hi mate here is the place to play www.nswgolfclub.com.au .The nsw golf club top 50 worldwide a Alister Mackenzie design.Golf Digest currently ranks the NSW Golf Club as the No. 9 golf course outside the United States and the No.1 golf course outside the United States and the UK.Check the web site ,accepts visitors weekdays,holding this years Australian Open in november so should be in great nick.My mate trainee pro and i playing late september ,played here twice great layout.

^^^^^ Amazing course! Lots of good golf in Sydney.

You can also play my course. The Lakes. Have the Australian open there next year. Just had a total revamp. New 18 holes that just opened.
Alot of sand and water. Back nine in my opinion is the best in Sydney.

Mate, I'm fromEngland and was lucky enough to play there whilst on hols back in January this year, have to say its easily in the top 5 courses I've ever played; everything was in great nick, chaps in the clubhouse were very friendly (unlike some of the muppets at Royal Melbourne) and you need to use your noddle on many holes rather than just twatting the ball down the fairway, am sure you would love it

Hmm, that is strange... I actually found the members at Royal Melbourne to be VERY welcoming and friendly.

In fact, when I went to play there with my fiancee and we were sitting down to lunch before the game we had the lady club president introduce herself and welcome us to the club. Not to mention that the staff were very good to us too.

Might have caught them on a bad day perhaps?

I hope so; the people (obviously not members) that I dealt with whilst trying to arrange a tee time from the UK were not especially friendly and wouldn't accept a letter from a club (where I'm fortunate enough to benefit from corporate membership) confirming my hcap etc. I appreciate that they don't want hackers there but surely the cost would deter them anyway? Sour grapes on my part perhaps but if I was going to pay approx AUD $300 for a round there you'd expect to be made to feel slightly welcome. I ended up playing at Woodlands instead; although I suspect the courses dont bear comparison it was a nice track and the staff there were great. I also played at The Heritage, Hunter Valley Golf club and NSW and the folks there were all superb.

NSW is a must. St Michaels is next door to it and is a really nice course for a lot less $$. The Lakes is great too though not as good surroundings. Long Reef on the northern beaches is good if you are around there. If you go to the Hunter Valley wine area 2 hrs from Sydney play The Vintage, then Cypress Lakes.
Most have websites you can have a look at or feel free to pm me.