It was easy to envision an Irish links design among the dunes at 7 Mile Beach. (Courtesy of 7 Mile Golf Course/Will Watt Images)
Mat Goggin surveys the course. (Courtesy of 7 Mile Golf Course/Will Watt Images)
A view of the short, par-4 10th. (Courtesy of 7 Mile Golf Course/Will Watt Images)
7 Mile Beach
Seven Mile Beach, Tasmania, Australia
Awards
7 Mile Beach
300 Pittwater Road
Seven Mile Beach, Tasmania
Australia
Overview
One of the buzziest new course openings in the world, 7 Mile Beach is the vision of tour pro Matt Goggin, who got Mike Clayton on board—giving Tasmania yet another golf hit. 7 Mile Beach is an architectural masterclass in self-restraint; an Irish beauty of a links course. Devries was determined to achieve two things. Firstly, that 7 Mile Beach would be a great walk with seamless connectivity. Secondly, that every shot was engaging to golfers of all abilities. Celebrated as a modern minimalist in course design, DeVries refrained from chasing 18 of the highest possible tee boxes for the sake of ocean views. Doing so would create arduous walks uphill to every tee and back down, slowing pace of play and tiring golfers. 7 Mile has gradual build-ups that sometimes take two holes to reach vantage points atop the dunes, such as the breathtaking, short par-4 fifth. The majestic vistas from the tee and marvellous journey down to a quirky, three-leaf clover of a green beside the shore will undoubtedly become the signature hole in time. Perhaps 7 Mile’s true charm, aside from 18 holes of firm and fast fescue links turf, is in its experimental quirkiness. Several holes have multiple tee options, but not just in front of each other. At the par-3 second, tees on the right are perched high and level with an infinity green. From here, the ocean is visible from the tee. However, a handful of tees down and on the left, considerably lower, render an unrecognisable other par 3. Golfers peer through an alleyway and a small dune up to the green. This brings a large, left greenside dune into play. —Evin Priest
