34 (World) Barnbougle Dunes

May 21, 2014

After playing both courses at Royal Melbourne and the course at Kingston Heath, I caught the 90 minute flight to Launceston on the island of Tasmania. I had been warned that Barnbougle Golf Resort was remote. I have been to my share of remote golf courses and thought the trip to Bandon Dunes was in the middle of nowhere. Barnbougle trumped that experience. As my arrival time was going to be approximately 11 pm, I had called the resort from the Melbourne Airport. They advised me the cottage would be unlocked and the key would be left on the counter. This was my first clue that this was a remote location.

After landing in the small city of Launceston, I picked up my rental car and headed north. Even though it is only 20-25 miles from Launceston, it is a lot of winding roads through forest and mountains. I had to drive slower than the 70 kph posted limit as there were at least 50 kangaroos that kept jumping across the road. On top of it, the sun had set a few hours prior so I didn't want to find myself in a ditch with no help for days. The drive took approximately 90 minutes to make. Just as I had been advised on the phone earlier in the day, I found cottage #20 unlocked with the foyer light on and the key on the counter. Not wanting to lose anytime in the morning, I did not unpack and went straight to bed. There were no other lights so I could not see the course. All the better as it would be a wonderful surprise. I have mentioned in previous blogs that links courses are my favorite to play and my excitement and anticipation to experience Barnbougle kept me up for another hour or two.

I went back the morning after arrival to take a photo of the entrance sign.

The little sleep did not hamper my anxiousness to get on the course the next morning. I woke up before my alarm and watched the sun come up over the ocean. It was amazing sunrise that would offer me the hints of a perfect day of weather for golf.

An amazing sunset at 5:30 am!

After watching the sun rise, I showered and dressed, pulled out my clubs, and made my way up to the clubhouse. At first appearance, it doesn't look like a top resort. It is fairly plain and nondescript. That impression changes when you enter.

A view of the clubhouse from the small parking lot.

After entering the clubhouse, the proshop is immediately on your right. I checked in and advised there were only three golfers with tee times scheduled for the day so I would have the course essentially to myself. I was also advised there was still frost on the course and my tee time would be delayed an hour so I made my way to the restaurant for breakfast. I figured I would need a good breakfast as it was an all you can play for $130 AUD since it was the start of winter season.

The first thing you are greeted with is a fireplace co-located with the bar. I made a mental note for the evening since they had 4-6 taps. It was about 4 degrees celsius so the fire was in full blaze and warmed the room and my cold bones.

A look at the lodge's fireplace.

Just passed the bar and sitting and sitting area is the restaurant. I ordered up a hearty breakfast which was delicious and well worth the price. After a few coffees, I was advised the course was available for play and set off.

A look into the restaurant at Barnbougle Dunes.

Since the clubhouse is situated on top of a hill, you get a great view of some of the property. The straight ahead view is towards the cottages.

The cottages at Barnbougle Dunes.

There are four sets of tees on each of the Barnbougle Courses. They are the same color scheme as most courses in the United States but are arranged in a different order. The tips are black, the standard are red, the beginner are blue, and the ladies tees are white. I opted to play from the red tees during my first round.

The round starts with a long par 5 that plays from 476 meters. It's a dogleg right that turns around the 200 meter mark. If you are a long driver, be careful not to drive it out of the fairway.

A look down the fairway from the 1st tee box.

After taking the turn of the dogleg, you see your third shot is to an elevated green protected on the front and the right by large sand traps. Since the ball will roll forever if the ground is not wet, best to play the second shot shorter than you normally would and then play a wedge into the green.

A look towards the green from the turn of the dogleg.

The green also slopes towards the center and back towards the fairway, significantly from left to right and slightly from right to left. It isn't the trickiest green on the course but it is a solid test to open a round.

A look into the first green from 100 yards out. 

A look back down the first fairway from the green.

The second hole is a 352 meter, par 4. It is a fairly straight hole that runs parallel to the grass runway on the left for private planes of the rich and famous that fly in to play Barnbougle.

A look down the fairway from the 2nd tee.

Two-thirds the way down the fairway are a series of sand traps on the left. On a dry day, you stand a chance of your drive rolling into one. If you go too far right, you will find yourself in some awful rough and behind a dune. Straight is definitely the best option for this hole.

A look towards the green from behind the fairway bunkers.

The two-tiered green is an undulating green with barely a flat spot to be found. Just hit it as close as possible and hope for a good lie.

A look into the 2nd green from 75 yards out.

A closer look into the 2nd green.

A look back down the second fairway from behind the green.

The third hole is a par 4 that plays to 306 meters. It can be an intimidating hole with a blind tee shot played sharply off to the left. Even though this is a short par 4, Tom Doak shows he is a master when it comes to designing those holes.

A look down the fairway from the 3rd tee box. 

