8 Dec 2011

As many readers will no doubt be aware, the 2012 Australian Golf Digest Top 100 Ranking is just around the corner and one of the main points of interest this year will be the debut of the Lost Farm course at Barnbougle in Tasmania. Expectations are high for this Bill Coore-designed gem, with many tipping it to slot instantly into our Top 10. Regardless of where it ends up, the success of the Barnbougle development has transformed Tasmania into a genuine world-class golf destination. For a golfing weekend away there are few better places anywhere in the country.

Tasmania is more than a one trick pony however, and development elsewhere in the state is set to provide golfers with an even greater array of holiday options in the years ahead. There are a couple of spectacular projects slated for the oft-overlooked Hobart area, as well as an exciting expansion planned for the Bicheno golf course on the mainland’s East Coast. Of even greater interest is talk coming from King Island, that as many as four future coastal development sites have been identified and the feasibility and permitting process begun. The most advanced of these is a breathtaking project on the island’s northern shore, close to the famous Cape Wickham lighthouse, which is the largest in Australia and has a history dating back 150 years. The golf course at Wickham is being developed by Victorian construction and maintenance company Turnpoint and received its planning approvals in late 2011. Work is expected to begin shortly, with course designers Richard Chamberlain and Ross Perrett currently finalising the routing plan.

For the small population of King Island (approx 1,700 people) the Cape Wickham golf course can’t come quickly enough, as a decline in population, sagging tourism and a threat from the major regional air carrier to reduce its flights onto the island are cause for serious concern. Livelihoods and industries are on the line here, and if golf can drive people to the island the benefits for the entire community will be significant.

Naturally we plan to follow the development of King Island closely over the coming months and years, but in the meantime we implore readers to consider a visit in the short-term to check out what may be the best nine-hole course in our fair country – and to also take advantage of one of the most unique deals available anywhere in the golfing world. More on this special offer later.

The King Island Golf & Bowling Club (below) was formed in the 1930s, and the club’s 100 odd current members golf on an outrageously fun linkscape that is pressed right against the Southern Ocean and full of rollicking undulation and sea vistas from virtually every quarter. There are only nine holes here, but three feature alternate greens and seven boast alternate tees, meaning your second loop around is anything but boring.

From the opening hole, with its blind drive and hidden dell green, the charms of King Island golf are apparent. The next hole (2nd/11th) is one of the very best and although fully visible from the tee it’s no less daunting as play heads along dense coastal vegetation toward a bulging, angled fairway ridge that is more difficult to hit and hold the more aggressive one gets from the tee. The 3rd/12th then falls from an elevated dune down to a green resting a few metres before the ocean.

The next stretch resembles the best land at La Perouse in Sydney, for the nature of the terrain, the vegetation and the manner in which the dunes, the rocky coastline and the forgiving golfing corridors interact. As with the rest of the course, the shaping and finishing work here lacks the real quality of say the Sandbelt, but holes like the 5th/14th, which horseshoe around a rocky cove, and the 6th/15th, which head inland from the sea across a diagonal ridge to twin elevated greens, are both great fun. As is the 7th/16th, an enticing sidehill short four with a partly obscured green tucked behind a dune. The 8th/17th is then a wonderful mid-length hole played as a dogleg the first time around and then straight up a narrowing dune valley on the inward loop. Interestingly, the closing holes are different on each side. The 9th is a cunning short par four with a blind green deliciously placed in a natural saddle, while the 18th is an all-carry par three that heads into an unforgiving ledge perched beneath the lofty clubhouse.

As with any coastal links, the key to playing well at King Island is controlling your ball flight in the wind and accepting the odd funky bounce around the fairways and greens. There are some who may find the lack of a serious long par four and par five a turnoff, but mid-length holes like the 2nd, 6th, 8th and 17th in any sort of breeze can be brutal, especially given their small target areas.

As good as the King Island golf course is today, there are plans for future improvements and also suggestions that the new development at Cape Wickham will enable the club to engage an apprentice superintendent (working under the Cape Wickham superintendent) to look after the course for up to 20 hours per week. This would make a huge difference to an already charming golf course, as King Island is a volunteer club and at present its holes are maintained by a dedicated group of members who donate their time and machinery to keep the turf in reasonable shape. Firm, bouncy fairways and greens would completely transform this layout, but are only possible with a degree of proper, regular maintenance.

As it stands, a round at King Island is a genuine pleasure and the opportunity to play golf in the morning and then sample some of the famous local produce in the afternoon makes the island an appealing destination for all those golfing foodies out there. Even more appealing is news that the club’s marketing consultant Greg Ramsay, has negotiated a unique reciprocal arrangement with Mike Keiser, the developer of the celebrated 85-hole Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon.

Prior to building Bandon Dunes, Mike Keiser developed an executive course in Michigan called The Dunes Club, which was described by Golf Digest in America as the ‘best 9 hole course in the country.’ In terms of exclusivity and its sandy, wooded terrain, The Dunes Club is like a mini-Pine Valley, and until now was impossible to access for all bar Keiser and his close associates. Passionate about the positive influence golf can have on small, remote communities, Keiser agreed to Ramsay’s request to offer those who play at King Island a round of golf at The Dunes Club.

For most, the prospect of a trip to Michigan to play a 9-hole course will have limited appeal, but this is one of the finest golf experiences in the world and those planning to be in the US anytime this year should give this limited offer strong consideration.

Set amongst a series of attractive pine-covered hills, The Dunes Club is notable for its large, gnarly Pine-Valley inspired waste areas, its forced carries, island landing areas and ingenious teeing grounds that provide great elasticity and allow holes to be played from different angles and different lengths. In fact, so cool are the teeing areas here that there aren’t even any tee markers, instead the match play traditions of the club dictate that the winner of the previous hole selects where the current hole is played from.

Unlike King Island, Keiser has a full greens crew at The Dunes Club and maintains his small course to the same high standards as the most elite private clubs in America. In golfing terms these two courses are real polar opposites, but both are tremendous fun to play and both are located close to small, regional townships that benefit from the business visiting golfers generate. While a part-time apprentice greenkeeper, and tight, pristine turf, would make a huge difference at King Island, there are no airs or graces at all about the club and those who enjoy links golf or manage to catch this course on a glorious day are in for a real treat. Even if you can’t get to Michigan this year, a round at King Island comes highly recommended.

For those interested in a trip to King Island, there are daily intra-state flights into Currie from Devonport, and also from the Moorabbin and Tullamarine airports in Victoria. Green fees are just $25 for 18 holes. Further information about The Dunes Club affiliation, or golf on the island, is available via www.golfkingisland.com

 

Darius Oliver, Architecture Editor

Back to News
0 Comments


 

More News

Report reveals golf's $3.3 billion contribution to Australia

AGIC report reveals total annual benefits to the Australian community, economy and environment from golf.

Cape Wickham Links – The Inside Design Story

Co-designer Darius Oliver reveals the truth behind the design of Australia’s premier modern golf course

Have your say on the future of Moore Park Golf

Golfers unite – another one of our cherished public access golf courses is under threat

Cameron John wins The National Tournament by two strokes

Victorian claims breakthrough professional victory at The National Tournament presented by BMW

Tags and Countries