barnbougle

I thought I would start with the most impressive course I have visited so far. Currently ranked 30 in the world and climbing  year on year this course must be one of Tom Doak's finest creations. It's remote to say the least, located on the north coast of Tasmania nearly 90 mins drive from Launceston. It is a fantastic links reminiscent of the Scottish greats and as someone who has played most of Scotland's best courses I have to say that in my opinion it exceeds them all.

The course begins with a couple of gentle openers, the initial a wide and gentle dogleg followed by a flat par 4 whose only defence may be a strong wind into the face and an undulating green. These are followed by a fantastic run of holes that doesn't ease up at all. The 3rd is an excellent par 4 with a blind tee shot towards a huge dune and a tricky second to a narrow and well protected green. The 4th is another short hole at only around 275 yards but go for the green at your peril as some simply enormous bunkers await any errant drives. Doak modelled the hole on ( I think) the 10th at Royal Melbourne and some believe it to be up with the best short par 4s in the world... I would tend to agree.

  Above - the melbourne beach hut style accomodation that allows you to fall out onto the practice chipping green.
Below - view to the 4th green and the native wallabies that dominate the course at night behind the second green

Moving on, the walk between 4 and 5 is steep but worth it as you are greeted by a stunning view over the huge dunes that has to be seen to be believed. The 5th is a great downhill par 3 that would be the signature hole of many a great course but only two holes later is the tiny 7th that equates to Royal Troon's Postage Stamp but in my opinion, exceeds it. Playing not much over 100 yards but nearly always into a stiff breeze it will often require a mid iron to a small green guarded by huge waste bunkers and drop off the back that Donald Ross would be proud of. 

Below - 7th green in the evening, the walk between 4-5.

Above - view to the 9th green and clubhouse

Hole 8 is probably the toughest on the course and offers two strategic options off the tee. Fire one left to the narrow fairway and minimise the length but increase the risk of finding an impossible lie in the rough. The 9th another semi blind dogleg that ends the loop to the clubhouse.

The Second 9 forms another loop and again begins with a gentle opening par 4 with a huge fairway towards an uphill undulating green. Next follows a par 5 with an enormous drop in the fairway that when downwind allows the bigger hitters to get within 150 yards of the green. The 12 and 13th are a couple of my personal favourites. The 12 is a  short par 4 that demands strategy. Its an uphill dogleg over a dune system with anything right being lost.  A Pure drive may find the green but the smart play is an iron or lesser wood to the left that leaves what can be a tricky chip to a small green.

The 13 simply has one of the most crazy greens I've seen ( not been the the castle course at st andrews yet!) find the wrong side and its easily a three stab. Some may criticise that but I think its fun.

The 14th is yet another fantastic par 5 that really gives you that sense of isolation that I love and the 16th with the river and lost farm to the right is one of the most photogenic areas on the course ( below)

Below - 16th tee, and views over the the Lost Farm golf course

Overall its just a stunning golf course that makes you think strategy on every shot. I have the feeling that if this course was american It would be well in the top 20 of the world. As it is, it remains an almost hidden gem that is fully accessible to all, and at the moment my favourite golf course that I've played.