Hamilton Island Golf Survival Guide by Brendan James

Playing any course for the first time can be a daunting experience. When that course is Hamilton Island Golf Club – widely regarded as one of the most challenging (albeit visually striking) in Australia, if not the world – you need to be at the top of your game. Brendan James shares his tips for a memorable round. 

The Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett-designed course at Hamilton Island Golf Club is not actually on Hamilton Island. It's on Dent Island, a tree-and-scrub-covered monolith that rises steeply (to about 182m at its highest point) from the surrounding waters of the Coral Sea. Its shore is reached by ferry from the Hamilton Island Marina. As you cross the passage, you'll get glimpses of the layout on the clifftops high above, fuelling excitement for the challenge ahead. Here, we offer six tips to turn some of those bogeys into pars and, perhaps, a few birdies. 

Play the course for you

There are three sets of tees on each hole, named after trees that are native to Dent Island. Hoof Pine, Pandanus and Grass Tree. Hoof Pine represents the longest half of the par-3s, a course set in place for championship, in part tackled by professionals and elite amateurs. Undoubtedly, the temptation will be too much for the masochistic golfer reading this, but be warned: take plenty of golf balls. There are long carries to reach some fairways, and the tee shots on the par-3s are among the most exacting you will find anywhere in the country. Most will be best served playing from the Pandanus tees, though if you're a casual golfer, opt for the Grass Tree tees to get the most out of your round. That said, if you are planning to play a few games at Hamilton Island, why not mix it up from round to round or hole to hole? 

Control your ball

Peter Thomson was one of the world's best golfers in the wind, which is why he won five Open Championships. He brought his love of seaside courses and windy conditions to his golf course architectural career, creating layouts that play due to strong wind, to his strengths. Key to making a good score at Hamilton Island is knowing how to play in the wind: keep your ball on a low trajectory into a headwind or crosswind, and hit the ball high downwind. Or, in Thomson's words: "You, not Mother Nature, need to control your ball." 

Pick your club

This is a simple one. The Hamilton Island layout covers dramatic terrain, with great elevation changes from tee to green on most holes. If the flag is above your eyeline when you're hitting to a green, consider hitting a longer club to make the distance. Conversely, if the flag is below your eyeline, you will need a more lofted club. Obviously, the more uphill or downhill the shot is, the greater the difference in club (from a shot played on level ground) you will require. 

Prepare for amazing

It only takes a few holes to really appreciate what an incredible feat of engineering, course design and construction it was to create a layout in such rugged terrain. To give you an idea, hundreds of tonnes of rock were carved from the landscape to facilitate the positioning of tees, greens and fairways. This rock was shaped on site to make sand that was then shaped to become the foundation of the Bermuda and Couch grass-playing surfaces. The opening trio of holes eases you into the round and then the real challenge begins: the par-3 fourth hole. From the Hoof Pine back markers, it is 175m across a scrub-filled valley to a large undulating green that is more exposed to wind than any other hole on the front nine. The putting surface lies on a ridge where shots hit long and short left are gone for good. Backdropped by the distant Long Island and mainland, and beautifully framed by rocky outcrops, this is a fantastic hole. That said, all four of the par-3s are outstanding. Each demands different shots, clubs and strategies to equal par, and poor shots are punished. Good wind play, smart club selection and a hint of bravado will put you in good stead for the par-3 14th, which can play as long as 150m (or 113m at its shortest), and from varying angles, across a scrub-filled gully to the green. Surrounded by deep bunkers on three of its four sides, the hole's only "safe" miss is to the left of the putting surface, a part of the course that is extremely exposed to the elements. 

Don't get comfortable

The 160m par-3 16th, off the Hoof Pine tee, has a reputation for being a destroyer of good scores. The tees and green have been cut out of the side of an escarpment, with the tee elevated high above the putting surface, making the hole play much shorter than the scorecard suggests. This is the most spectacular hole on the course and, perhaps, the most treacherous. 

The only bail-out here area is just short of the green. Even the deep bunker cut into the front right edge of the green looks good when you are standing on the tee. Miss the green right or long and you can drop another ball, while any tee shot drifting left will leave a tough chip from long grass. It's no coincidence that the shortest holes at Hamilton Island is are the most dangerous to the scorecard. All four green complexes are island-like: there's little room for error with your tee shot and mis-hits are repelled from the putting surface. 

Keep your head up

You can follow all of the above but there is a pretty good chance you won't play to your handicap. That's golf. The real winner on this course is the player who remembers to take in the scenery at every turn of the journey, from the first tee to the 18th green.