Why Ricky Ponting is right behind Tasmania's boldest new golf course

It took mere minutes on the ground at the County Club Tasmania and seeing what was taking shape for Ricky Ponting to sign on the dotted line.

The Australian cricket legend, and golf tragic who has a collection of used clubs so large, he needed a storage unit to put them in, is an official ambassador for the Country Club’s brand new $30m Championship Course, which is taking bookings for its December 12 opening.

The venue holds a special place for Ponting, not because it's located in Launceston, where he was born, raised and his love of golf flourished among a family of golfers.    

“My last ever game of pennant golf was at the County Club, with my brother and my dad, all in the same team,” he told Golf Australia magazine as the opening date was confirmed.

“I have so many good memories there, on and off the golf course. And you know, to think that I'm part of something like what's happening in Tasmania, so close to where I spent so much time as a kid, is pretty cool.”

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The Championship Course will open in November. (Image supplied)

What has been created by course architect Robin Gibson sits as something remarkably, and deliberately, different to so many of the other destination courses in Tasmania, which is becoming a must-visit for Australian golfers.

There is six kilometres of creek, with vast lakes covered by suspension bridges in a parkland course set among century-old trees.

There is also a rare island tee on the 10th hole, with rye grass fairways and fescue rough laid out, with a total of 76 bunkers around the 18-hole layout.

One of Ponting’s favourite holes is the par-5 18th, named the “final reckoning” by those who have enjoyed preview play, with strong ambitions for the course to host tournaments as part of the Australasian PGA Tour in the not too distant future.

Adding to a strong cohort of new or newish courses in and around Tasmania, the Championship Course sits as a different offering with a full resort experience.

As well as the new golf course, there’s a full-service driving range offering food and beverages, on-site accommodation, as well as one of the most elaborate putt-putt courses in the country.

As a proud Tasmanian, Ponting said planting another significant golfing flag in his home state was something he was very proud of.

“The championship course provides something completely different than the other courses there as well,” he said.

The Championship Course will open for play in December. (Image supplied)

“When you think about what Barnbougle Dunes provides, and think about what Seven Mile has in Hobart, and King Island as well if you want to count that as part of the loop, this is an American Parkland-style course, 10 minutes from the airport, with everything that a family needs there.

“That's the thing that appeals most to me about it. Barnbougle, it's often more of a boys' trip type thing, but this course provides something great for the families. You have paddle ball courts, you can have pony rides. you have indoor pools, you have the range, you have putt-putt, a five-star hotel, and food and beverage all over the place.

“It's a pretty appealing package. This is a huge moment for golf in Tasmania.”

Tee times are available to be booked via the Country Club Tasmania website.