A dogleg is an understatement for this hole. The fairway slopes steeply right to left and is bisected by a ridge. There was only a very slight wind in the morning so my drive stayed relatively in the center. On a more windy day, the prevailing wind will most likely push your ball to the left side of the fairway, leaving a difficult uphill, and potentially blind, shot to the green set in a sand dune.

A look towards the 3rd green at the bottom of the hill and the dogleg.

Not only is it a difficult shot up hill, especially if it is windy, but the green is surrounded on three sides by sand traps. The ball could roll left or right off the green so each pin placement makes this hole play different.

A look into the 3rd green from 100 yards out.

The large sand trap on the right will be a nightmare to get an up and down if you find yourself in it.

A look into the 3rd green from 75 yards out.

The slope of the fairway is better seen looking back down the fairway. Below, you can see just how much the slope plays a part of this hole.

A look back down the 3rd fairway from the top of the left, green-side dune.

The fourth hole is one of my favorite holes on the course. Not only is it very unique, I had my first up close and personal experience with a kangaroo. It is an S-shaped hole that is a par 4 and plays 254 meters. It is a drivable green if there was no wind and I went for it. The thing that may make someone to decide to layup is the huge trap on the right, running downhill from the green.

A look down the fairway from the 4th green.

On my walk down, I dropped another ball at the bottom of the naturally blown bunker.  The second shot plays to an extremely well protected green and I wanted to see what a blind shot from the bottom of the hill was like. It didn't disappoint. It is a neat feeling hitting over a bunker that is 30-40 feet tall.

A look at the huge, right-side trap. I left my cart and bag in the photo to give a perspective of the size.

 Once you clear the trap, you continue to play uphill towards the green. It slopes severely towards center from both the left and right sides, with an almost seeming mountain on the right.

A look towards the 4th green from the turn of the fairway.

One of the many holes you will have a unique gallery to watch your shots.

The hole really is unique from any other hole in the world. It is one of my top five favorite holes I have ever played. I took a photo from the top of the large dune behind the green to give a different perspective.

A look back down the 4th hole from behind the green.

The walk from the 4th to the 5th hole is one of the best walks you will ever take in golf. Following the steep, uphill trail from the 4th green, the ocean finally comes into view. For the first four holes, you have heard the ocean in the distance but it comes to life at the top of the hill.

A view from the top of the dunes behind the 4th green.

At the top of the hill to the left is the Reg's Hut. The hut can serve as a shelter in bad weather, a rest stop for those winded from the hill, and a perfect spot to gaze out at the Bass Strait that separates Tasmania from the rest of Australia.

Reg's Hut

A brief history of Barnbougle is found inside Reg's Hut.

As mentioned above, it really is one of the best walks you will ever take in golf. Sitting at the highest part of the course, the trail leads across the top of the duns and you can see the ocean for miles.

A look down the trail and out into the Bass Strait between holes 4 and 5.

A look into the green from the 5th tee box.

The par 3 fifth hole plays to 189 meters. It is a fantastic hole that has the tee box at the top of the dune and plays down to the well protected green. The best play is to hit the ball left and let it run down towards the green.

A look into the 5th green from 50 yards out.

A look back down the 5th hole from the top of the dune behind the green. 

The 6th hole is a par 4 that plays from 359 meters. The drive from the top of the dune plays through a narrow opening. The landing zone is a huge area with plenty of room to go left or right.

A look down the fairway from the 6th tee box.

If you go too far right, your second shot is a blind shot over a large dune. If you can stay just to the left side of the center dune, you will be set up for a terrific approach shot into the green.

A look at the blind second shot over the large dune on the right.

After you pass the center dune, your approach shot is uphill to a fairly flat green. It is one of the few on the course so enjoy it while you can.

A look into the 6th green from 125 yards out.

A look back down the fairway from the 6th green.

The 7th hole is a par 3 that plays 98 meters. It is a stunning view and one of the signature holes on the course. The green slopes sharply downhill away from the green so if your shot is short of the green there is a good chance it will roll down into the small bowl. There are also a ton of sand traps around the green that are a very difficult out.

A look into the green from the 7th tee box.

The 8th hole is a par 4 that plays to 417 meters. There is a huge slope that plays down the center of the fairway. This leaves you with a decision to play from the top of the fairway or the bottom of the fairway.

A look down the fairway from the 8th tee box. 

A look toward the green from the bottom of the fairway.

The easier second shot is from the top of the fairway as opposed to the bottom. As you can see above, the second shot is a blind shot towards the green. Below, the top of the fairway leaves a much better look into the green for an approach shot.

A look toward the green from the top of the fairway.

The green is uphill from the fairway, creating a very difficult approach shot. It is another reason the best play is to drive to the top side of the fairway.  It is the #1 stroke index hole on the course for a reason! Luckily the green is a huge green but be careful of the trap located back and to the right of the green.

