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THE LONGEST COURSE:
Nullarbor Links, Australia
Not many countries have the space
to devote 1000km to a golf course,
or the quirkiness to do it. Australia
has both. Nullarbor Links stretches
along the Eyre Highway between
Western Australia and South
Australia, with each of the 18 holes
located at a different town. Better
leave the Golf Skate Caddy in the
garage: on this course you will need
a four wheel drive and an extra
tank of gas. Still, there is plenty
of time between holes to think
about your short game: the closest
distance between holes is 60km.
THE LONELIEST GREEN
Coeur d’Alene Resort,
U.S.A.
There is nothing new about having
a lake next to a golf course, but
what makes Coeur d’Alene a bit
different is what is floating in the
lake. One hundred metres from the
shore is a floating green. Should
you get your ball onto it, you then
have to take a boat shuttle across
to the island to sink it. If you make
the putt, there is a certificate of
achievement waiting back across
the water.
THE MOST DANGEROUS
Joint Security Area
Panmunjom, South Korea
While this is not much of a course –it
is only comprised of a single hole- the
risks make up for the lack of time
a round might take. Located in the
demilitarised zone between North and
South Korea, this course is very close
to the border. Given the antagonism
between the countries, the rough is
actually alive with unexploded mines.
A sign stating “Do not retrieve balls
from the rough live mine fields” is
required reading before teeing off.
THE TACKIEST COURSE
Mission Hills, China
The Chinese have taken to golf like
duck to Hoisin sauce, and are not
afraid to try something a bit differ-
ent. It is probably a Great Wall of
China-sized understatement when
the designer says “traditionalists
will probably hate it”, but Mission
Hill is beyond beauty or ugliness.
On the 4th, golfers don’t have to
worry about bunkers: instead they
are faced with a huge replica of the
Great Wall. There is a hole dedicat-
ed to pandas and another where
the green is ringed by a giant pot of
artificial noodles. This is mini-golf
kitsch, just on a massive scale.
THE WILDEST COURSE
Skukuza Course, South
Africa
Located inside world famous Kruger
National park, this course relies on
its four-legged residents to bring
some interest to the sport. Baboons
and warthogs are just a few of the
creatures that wander the course.
There are some hippos too, which
adds an element of danger to the
round. After all, they account for
more deaths than any other African
animal…..though the thought of
hitting a wallowing hippo probably
would improve your long game!
HIGHEST PAR 3
Legend Golf and Safari
Resort, South Africa
Legend Resort is a famous and
celebrated course, where each
of the holes has been designed
by famous golfers. What gets it
plenty of press is the 19th hole. The
Extreme 19 is 400 metres above sea
level and requires players to shoot
for the green way below which is
spaced like a map of Africa. You
need to get a helicopter to the top.
No one has yet managed a hole in
one.
THE HEARTBREAKER
Carnoustie Golf Links,
Scotland
Carnoustie Golf Links, Scotland
This course is so brutal that it
has given its name to a particular
type of psychological break down
that golfers can experience. The
“Carnoustie Effect” has claimed
plenty of big names, including
Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who broke
down in tears after losing here.
Located in the Scottish city of
Dundee, screaming winds coming
from the frozen North Sea make
a bad round hideous. There is
little cover to be had and plenty of
bunkers and snarls in the turf in
which to lose your ball…..and maybe
your mind.
To the average go l f er mos t go l f cour ses
have some cha l l enges . But f our hundred
me t re drops , f l oa t i ng g reens , h i ppos ,
shar ks and even l i ve mi ne f i e l ds can
t rans f orm your regu l ar Sunday a f t ernoon
round i nt o a carn i va l .
Touchline profiles some of the most
extreme courses in the world.