GOLF COURSE IN A JUNGLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 186, 10 August 1935, Page 4

GOLF COURSE IN A JUNGLE

SWAMP CONVERTED INTO BEAUTY SPOT

Darwin golfers have completed i probably the most novel golf course in ' Australia, hacking it out of thick jungle and have utilised a swamp, converting an impregnable piece of land into a beauty spot. Fairwa\s run down avenues through jungle, and many greens are surrounded bv panJanus palms, which give the course a picturesque appearance. Tire clearing of tlie jungle for fairways has exposed many sweet roots, which have a great appeal to wallabies and bandicoots. In I the early mornings dozens of wallabies I can l>e scon scratching up the fairwavs i for roots. They leave large areas torn up. The bandicoots dig deep holes, from which it. is diliicult to hack ont 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 nest| e snugly into the tops of holes: nith exasperating firninc-- In addi I

iii'-u, hawk- ami kites. which are plen tilul, are always on the look-out for golf balls and carry them away into 'lie jungle. During the < < usru( li<« n o f the <-our>e the golfers had to work al times in g f nearly ]() feet high, and with axes, had to cut their way into dense bamboo thickets. Some of the leesaie in recesses cut. into the bamboo thickets, trom which uncanny rustlingar,, heard as golfers address Hie Hull. Aboriginal prisoners from Fanny Hav I gaol assisted tire golfers in some'of the [clearing .ork. Au boriginal murderer Nemarluck, was one of the band. I'oi merly IJarvriu golfers used the aerodrome for a course, but extensions to tlie aerodrome and the greater use that, is being made of it bv the air ‘ ,ia jl sen ire have meant Unit, tliev have 11:1,1 to mnie risen here. The new course is three miles from Ihe town, 'the clubhouse ni|| overlook Failin' llay and "ill receive cool sen breezes. The outlook from it is , )Ht . n f , most 'dutiful sights >■ ■