Shock result as Australia’s best golf course is revealed – with an ultra-exclusive club that refused to even let Shane Warne play, stripped of top spot
- Cape Wickham has been crowned Australia’s best golf course
- Tasmanian resort replaces perennial winner Royal Melbourne
- Cape Wickham Receives Australian Golf Digest Ranking Honor
When it comes to Australia’s best golf course, there’s officially a new leader: Cape Wickham, on Tasmania’s King Island.
The waterfront venue is now officially perched in first place, ahead of the historic Royal Melbourne West.
This development is huge news in golf circles given that Royal Melbourne has only been dethroned as the country’s best venue twice in 40 years.
Located at Black Rock in Melbourne’s south-east, the prestigious 36-hole private club has long been considered the country’s flagship course, but this is no longer the case.
Cape Wickham, on King Island in Tasmania, has been heralded as Australia’s best golf course
The prestigious Cape Wickham course – particularly the 18th hole – is a favorite of many golfers thanks in part to its spectacular setting (pictured)
The development is huge news in golf circles given Royal Melbourne (pictured) has only been dethroned from the top spot twice in 40 years.
Royal Melbourne is also the venue where Australian cricket greats Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting were rebuffed after taking a turn.
It is also the venue where Australian cricket greats Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting were rebuffed after playing 18 holes on the revered course.
The recently released bi-annual Australian Golf Digest (AGD) Top 100 Course Rankings list places Cape Wickham as the new number one, assuming the coveted position after improving its measurement criteria.
After an $8 million construction, Cape Wickham Links opened to the public in 2015 and quickly attracted many admirers.
It has been ranked 24th among the best courses in the world, with a major selling point being the stunning views of the northern tip of King Island – particularly on the 18th hole.
“This result will shock many, but you have to understand that the iconic Royal Melbourne (West) has not lost ground – it is still as good – it is just that it has been beaten on our measurement criteria by beautiful Cape Wickham,” AGD Top 100 editor Steve Keipert told News Corp.
“And it’s also worth noting that we are rating Royal Melbourne on both of its established routes, East and West.
“The composite layout is a mix of the two courses, so it’s not a true everyday golf course. “Accordingly, the composite version is not revised.”
Elsewhere, The Grange in Adelaide – the site of this week’s LIV golf event – finished in 42nd place, with five Victorian courses making up half of the top 10 places.
