The island state of Tasmania lies 150 miles off the south coast of Australia, separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait. A former 19th century British penal colony known as Van Dieman’s Land, Tasmania is now home to around half a million inhabitants, many of whom reside in and around the state capital of Hobart.

Amateur golf in the state is administered by Golf Tasmania and there are more than fifty clubs affiliated to this organisation. Every year, a large variety of men’s, women’s, junior and senior competitions are organised by the governing body for the benefit of the membership.

Until recently, the Vern Morcom-designed Royal Hobart course (which celebrated the 50th anniversary of its opening in 2013) and Al Howard’s Tasmania (laid out with Ian Grimsey in 1971) were considered the top two tracks in the state. That all changed with the unveiling of a couple of world class courses – Barnbougle Dunes and Barnbougle Lost Farm – outside Bridport, on the island’s north coast.

However, things are changing once again. Now the world's focus is on King Island, which promises to overtake its much bigger island sibling as the must-visit golfing destination The arrival of Cape Wickham and Ocean Dunes has step-changed the Australian golfing landscape once again. Some think Cape Wickham could be Australia's future No.1.

Two exciting Tasmanian projects got underway in 2021. The first was Seven Mile Beach near Hobart airport, where Clayton, DeVries & Pont are designing an 18-hole layout for tour pro Matthew Goggin’s company. Once the non-native pine trees have all been removed, fairway shaping in the rolling dunes can take place.

The second development lies 20 kilometres further southwest at Arm End, where Neil Crafter and Paul Mogford of Golf Strategies have produced a master plan to integrate an 18-hole course into a multi-use public recreation reserve with tracks and trails, picnic areas and fishing points.

Our Tasmania Best In State Rankings were last updated in March 2021. Click the link to read the story.