HOLE IN ONE HOLIDAYS

CRAIG TANSLEY UNCOVERS THE BEST GOLF DESTINATIONS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND FOR WHEN WE’RE BACK IN THE SWING

HAMILTON ISLAND GOLF CLUB, THE WHITSUNDAYS, QLD

They call this one of the most challenging golf courses on Earth (one hole is dubbed “Valley Of Death”). Built on its own island a fiveminute boat ride from Hamilton Island, you’ll play along sheer ridge lines looking down on the blue water of the Whitsundays (bring lots of spare balls). There’s plenty to do right next door at Hamilton Island. Fly direct to an airport located a five-minute drive (by golf cart, there’s no cars allowed) from your beachside accommodation, where there are bars and restaurants for every occasion, and more than 50 activities, including boat and helicopter rides to the Great Barrier Reef. HAMILTONISLANDGOLFCLUB.COM.AU

BARNBOUGLE, BRIDPORT, TASMANIA

Local farmer Richard Sattler set out to build one of Tasmania’s best courses when he converted part of his property in 2005. Little did he know it’d be rated one of the planet’s top 20 courses within two years of completion. Now there are three courses on site (the most recent is the 14-hole Bougle Run, opened in March). Built alongside sand dunes beside Bass Strait next to fishing village Bridport, Barnbougle pays homage to Scotland’s traditional seaside links courses. But there’s more to Barnbougle than golf; there’s a day spa and a restaurant all with stunning views of the water, and you’ll find Australia’s premier sparkling wine region a 20 minutes drive southwest. And why not access Flinders Island and other lesser-known islands of Bass Strait from here? BARNBOUGLE.COM.AU

ALICE SPRINGS GOLF CLUB, NORTHERN TERRITORY

It’s labelled the hottest golf course on Earth, but don’t let the temperatures put you off this is one of the world’s top 10 desert golf courses. Designed by Australia’s greatest golfer, Peter Thomson, it actually has lush green fairways – though there are more bunkers here than at any other course in the country. But you’re also in the cultural heart of Australia – at barely two kilometres from

Alice Springs. You’ll be surrounded by mountain ranges millions of years old, and a culture that’s the oldest left on Earth. Check out museums and galleries in town that showcase this, where there’s also plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants and activities from hiking to hot-air ballooning. ALICESPRINGSGOLFCLUB.COM.AU

CAPE KIDNAPPERS, HAWKES BAY, NEW ZEALAND

Built along cliffs high above the ocean, golf writers call Cape Kidnappers one of the great modern marvels in golf. It’s the sort of course people who fear heights should avoid, on some fairways you’ll hit between 200-metrehigh chasms above the Pacific. Built on a sheep and cattle station, it’s part of luxury lodge, Lost Farm. If you prefer to spend less on accommodation there’s plenty of seaside options next door in Napier (which has one of the best remaining art-deco streetscapes in the world), while you’re part of Hawkes Bay – New Zealand’s oldest wine region, so be prepared to indulge. ROBERTSONLODGES.COM/ THE-LODGES/CAPEKIDNAPPERS/GOLF

CAPE WICKHAM, KING ISLAND, TAS

Completed in December 2015, Cape Wickham rocketed to No. 24 on US golf bible’s, Golf Digest, World Top 100 courses three months later. It’s built within the coastline – not beside it. On the 18th hole, you hit over surfers on your drive, while the 11th green is swamped by water on a big sea. All 18 holes involve the sea: eight run right alongside it, two have greens on it and three have tees beside it. Huge Southern Ocean swells crash on to reef, the explosions sift spray through the air. But that’s the sort of thing you’ll find all over King Island. Famed for its wild surf and rolling pastures where Australia’s most premium dairy cows feed, it’s 120km from the Tasmanian and Victorian coastlines.

CAPEWICKHAM.COM.AU

JACKS POINT, QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND

Built just across the lake (Lake Wakitipu) from the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown, Jacks Point is a golf course packed with adrenaline. You can watch daredevils land from skydiving adventures just beside you, while jet boats do spins on the lake beside the course, and one of New Zealand’s premier ski resorts, The Remarkables, is just up the mountain in front. Though it’s the beauty of the course that stands out – greens are built metres from the water, while fairways are cut out between rugged schist rock and tussock grassland. There’s a great restaurant onsite, and Queenstown is only 15 minutes’ drive away.

JACKSPOINT.COM

MOONAH LINKS, VICTORIA

The Mornington Peninsula – 75 minutes’ drive from Melbourne’s CBD – is where you’ll find some of the country’s best pinot noir in wineries with award-winning restaurants. And there’s wild, lonely coastline here perfect for slow drives and beachcombing… and golf courses - lots of them. The Mornington

Peninsula is home to more than 20 courses, within a 45-minute drive. They don’t come any better than Moonah Links – site of two championship courses, one of which has hosted two Australian Open championships. You can stay in one of 75 rooms and suites here, all with views of the course; while wineries, hot springs and beaches are a short drive away.

MOONAHLINKS.COM.AU

THE VINTAGE, HUNTER VALLEY, NSW

If you have a bad day on the greens, you can always console yourself with oodles of fine wine. The Vintage is built right in the middle of the Hunter Valley wine region – you’ll see grapes from the fairway. And there is a very good chance you’ll have a tough day on the course considering Greg Norman designed it and he has a reputation for being a sadist. There’s some tough bunkers and lots of water, but you’ll have the day spa waiting afterwards to soothe the ache. Stay in a private villa onsite, though there’s stacks of accommodation options around you. CHATEAUELAN.COM.AU/GOLF-COURSE-HUNTER-VALLEY/

THE LINKS LADY BAY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Apart from being arguably South Australia’s best resort course, golfing at The Links Lady Bay offers a stack of holiday options. The course is built beside a stunning resort with a day spa – but one of the best seaside towns in the whole state is just five minutes drive away. Normanville (locals call it Normy) is full of characters, and characters. Eat beside the beach, ride a horse, or snorkel its inshore reefs - or just wander its historic streets. The McLaren Vale wine region is only 30 minutes away – as is the ferry to Kangaroo Island, one of Australia’s great island wildernesses. LINKSLADYBAY.COM.AU

SANCTUARY COVE, QUEENSLAND

Take your pick – it’s either the Mornington Peninsula or the Gold Coast which earns its stripes as Australia’s No 1 golfing destination. There are at least 20 courses within a 30 minute drive – and let’s not forget the 57km of beaches. Sanctuary Cove is a golf lover’s paradise – there are two courses here including the only Arnold Palmer-designed course in Australia; but non-golfers will love this place as much. There’s a whole resort village of restaurants, boutique shops and a hotel – all built on the water where superyachts dock at a luxury marina. If that’s not enough, Dream World and Sea World are 15 minutes away. SANCTUARYCOVEGOLF.COM.AU

JOONDALUP RESORT, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

While it’s only 25 minutes from Perth’s CBD, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of the bush. This is one of the most unique courses in Australia because it has three sets of nine holes completely different from each other. One sends you below cliff faces and old limestone quarries, while the others play through bushland and lakes. Stay on-site in rooms that look across a lake (Joondalup means “the lake that glistens” in local Indigenous dialect), and there’s a New Endota day spa. And it’s just a five-minute drive to the beaches of the Sunset Coast – be sure to check out the soft white sand of Mullaloo Beach.