King Island, Australia: The spectacular new Cape Wickham Links in Australia has opened for a sneak preview. From earlier this month, a series of preview groups have been sampling this exciting new golf course on the north-western coast of Tasmania’s King Island.
As the fairways and greens at Cape Wickham have been maturing, work on a temporary clubhouse overlooking the first tee and 18th fairway has concluded. Plans are now afoot for a 20-room accommodation pod, located near the clubhouse and with breathtaking views north toward Bass Strait.
Among the early visitors have been eager golfers from New Zealand, the United States, Europe and most mainland states of Australia. Feedback has focused mostly on the stunning scenery.
Daryl David, a Top 100 Golf Course Rater from the United States, said: “Cape Wickham is definitely special. I don’t think I have seen anything remotely like it. I commented to one of my buddies that it was like Cypress Point and Ballyneal had a baby. A prodigy baby!
“It is a course that will deliver in all my key wants; strategy off the tee, challenging approach shots, ground game in spades, fun factor and a jaw-dropping walk in the park. Not many courses deliver on all those points.”
Due to open officially on October 30, Cape Wickham occupies an incredible seaside property in the shadows of Australia’s largest lighthouse. Measuring close to 160 feet in height, Cape Wickham is not only the tallest lighthouse in Australia and the tallest stone lighthouse in the southern hemisphere, it is now also the tallest on any golf course in the world.
It was constructed from local quarried granite in 1861, following a series of shipwrecks along King Island’s western coast.
Encompassing an area of approximately 120 hectares, Cape Wickham Links was designed by Mike DeVries and Darius Oliver and flows seamlessly across diverse terrain.

Eight holes are adjacent to the ocean plus two additional green sites are pressed against the Bass Strait shoreline. Interestingly, the inland holes are equally dramatic and arguably blessed with the most appealing ground undulations on the property. They also enjoy beautiful views of the ocean, the lighthouse and a pair of offshore islands known as Christmas and New Year Islands.
An unconventional routing, the first 13 holes are set to the west and south of the clubhouse with the finishing five holes to the north and east. The opening loop tiptoes along a rocky headland known as Cape Farewell before turning into the larger southern dunes and then heading back along the western coast. The lighthouse and beautiful Victoria Cove beach dominate both the closing stretch as well as views from the clubhouse and lodging areas.
Preview rounds at Cape Wickham will continue until early April with the course then closing over winter and re-opening formally for the Melbourne Cup long weekend.