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Nullarbor Links facts for kids

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Nullarbor Links
Rooey II, 2012.JPG
Hole 6: Border Kangaroo,
Border Village, South Australia, 2012.
Club information
Location Eyre Highway, Australia
Established 2009; 16 years ago (2009)
Type Public
Owned by Various owners
Operated by Eyre Highway Operators Association
Total holes 18
Tournaments hosted Chasing the Sun
Website Nullarbor Links
Designed by Robert Stock (consultant)
Par 72

The Nullarbor Links is an amazing 18-hole golf course in Australia. It's known as the world's longest golf course! It stretches for 1,365 kilometers (about 848 miles) along the Eyre Highway. This unique course crosses the Nullarbor Plain in both South Australia and Western Australia.

How the Nullarbor Links Started

The idea for this super long golf course came from two friends, Alf Caputo and Bob Bongiorno. They were part of the Eyre Highway Operators Association. They thought of it while chatting at the Balladonia Roadhouse.

They wanted to make the very long drive across the Nullarbor Plain more fun. It also helped drivers stay awake and alert. This unique course also brought more visitors to the roadhouses along the highway.

A study was done in 2006 to see if the idea was possible. People started playing the course in August 2009. The Nullarbor Links officially opened on October 22, 2009. By 2022, over 20,000 travelers had officially played the course. Many more played without buying a scorecard.

Exploring the Nullarbor Golf Course

This incredible golf course starts and ends in two different towns. One end is in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, a gold mining town. The other end is in Ceduna, South Australia, a coastal town. You can play it in either direction!

Course Design and Features

A professional golfer named Robert Stock helped design the course. He's from Manchester, England. The course uses 7 holes from existing golf clubs. The other 11 holes were specially made at roadhouses and stops along the highway.

The holes built just for Nullarbor Links have special artificial grass for the tees and greens. The land between the holes is natural desert. The holes are far apart, with an average distance of 66 kilometers (about 41 miles). The longest gap between two holes is almost 200 kilometers (about 124 miles)!

Unique Challenges on the Course

Playing golf here is very different from other places. The course has many unusual natural hazards. You might see crows, emus, and kangaroos. There are also three types of dangerous venomous snakes. Wedge-tailed eagles fly overhead, and you might find wombat holes.

Another challenge is the weather. Temperatures can get very hot, sometimes over 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day!

Nullarbor Links Course Layout
Hole Name Length Par Location
Hole 1 Oyster Beds 485 m 5 Ceduna Golf Club, Ceduna, South Australia
Hole 2 Denial Bay 370 m 4 Ceduna Golf Club, Ceduna, South Australia
Hole 3 Windmills 260 m 4 Penong Golf Course, Penong, South Australia
Hole 4 Wombat Hole 520 m 5 Nundroo Roadhouse, Nundroo, South Australia
Hole 5 Dingo's Den 538 m 5 Nullarbor Roadhouse, Nullarbor, South Australia
Hole 6 Border Kangaroo 160 m 3 Border Village Roadhouse, Border Village, South Australia
Hole 7 Nullarbor Nymph 315 m 4 Eucla Golf Course, Eucla, Western Australia
Hole 8 Watering Hole 330 m 4 Mundrabilla Roadhouse, Mundrabilla, Western Australia
Hole 9 Brumby's Run 125 m 3 Madura Roadhouse, Madura, Western Australia
Hole 10 Eagles Nest 347 m 4 Cocklebiddy Roadhouse, Cocklebiddy, Western Australia
Hole 11 90 Mile Straight 310 m 4 Caiguna Roadhouse, Caiguna, Western Australia
Hole 12 Skylab 175 m 3 Balladonia Roadhouse, Balladonia, Western Australia
Hole 13 Golden Horse 385 m 4 Norseman Golf Club, Norseman, Western Australia
Hole 14 Ngadju 463 m 5 Norseman Golf Club, Norseman, Western Australia
Hole 15 Golden Eagle 110 m 3 Widgiemooltha Roadhouse, Widgiemooltha, Western Australia
Hole 16 Silver Lake 392 m 4 Kambalda Golf Club, Kambalda, Western Australia
Hole 17 Golden Mile 502 m 5 Kalgoorlie Golf Course, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Hole 18 CY O'Connor 356 m 4 Kalgoorlie Golf Course, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

Playing the Nullarbor Links Course

To play, you can buy a scorecard in Ceduna or Kalgoorlie. As of December 2023, it cost A$70, plus an $8 fee for course upkeep. You can bring your own golf clubs or rent them at each hole.

To protect the natural environment, players must tee their balls up on the fairways. They are also asked not to drive vehicles on the fairways. Once you finish all 18 holes and get your card stamped, you receive a special certificate. It proves you played "the World’s Longest Golf Course"!

Nullarbor Links Tournaments

The Nullarbor Links hosts a golf tournament called "Chasing the Sun." This event first started in 2009. It has been held every September since then. However, it was paused in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2025 tournament took place from May 1 to May 10.

See also

  • List of links golf courses
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