It started with Ratho at Bothwell, Australia's oldest golf course, created by homesick Scots in the 1830s, and kept growing. Today, Tasmanians are spoiled for fairways. But it's the island's new courses and redevelopments that are driving the excitement of golfers.
Barnbougle Dunes in the north east of Tasmania has quickly become Australia's number one public access golf course since rising from the dunes of Bass Strait in 2005. The coastline has been the inspiration for the dramatic golf course, which is in the traditional 18-hole links layout, and draws golfers from around the world. Next door and brand new is 'The Lost Farm,' a course that some say is even more challenging. In Tasmania's south, the amazing par 3, eighth hole at the Tasman Club near Port Arthur offers pure spectacle. Here, your tee shot has to reach a pocket-handkerchief green on the far side of a deep chasm, where vertical sea cliffs plummet to surging ocean swells and tossing bull kelp, far below. There is no point in looking for lost balls here!
Barnbougle Dunes & The Lost Farm
It has been said that if you bring the world's hottest golf architects, Tom Doak, Bill Coore, and Ben Crenshaw to epic oceanfront sand dunes, the result will be pilgrimage-worthy golf in the remotest of places. Lovers of the game will find the spectacular golf they expect, along with world class wines and cheese they might not. It has also been said that playing golf in Tasmania is reminiscent of golf in England fifty years ago. Altogether, a winning combination.
Barnbougle Dunes
Upon 200 acres of undulating coastal dunes the creative genius of famed golf architect Tom Doak and Australia's Michael Clayton has been realised. Barnbougle Dunes, still only in its youth, continues to gain a reputation as one of the world's top links golf courses. The breathtaking landscape upon which the course has been created mirrors the wild coastal links courses of Scotland yet with wildlife found nowhere else on earth.
At Barnbougle, golf is an experience that strikes all the senses. With the sun on their backs, the wind in their hair, the whiff of sea salt and the roar of the ocean players find themselves captivated by all that Mother Nature has to offer. The course presents itself in a new dimension each day providing exciting, challenging golf. Relaxation comes by way of a post round beverage in the welcoming atmosphere of the clubhouse and extensive onsite accommodation.
Visit the Barnbougle Dunes website
The Lost Farm
A second links course, The Lost Farm, is situated on Barnbougle Farm adjacent to the Barnbougle Dunes course and was designed and constructed by American company Coore & Crenshaw. This second 20 hole course has been described by Coore and Michael Keiser (brainchild of Bandon Dunes Resort in the U.S.) 'as good, if not better' than the site of the first Barnbougle. With a reputation for minimalistic course design, Coore and Crenshaw focused on utilising the natural contours of the land in its design of Lost Farm. Lost Farm complements both the surrounding landscape and the original course, Barnbougle Dunes.
Additional accommodation and infrastructure facilities are located at The Lost Farm. The new complex includes The Lodge at Lost Farm - a 50 room lodge perched on top of a costal dune overlooking the new course, hinterland of northern Tasmania and beautiful coastline of Anderson Bay. There is also the Restaurant at Lost Farm with mesmerising views, a boutique Health Spa and the Lost Farm Clubhouse.
Visit the Lost Farm website
Luxury, Golf and Heritage at Quamby
Quamby, near Launceston in the state's north, is one of Tasmania's most prestigious and historically important properties. Built between 1828 and 1838, Quamby was for several years the home of a former Premier of Tasmania but now is a suitably grand luxury lodge steeped in character and heritage.
The groomed nine-hole course is lined with English ash, elms, hornbeams and ancient oaks, some more than 100 years old.
The fairways on this beautiful nine-hole course have magnificent views to the Ben Lomond Ranges in the east and the Great Western Tiers to the south. Other considerable assets include the nine lakes, cascades, creeks and three challenging Scottish-style bunkers. The beautifully groomed bunkers are from specially refined Scottsdale sands and are a major feature of the course.
The 8th hole (576 metres/630 yards) is the longest par 5 in Tasmania.
Visit the Quamby Estate website HERE
The Highest Golf Course in Australia
It is just an eight-minute walk from the remarkable Tarraleah Lodge to one of the highest golf courses in Australia in the midst of Tasmania's highlands. This beautiful course wends through the mature gum trees which tower over the fairways. All nine of the beautiful holes are kept manicured with the help of the resident wallabies.
There are plenty of kookaburras too, who, if their timing is right, will laugh at every one of your playing partner's shanks. After the golf you can return to the Lodge to ponder the round (as well as the nearby trout fishing) while soaking in a cliff top hot tub. Or soak up the atmosphere of the Library Bar. It boasts a selection of more than 200 fine malt whiskies from around the world. The Lodge and the Tarraleah is 70 miles, or two hours drive, north-west of Hobart.
Visit the Tarraleah Lodge website HERE
For more information on golf in Tasmania, download the fact sheet Golf in Tasmania.
For more general information on Tasmania visit www.discovertasmania.co.uk
Picture Credits and (C) on pictures used in this feature and as promotion for this feature are as follows:
Sleepy Bay - Tourism Tasmania and Garry Moore
Rocky Cape National Park - Tourism Tasmania & George Apostolidis
Tasman Island Cruises - Tourism Tasmania & Joe Shemesh
Ocean Beach - Tourism Tasmania & Garry Moore
Tasmania Golf Club - Tourism Tasmania and Richard Eastwood
Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links - Tourism Tasmania and Jeff Jennings
Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links - Tourism Tasmania & Barnbougle Dunes
Ratho Golf Links - Tourism Tasmania & Greg Willson
Delicious
reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Digg
