So you think you're a big-stick driver, huh? You laugh at 600-yard par 5s; your ball's still going up when it hits the treeline at your local driving range. Saddle up, chief, because the greatest longball challenge in the world now awaits you: Nullabor Links in Australia, a course that stretches nearly 850 miles.
Yes, you read that right -- miles. Or, if you prefer, 1,365 kilometers, whichever sounds easier.
A round at Nullabor takes at least a week and takes you through two of Australia's states, from Kalgoorlie, West Australia to Ceduna, South Australia. Along the way you'll see everything from dingoes (presumably not the baby-stealing kind) and wombats to a huge scar in the ground where Skylab fell to earth in 1979.
The fairways are desolate desert, while most of the greens are synthetic. Par on the course is 72. (And for the very literal-minded among you, most of the distance is between the holes, not the holes themselves.) You can drive the holes in either direction and get your card stamped at each green to certify you've completed the whole beast. (Interestingly, one of the sponsors on the official website is a towing company. Make of that what you will.)
Also, there are obviously some high-end tourist packages that will keep you wrapped in Aussie comfort for every kilometer of your journey. A five-day jaunt costs about $2,000 per person, not including airfare or extra balls. Of course, you can also play the course yourself for just $50 ... plus the cost of gas and lodging. Don't know about you, but I'm ready to go golf gypsy and live in my car for a week.
What are you waiting for, hammer? Get swinging Down Under!
No comments:
Post a Comment