NOVEL GOLF COURSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22628, 20 July 1935, Page 25

NOVEL GOLF COURSE

HEWN OUT OF JUNGLE WILD ANIMALS ON FAIRWAYS (From Odb Own Correspondent.) I, SYDNEY, July 11. ’ V -Darwin golfers have just completed probably the most novel golf course in Australia. They have hacked a course out of thick jungle and have utilised a swamp, converting an impenetrable piece of land into a beauty spot. Fairways run down avenues through jungle, and many greens are. surrounded by pandauus palms, which give the course a picturesque appearance. The clearing of the jungle for fairways has exposed many sweet roots, which have a great appeal to wallabies and bandicoots. In the early mornings dozens of wallabies can be seen scratching up the fairways for roots. They leave large areas torn up. The bandicoots dig deep holes, from which it is difficult to hack out a golf ball. One ..fairway borders a mangrove swamp, from which thousands of -.large land crabs crawl at night and burrow holes into the fairway. Golf balls nestle snugly into the tops of holes with exasperating firmness. In addition, hawks and kites, which are plentiful, are always on the look-out for golf balls and carry them away into the jungle. During the construction of the course the golfers had to work at times in grass nearly 10 feet high, and, with axes,had to cut into dense bamboo thickets. Some of the tees are in recesses cut into the bamboo thickets, from which uncanny rustlings are heard as golfers are addressing the ball. Aboriginal prisoners from Fanny Bay Gaol assisted the golfers in some of the clearing work. An aboriginal murderer, Nemarluck, was one of the band.

Formerly Darwin golfers used the aerodrome' for a course, but extensions to the aerodrome and the greater use that is being made of it by the air mail service have meant that they have had to move elsewhere. The new course is three miles from the town. The clubhouse will overlook Fanny Bay and will receive cool sea breezes. The outlook from the clubhouse is one of the most beautiful sights round Darwin.