Royal Hobart Golf Club

The Hobart Golf Club was awarded the Royal distinction in 1925 and its origins can be traced back to 1901 when members played on the grounds of what is now the University of Tasmania. However, the golfing organisation in the region was actually established five years earlier by members of the Newlands Golf Club. Sadly, this Newlands Golf Club no longer exists today.

The founding members of the Royal Hobart Golf Club played on a course at Sandy Bay (incredibly, a par 89 course comprising four par sixes and one par seven) under the supervision of the first Tasmanian professional, Scotsman James Hunter.

Playing this narrow, tree-lined woodland course is never easy as the 440-yard No. 1 is ranked 1-over on the scorecard. The toughest hole on the back nine is the 432-yard dogleg left 14th, where the tee shot is threatened by water flowing down the left side of the fairway.

The Royal Hobart Golf Club's course is renowned for its quality bunkers and has hosted the Tasmanian Open and National Amateur Championships on numerous occasions. Perhaps its finest hour came in 1971 when Jack Nicklaus won his third of six Australian Opens here.