The Tasmanian devil well be made famous by the crazy Loony Tunes cartoon character, but this wild mammal can only be found the island state of Tasmania. It’s one of the many splendours of this great Island off the coast of Australia.It’s a safe bet most avid golfers consider Scotland, Ireland, New York State, California’s Monterey Peninsula and Melbourne’s sandbelt among the ‘must-see’ parts of the golf world, however, Tasmania’s golf product already earned critical acclaim for Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm and they’ll soon have company well inside the world’s top 100 courses as King Island prepares to unveil two more world-class layouts.
Ocean Dunes, on King Island’s west coast is a 5-minute drive from the town of Currie. The entrance is barely noticeable from the highway and a long winding track takes you through rolling terrain, past the recently completed 18th hole and up to a raised peak beside the first tee with sweeping Southern Ocean views.
With the sound of waves crashing, golfers are challenged from the very first tee shot down the par-5 first hole, a 500-metre dogleg right with an enormous bunker that frames the fairway’s right side. A good drive leaves a view to the green, which is more than 50 feet below, pressed up beside the coastline and protected by two front bunkers.
For the adept player, it’s a somewhat merciful initiation, which continues at the 280-metre par-four second. The green is hidden behind a sand dune left of the fairway, which dares players to drive close to the ocean on the right to afford the best angle to approach.
The fourth – a 130-metre par-three – will undoubtedly become Ocean Dunes’ signature hole. It’s Australia’s answer to the short par-three 15th at Cypress Point and is played from a tee perched on a point, over a sandy cove and rocks to a very shallow yet very wide green. Golfers will be spellbound by the opening four holes at Ocean Dunes Golf Course, which sets the scene for a fantastic days golf.
Like every hole at Ocean Dunes, it has at least four tees and can range from less than 140 to more than 200 metres so all level of golfer will enjoy a visit to this course. Ocean Dunes and Cape Wickham are banking on a constant flow of golfers, just like Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm did when they started. Throw all four courses into a four-day trip and you’ll have a top golf destination and golf holiday almost without peer.
www.oceandunes.com.au
