In summary

  • Ricky Ponting has become an official ambassador for Country Club Tasmania's brand new $30m Championship Course, which opens on December 12.
  • Designed by course architect Robin Gibson, the layout features six kilometres of creek, an island tee on the 10th hole and 76 bunkers across 18 holes.
  • Ponting says the American Parkland style course offers a full resort experience with a driving range, five-star hotel, putt-putt and pony rides, making it different from Tasmania's other courses.

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

The Championship Course will open in November. Pic: Supplied

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

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

There’s 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 five 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, Pic: Supplied.

“When you think about what Barnbougle Dunes provides, and think about what Seven Mile has in Hobart, and King Island even 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 this provides something great for the families. You've got paddle ball courts, you can have pony rides. you've got indoor pools, you've got the range, you've got putt-putt, you've got a five-star hotel, and you've got 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.