Blog 167 – Swansea

Course 67 for 2021 – Swansea, Tas

From the 6th green across Great Oyster Bay

On the sea in Swansea

Nomadic_golfer : December 2021

Par 62, 3824m, slope 92, $15 green fee (9-hole course)

5 par3s 128-200m, 4 par4s 241-334m

Magical seaside setting on the East Coast of Tassie, with the course set on a little finger of land called Waterloo Point, poking out into Great Oyster Bay. Water borders about 270 degrees of the golf course and there are views across the bay to Freycinet National Park. It occupies a very small parcel of land, and despite it being so short, has a number of holes running close to, or crossing over, other holes.

With 4 par4’s and 5 par 3’s and only 1 hole over 300m it’s just a bit more than a pitch and putt, but an ideal place to have a hit on your holidays or to learn the game. When the breeze is up, there are some testing par 3s (3rd at 182m heading South, slightly downhill and 5th at 200m heading back North) are the 2 that come to mind. However, the finish is the signature piece here with 7 (pretty little 130m downhill between pines), 8 (157m downhill) and 9 (241m per 4 with side-sloping fairway) all looking out over the bay.

Condition was hard for me to assess as the (quite small) greens had been cored a couple of weeks before my visit. They look like Bentgrass greens and had a good cover, while the fairways are a mixture of kikuyu, clover and some naturally growing native grasses and were fine. Overall, it’s a neatly maintained short course, ideal for the holiday season hit with family or mates. The location is the highlight