Fore!

There comes a time in every golfer’s life when the course you’ve played for years has been conquered, you know its every quirk and, well, the greens seem greener on the other side of the hill. You need a changeand there is nowhere else in our neck of the woods that offers golfers a change and a challenge like Norfolk Island.

The Norfolk Island Golf Club offers a nine-hole course with dual tees, providing variety and a challenge for 18-hole play. It is a par 72 layout featuring fairways that blend open links style golf seamlessly with coastal breezes, kikuyu grass and the island’s welcoming climate and natural landscape.

And what a landscape it is. The Norfolk Island Golf Club is one of the only golf courses in the world to be located within a UNESCO World Heritage site, and set in the heart of Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area, it offers sweeping ocean views and a backdrop of Georgian convict-era buildings. Golfers can enjoy panoramic vistas of Cemetery Bay and the rugged coastline, making it a course unlike any other. And the mix of tree-lined fairways and open areas offers something for every golfer.

The course exudes a relaxed, welcoming island vibe, with no rush or pretence - perfect for golfers of all levels - and a setting steeped in a colourful history. Surrounded by the remnants of Norfolk’s convict past, it offers a unique blend of sport and storytelling, with the clubhouse and pro shop area once being home to the Stipendiary Magistrate in convict times during the 1840s. Visitors also often remark on the surreal experience of playing next to Kingston’s historic cricket pitch (the oldest cricket pitch in the southern hemisphere) and the surrounding old stone buildings.

But there’s more to it than just sweeping views and walking with history. Norfolk Islanders are avid golfers - the game has been played there for over one hundred years, though the course was closed in 1914 for rifle practice! - and the club is a hub for the community, offering a welcoming atmosphere for visitors, including opportunities to join in local competitions or social games with friendly residents. It has been called the friendliest golf club in the world for good reason.

The highlight of the Norfolk Island golf year is the annual Norfolk Island Pro-Am Golf Classic, held each August, while the Governor’s Cup in November is a unique event with players entering as a pair and playing three different types of games over the three day event. Regular mixed tournaments and open days are a highlight for visiting players, and remember that clubs and gear are available to hire on the island to make a quick trip even more hassle free.

There’s nothing quite like sipping a cold one after a round and looking out over the fairways.

And the hassle-free, island life is what a golfing excursion to Norfolk Island is all about. The clubhouse, set in a stunning location, is perfect for unwinding with a drink and a bite to eat after a game; there’s nothing quite like sipping a cold one after a round and looking out over the fairways with Emily Bay and Government House on one side and the rolling surf and Phillip Island on the other. There’s also no post-game traffic to fight (but do remember that on Norfolk waving to fellow motorists is virtually compulsory, and cows get the right of way!), and what better way to top off a round of golf than with a beach walk or some snorkelling at nearby attractions such as the beaches at Emily and Slaughter Bays.

But be careful; it’s well known locally that golfers who visit Norfolk Island Golf Club nearly always come back! So this could be the start of a lifelong love affair.