A look into the 8th green from 120 yards out.

A look back down the 8th fairway from behind the green.

The 9th hole is a par 4 that plays 350 meters. The elevated tee box allows a sneak peak at the mostly hidden fairway. A straight drive is the best bet here.  Stay away from the left if you have to choose. The scrub brush and steep dunes make for a very difficult shot if you find yourself in there.

A look down the fairway from the 9th tee box.

The fairway plays slightly downhill towards the clubhouse. It slopes from left to right with a large sand trap on the right side where a long drive will run into if not careful.

A look down the fairway once you clear the dunes.

The green here is relatively flat so if you reach it in two, chances are very good you will score a par.

A look back down the fairway from the 9th green.

The 10th is a fairly straight hole that plays flat for the first half and uphill towards the green for the second half. It is a par 4 that plays to 367 meters.

A look down the fairway from the 10th tee box.

Once you drive down the center, the fairway plays uphill to the well guarded green.

A look into the 10th green from 150 yards out. 

A look back down the fairway from the 10th green.

The 11th hole is a par 5 that plays to 467 meters. It crosses scrub brush, rises uphill, before dropping back down. The best play is to drive over the left side of the center bunker, land the ball on top of the hill, and let it roll down to the center of the fairway.

A look down the fairway from the 11th tee box.

There is a slight slope that runs down the center of the fairway. If you catch the right side of the fairway, your ball will likely roll into the right side sand trap. The top side of the slope is fairly flat and likely will hold your ball well for an approach into the green.

A look into the 11th green from 200 yards out.

A look back down the fairway from the 11th green.

The 12th hole is a short par 4 that plays to 238 meters. It is a tough drive that travels across a valley and turns uphill and to the right. If you drive it short, or if the wind is blowing towards you, the ball can find itself down hill and below the sand trap.

A look down the fairway from the 12th tee box.

Once you clear the hill and turn the corner uphill, the green is protected on the right side by large, steep sand traps. The green also slopes back towards the fairway so a short chip shot may roll back down to the fairway.

A look into the green from 75 yards out.

A look at the 12th green from the left side.

The 13th hole is a par 3 that plays to 167 meters. It is a fairly large green that slopes slightly left to right. It is surrounded on numerous sides by sand traps.

A look into the green from the 13th tee box.

The 14th hole is a par 5 that plays to 471 meters. There are a ton of sand traps down the fairway to watch out for. The fairway is flat until you reach within 150 yards.

A look down the fairway from the 14th tee box.

Once you find yourself closer to the green, you play the ball uphill towards the green. The traps surround the green and can be a very difficult out, especially the right side bunker.

A look into the green from 150 yards out.

The 15th hole is another short par 4 that plays to 293 meters. Huge bunkers have been used to guard the green. The green slopes steeply in all directions away from center of the green to try and trap your ball in one of them.

A look down the fairway from the 15th tee box.

A look into the green from 150 yards out.

The 16th hole is the last par 3 of the course, playing to 147 meters. After a walk uphill to the top of a very large dune, you get a great view of the 16th hole. It plays down hill and towards the right with a green that slopes left to right. If you hit the ball over the large bunker on the left, the ball will roll downhill towards the pin, giving an awesome opportunity at birdie.

A look into the green from the 16th tee box.

The 17th hole brings you back to views along the edge of the golf course and out onto the Bass Strait. It is a 326 meter par 4.

A view down the fairway from the 17th tee box.

After hitting downhill across a large are of scrub brush, the fairway turns right and straightens out. It is protected on both sides by various bunkers.

A look down the fairway after clearing the scrub brush.

This is one of the more difficult greens on the course and likely why this is the #3 stroke index hole. It slopes almost completely left to right with no flat spot to be found. No matter the pin placement, you will want to play the ball to the right side of the green. A sand trap has been strategically placed to catch balls hit too far to the right.

The 18th hole is a 365 meter par 4. After clearing the scrub brush on the drive, it is fairly straight and slightly downhill all the way up to the green.

A look down the fairway from the 18th tee box.

The 18th green is undulating and makes for a tough finishing hole.

A look into the 18th green from 150 yards out.

The flight and drive to the course in its remote location is worth every bit of time getting here. With the only sounds present being the call of the seagulls, the sounds of the ocean, and the rustling of grasses in the rough, it is one of the most peaceful places you will find. If you are planning to stay more than a few days, there is a grocery store in the local town 10 miles away or so. Each cottage has a back deck to relax and look out over the course to reflect on the round(s) you played earlier in the day. I hope to one day take my son back for a father-son golf trip as I can't think of a better place to spend the time for the cost.  Barnbougle Dunes appears in Fifty More Places to Play Golf Before You Die.