One thing on Dick’s wish list was to play golf at Barnbougle, a highly rated links style course in Northern Tasmania. Our tee time is for 10:50 and we head over to the pro-shop after breakfast to make sure our rental clubs are in order and to inquire about a driving range.
The groundskeeper is quite an entertaining bloke, about mid to late 50’s. He advises us that if we want to go off early, we should consider it, since he has a group of 16 golfers that are arriving by private plane that would be going out directly behind us. It’s still early, only 9 AM, so we go back to the room to get ready. We spend a few minutes on the driving range and head off. I love playing links style courses, the only drawback is there is not much shade. The sun in Tasmania is extremely intense as the hole in the ozone layer is concentrated above this area. After 4 ½ hours I was glad to be done. We find out later that is the warmest day they have had in this area the whole year.
We have a nice drive up to Launceston (locally known as ‘Lonnie’) where will be staying for the next 2 nights. Decide to have a quick walk about town and a pizza for dinner. A short night for us, the sun got the best of me today.
Mary
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Barnbougle’s ‘Lost Farm’ is a 20-hole, links style course which winds along the coast and through the coastal dunes of northern Tasmania. Designed by Coore & Crenshaw, it is ranked as the #2 public course in Australia and #23 in the world by Golf Digest Magazine.
We never heard why the two extra holes were added, but after playing the course we’re guessing it was to provide a way to take advantage of the landscape and connect parts of the course. Very strange playing a par 78 course!
The drive from Bridport to Launceston was through some pretty interesting country – no other cars, road kill every kilometer or so. Worth it though as we found a great craft beer bar in Launceston – purported to be the best in Tasmania!
Dick