Cape Wickham Links on King Island in Tasmania is the number one public golf course in Australia.
In this article, we delve into 5 things you need to know before you play at Cape Wickham including two things which aren't even on the golf course. For a more detailed breakdown of the 5 things, watch our YouTube video at the bottom of this article.
1. The First Tee
The teeing ground on the first hole is actually part of the practice putting green. The turf on the first tee has the same fescue grass as Cape Wickham’s greens and is cut to the same height which you’ll be hard pressed to find at any other golf course.
2. Cape Wickham Lighthouse
Cape Wickham Lighthouse is just a few hundred metres from the par-5 15th hole and is everpresent during a round at Cape Wickham because you can see it from most parts of the golf course. And it is not just any Lighthouse - it’s the tallest lighthouse in Australia.
3. The Closing Stretch - Holes 16 to 18
The last three holes at Cape Wickham might be the greatest closing stretch of any golf course in the world, let alone Australia. The par-4 16th hole hugs the rocky coastline all the way from tee to green. The short 17th does the same and features a stunning elevated tee where you play downhill to a sloping green flanked by a series of pot-style bunkers. And hole 18 is the crown jewel. It is a medium length dogleg right par-4 which hugs Victoria Cove and its stretch of beach.
4. The Middle Stretch - Holes 9 to 12
Everyone raves about the finish at Cape Wickham but the middle stretch from the 9th hole to the 12th hole is brilliant.
5. Disappointment Bay
Who says you can’t pack bathers or board shorts when you come to King Island? About a 10-minute drive from Cape Wickham is the pristine beach at Disappointment Bay. If you’re lucky, there won’t be another soul on the beach and the turquoise coloured water is a real treat.