The Best Golf Courses Tasmania has to Offer
The combination of jaw-dropping natural beauty, abundant fresh produce and world-class wines has fast made Tasmania one of Australia’s most enticing holiday destinations. Throw in some of the nation’s best – and most picturesque – golf courses, and a trip to the island state ticks all the boxes.
Below, we round up some of the best golf courses Tasmania has to offer, from those within a 45-minute drive of our Tamar Valley cellar door to others that are a short flight away on King Island. A round or two will inevitably see you work up a thirst, which is where we come in – Holm Oak is an ideal stop on any golfing tour of the island state. Book in for a tasting whilst you’re planning a round of golf and consider us your 19th hole.
Nine of Tasmania’s Best Golf Courses
We’ve rounded up some of our finest courses to have a hit and enjoy a round of golf. Put them on your bucket list and start planning a trip.
Barnbougle, North East Coast
Comprising three coveted courses, Barnbougle’s Dunes and Lost Farm ranked at numbers three and four in Australia’s Top 100 Courses for 2022 by Golf Australia magazine. Just a one-hour drive from Holm Oak, Barnbougle sits on the north east coast, where golfers play in and around the dramatic dunes, and the pristine coastline serves as the striking backdrop. The Dunes was designed to emulate the traditional links courses of Scotland and Ireland, while the 20-hole Lost Farm course was created with a minimalistic approach to complement the land’s natural layout. With its own luxury accommodation and restaurant – and those sweeping views – Barnbougle is known for keeping discerning non-golfers just as happy as those who tee off here.
Prices: from $102 for nine holes
Distance from Holm Oak: one-hour drive
Quamby Estate, Launceston
This nine-hole course is within easy reach of Launceston and, thanks to its high elevation, Quamby Estate also offers stunning rural views. This course is said to have some of the best bunkering to be found on nine holes, and visitors are welcome to play here. Owned by the duo who founded Virgin Australia, the historic estate also hosts events and includes a lovingly restored 10-bedroom homestead, which can be hired for group accommodation.
Prices: from $20 for nine holes
Distance from Holm Oak: 45-minute drive
King Island Golf Course and Bowling Club, King Island
This course holds a special place for winemaker Bec Duffy because her grandfather built the King Island Golf and Bowling Club. “We spent a lot of time there when I was a kid,” she says. Also offering a range of accommodation, great meals, events and a bowls green, visitors receive a warm welcome here, and you can even play the 9-hole course without a booking.
Prices: from $40 for nine holes, including buggy hire
Distance from Launceston: 50-minute flight
Cape Wickham Links, King Island
Coming in at number two in Australia’s Top 100 Courses for 2022, as ranked by Golf Australia magazine, Cape Wickham Links is renowned for its design, location and meticulously kept greens. Players enjoy ocean views from every hole, and the course has been designed to wrap around Cape Wickham Lighthouse. Only completed in 2015, Cape Wickham Links draws keen golfers from around the world, and its villa-style accommodation and fine dining also ensures an incredible experience for those who prefer not to step onto the greens.
Prices: from $90 for nine holes
Distance from Launceston: 50-minute flight
Ocean Dunes, King Island
It’s the challenges of Ocean Dunes that tends to bring players back to play on this course time and time again. Coming in at number 18 in Golf Australia’s Australia’s Top 100 Courses for 2022, Ocean Dunes is made up of distinctive dunes and rolling greens, complete with the island’s dramatic scenery also playing its part. Many holes have 360-degree ocean views, and there are even two par-threes that cross the ocean. Drinks and dining can be enjoyed at the clubhouse, and accommodation is offered at the nearby King Island Hotel, which was recently renovated.
Prices: from $90 for nine holes
Distance from Launceston: 50-minute flight
Ratho Farm, Bothwell
Golfing at Ratho Farm in the Central Highlands is about so much more than the golf. Rich in history, Ratho Fam was established by the Reid family, who settled here from Scotland in 1822. The bucolic property has trout streams, renovated convict buildings now housing boutique accommodation, a function venue, and the golf course, which is said to be Australia’s oldest. The Reids brought golf with them to this site from Scotland, where the game originated, and much like the rest of the property, the golf course has been lovingly restored, with the owners even uncovering six ‘lost’ holes.
Prices: from $25 for nine holes
Distance from Holm Oak: Less than a 2.5-hour drive
Devonport Country Club, Devonport
A significant redevelopment at Devonport Country Club has created a major community hub, combining two local bowls clubs, croquet, and golf, also with a new club bar, bistro and function centre. Originally established in 1921, Devonport Golf Club has a long history of hosting championship events, and its course is tree-lined, well-bunkered and features excellent greens. Wall-to-ceiling glass in the Jack Bar | Woodrising Bistro allows guests to enjoy a meal and a drink as they take in the views across the course.
Prices: from $30 for nine holes
Distance from Holm Oak: 70-minute drive
Kingston Beach Golf Club, Kingston Beach
Just a 15-minute drive south of Hobart, Kingston Beach Golf Club is the island’s southernmost 18-hole championship golf course. With a heritage-listed club house, the course has beach and river views, and was declared a bird sanctuary in the 1940s – now home to more than 80 species. The park-like setting has a particularly steep climb to the 18th green, so there is a unique inclinator that takes players up the hill for their final tee-off – perhaps the real highlight of playing here. Finish at the club’s Spike Bar, which looks across the 18th hole and beyond to the Derwent River.
Prices: from $35 for nine holes
Distance from Holm Oak: three-hour drive
Finish at Holm Oak, Tamar Valley
Our Tamar Valley cellar door is an essential stop on any tour of Tasmania, particularly if you’ve earned the downtime after playing on some of the state’s best golf courses. After putting in the hard yards on the greens, take the scenic drive through Tamar Valley and stop by. Here, you can taste through our award-winning Tasmanian wines, from sparkling wines and aromatic whites to our renowned pinot noir, cabernet, sweet wines and more.
Take a moment to celebrate your golfing on the top courses of Tasmania while learning more about our winemaking approach and enjoying our spectacular vineyard views. You may even meet our resident pig Pinot d’Pig and feed him a few apples while you’re here.
Our tastings will resume in Cellar Door from June 2022, so be sure to book in and come and see us.
