Hamilton Island Golf Club and Resort in Australia's Whitsunday Islands

By Brandon Tucker,
Senior Writer

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Hamilton Island is the most developed of the Whitsunday Islands with a capacity to host about 5,000 residents or vacationers. (Courtesy of Hamilton Island)

One of the newest golf courses in Australia is Hamilton Island Golf Club, located in Queensland's Whitsunday Islands. Hamilton Island is the most populated of the handful of populated islands, with capacity for about 5,000 residents and vacationers. Only 30 percent of the island will ever be developed. So to build this golf course, the resort headed to next door Dent Island.

Hamilton Island G.C. opened in 2009 and was designed by five-time British Open champion and native Australian Peter Thomson. The course tip-toes along severe island bush and yields few flat lies, but it does have spectacular views at practically every turn. The back nine is especially jaw-dropping, including a closing stretch of holes that play along the sea.

To reach the golf club, you must take an "Island Links" ferry from the Hamilton Island ports across to Dent Island. On the island is a water driving range and clubhouse, pro shop and dining room with limited locker room facilities.

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December 9, 2010

Brandon Tucker is the Managing Editor for Golf Channel Courses & Travel. To date, his golf travels have taken him to over two dozen countries and over 500 golf courses worldwide. While he's played some of the most prestigious courses in the world, Tucker's favorite way to play the game is on a great muni in under three hours.