World's Longest Golf Course Opens in Australia

Golf has a few truly sacred sites: the Old Course at St. Andrews, Augusta, Pebble Beach. However, the Australians have just opened the longest golf course ever. Despite being a rather standard par 72 for its 18 holes, the Nullarbor Links cover 1,365 kilometers, Or around 850 miles as Americans measure these things. The course lies in three different time zones. How can it be so long? Simply put, the holes are a good hour's drive apart, or more. It costs about A$200 a round for gasoline.

According to the Nullarbor Links website, there is "one hole in each participating town or roadhouse along the Eyre Highway, from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia. Each hole includes a green and tee and somewhat rugged outback-style natural terrain fairway. The course provides a quintessential Australian experience and a much-needed activity/attraction for travelers along the renowned desolate highway." For those unfamiliar with the geography of the lucky country, said highway runs along the middle of the south shore.

The opening tournament began yesterday, and the players hope to have the round finished before the week-end is over. Of course, anything can delay play. For example, the fourth hole is a par five near a place called Nundroo, has a prevailing headwind, but the real problem arises from the fact that Nundroo has the largest population of southern hairy nosed wombats in Australia. They tend to get in the way, and the PGA's official rule book doesn't mention wombats at all (hairy nosed or otherwise). Alf Caputo, the project manager, noted, "You can see kangaroos, emus, wombats, camels and all sorts of wildlife but no crocs. There's no crocodiles to be found on the Nullabor Links."

The fifth hole, named Dingo Den, is tougher. There's a crow in residence there, and the bird has developed a habit of flying off with golf balls in its beak. "They've had people man the hole and the crow still pinches it," Mr. Caputo said. "It would never happen anywhere else except central Australia." One doesn't doubt it.

The first thousand to send in A$200, plus A$15 for postage and handling (A$30 for shipments outside Australia), will enjoy the benefits of membership. These include: "Your very own special number will be allocated and will remain with you for ever; the club's logo will be yours in a specially designed polo shirt and cap for you to wear with pride; a commemorative certificate will be issued with your name and number."

Contrary to popular belief, this whole idea did not come about over a few beers. It was Australian wine that was the inspiration for this project.

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