Kangaroo Island, Australia: The South Australian Government has announced that Development Authorisation had been granted to Kangaroo Island Links Pty Ltd for a revision to a previously approved golf development on pristine Kangaroo Island.
Known as The Cliffs, Kangaroo Island and constructed on a premium 600-acre parcel of oceanfront land in Pelican Lagoon, the 18-hole golf course takes full advantage of the area’s rolling sand dunes and sweeping coastal views. Much of the course is set atop 25-metre high cliffs and played directly adjacent to the Southern Ocean.
Beyond golf, the project includes a luxury clubhouse/lodge and 180-bed hotel as well as scope for restaurants, conference facilities and a luxury day spa and health club.
There is also provision for a residential component with a select number of private dwellings. Each home site enjoys glorious elevated views across the golf course and along the island’s dramatic coastline.
The senior team responsible for delivering the project has significant experience in golf course design and construction with a group resume including Cape Wickham Links on King Island, recently ranked the ‘24th Best Golf Course in the World’ (Golf Digest) and Australia’s number one Public Access Course (Golf Australia).
Darius Oliver, Publisher of Planet Golf and co-designer of Cape Wickham, is responsible for the design of The Cliffs, while Andrew Purchase is again in charge of the golf course construction. Like Cape Wickham, it was Purchase who first found this golf land, and Oliver who worked with the State Government on approval for the revised golf course routing.
Committed to delivering the golf course component at The Cliffs, Kangaroo Island Links will be exploring joint venture opportunities with interested parties for both the resort and residential elements of the development.
Australia’s third largest island, Kangaroo Island is an iconic tourist destination situated 13 kilometres off the mainland of South Australia and teeming with natural attractions and native Australian wildlife, some of which aren’t found anywhere else.
More than one third of the island is protected by conservation areas and national parks, while lush farmland and small towns make up much of the rest.
The Cliffs Golf Resort sits between the island’s relaxed ‘capital’ Kingscote and the town of Penneshaw, where daily ferries disembark.
In approving the design variation Deputy Premier John Rau said: “This development will create an international tourist destination that brings visitors to Kangaroo Island to play golf on one of the world’s most spectacular courses and also experience the pristine natural environment. The golf resort will build the attractiveness of the island as a holiday destination and complement existing drawcards, such as the Southern Ocean Lodge Resort and the new Wilderness Trail.”
Purchase believes the Kangaroo Island project has similar potential to the Cape Wickham golf course on King Island.
“We acquired the site for The Cliffs because we knew how much potential it had,” said Purchase. “Course designer Darius Oliver has started from scratch to design what we believe will be a world-class destination golf course with a uniquely Australian character.
“We’ve taken full advantage of the dramatic coastal views, which are available across the site, and have seven holes wrapping directly around the clifftops as well as ensuring fantastic views from the hotel site and across the course.
“We would like to thank the SA Government agencies who have worked with us to get the project to this stage and we look forward to continuing to work together on the development.”
Oliver added: “Like on King Island, the golf site at Pelican Lagoon has tremendous natural potential and is ready made for great golf. The vast majority of holes are just sitting there on the ground, and will require little more than clearing, grassing and some light shaping.
“While the golf along the cliffs is stunning, I believe the inland holes to be at least as good, and arguably the most interesting on the course. Being able to create such a fun layout on Kangaroo Island and along such a beautiful stretch of coastline is a real thrill. Golfers from all corners of the globe are going to fall in love with this place. There isn’t anything like Kangaroo Island anywhere in the world.”