Nullarbor Links

Nullarbor Links^[1][2] is an 18 hole par 72 golf course, said to be "the World's Longest Golf course", situated along 1,365 kilometres of the Eyre Highway that crosses the southern coast of Australia in two states (Western Australia and South Australia), notably crossing the Nullarbor Plain at the head of the Great Australian Bight.

The idea for the course came from Alf Caputo and Bob Bongiorno, both active in the Eyre Highway Operators Association, over a bottle of red wine at the Balladonia Roadhouse.^[1] The course officially opened on 22-10-2009, although public play began on 15-08-2009.

The course

The course begins and ends (depending on the direction of crossing) in the goldmining town of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and the coastal town of Ceduna, South Australia. Professional golfer Robert Stock, from Manchester, England, consulted on the design^[2] that incorporates 7 holes from existing courses and 11 holes created at roadhouses and roadside stops. Newly constructed holes have tees and greens that use artificial grass, with natural desert land between.

• The shortest hole (Brumby's Run) is 125 metres, par 3.
• The longest hole (Dingo's Den) is 538 metres, par 5.
• The average distance between holes is 66 kilometres.
• Two of the holes are almost 200 kilometres apart.
• The 520m, par 5 Wombat Hole commemorates the nearby, largest colony of Southern Hairy Nosed Wombats.
• The Skylab Hole at Balladonia commemorates that pieces of the spacecraft fell in the area in 1979 when Skylab entered Earth's atmosphere.
• The Don Harrington Tee at the WA SA Border Village is named after the late Don Harrington who was a major shareholder of five roadhouses along the highway before passing away in March 2010

Playing the course

Players (travellers) use a score card purchased in Kalgoorlie or Ceduna for A$50 and play holes at various sites along the continental road. On presenting the completed card they can claim a certificate for playing "the World’s Longest Golf course."

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Golfing heads to the outback, Sarah McInerney, SMH, 2009-09-10, accessed 2009-10-13
2. ^ ^{a b} Don't let Aussie outback putt you off, ABC Online, 2009-10-13

External links

• Nullarbor Links - official website
• Eyre Highway accommodation
• Nullarbor travel information