View from the first tee at Cape Wickham – Knee tremblingly awesome
King Island is a small island located in Bass Strait mid way between Victoria and Tasmania in Australia’s South East corner. Home to about 2,000 residents, King Island is mainly known for its world class local produce including cheese and beef, and stunning coastal landscapes. King Island will shortly add golf to its list of highlights thanks to the development of Cape Wickham Golf Course on the Northern tip of the island. Cape Wickham is being developed by Duncan Andrews, who developed The Dunes on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula and Thirteenth Beach on the neighboring Bellarine Peninsula, both exceptional layouts. At Cape Wickham, Duncan has teamed up with Architect Mike Devries, and golf architecture guru Darius Oliver. The course is due to open in 2015 as it goes through its final stages of development and maturing of fairways and greens.
Cape Wickham 14th hole with Turnberry-esque Lighthouse
All of the images of the course layout and topography are stunning, the course hugs the rugged coastline so much that 13 holes are on or close to the ocean. The layout opens with a par 4 that offers views out over the ocean and a tee shot that if sliced will be into Bass Strait. The course then moves along the coast, taking the golfer inland through the Dunes for short interludes before returning to the Ocean. The final three holes are bound to become iconic, played back along the coast posing a daunting but spectacular finish to the round. When the wind blows, which is probably pretty much always on King Island, this will be an amazing experience.
Its difficult to truly understand the course from the imagery, but it looks to combine the seaside undulations of Barnbougle and Mornington Peninsula, with the spectacular ocean aspects of Pebble Beach, and windswept beauty of Turnberry. This course is going to quickly be added to golfers bucket lists worldwide, and will form a new detour for the trips to Barnbougle.
Cant wait to play Cape Wickham over the next couple of years, and look forward to reviewing the experience! Until then, keep an eye on the website for updates: capewickham.com.au/
Tee shot to the par 3 17th at Cape Wickham – Wow!
The 18th Hole at Cape Wickham – What a finish!
Im playing at Cape Wicham early next year. I heard that it’s Australia’s own Chambers Bay!! If its as exciting as the US Open, Ill be a happy golfer 🙂
… or Australia’s Chambers Bay?? Am looking forward to the Bass Straight Masters and having a hit there!!