Twelve holes will open for play at the new Ocean Dunes course on Tasmania’s King Island this October.

The course’s front nine, as well as holes 10, 17 and 18, will be available for play for a reduced fee. This initial opening will coincide with the opening of the new Cape Wickham course on the island.

Both courses were covered extensively in the April 2015 edition of Golf Course Architecture.

The Ocean Dunes course has been designed by architect Graeme Grant, who says that the October opening will provide visitors with a real taste of what King Island has to offer.

“I’m sure they’ll realise that this location is world-class and will only improve once the courses mature and come into their own,” Grant said. “Ocean Dunes is just five minutes from King Island Airport, Cape Wickham is just half an hour away by car and with Barnbougle’s Dunes and Lost Farm courses, Tasmania is shaping as one of the truly great golf destinations in the world.”

Grant has lived at Currie – King Island’s main township – for two years while the course has been developed.

The architect confirmed that the entire 18-hole course is on track to open for play by the end of January 2016.

“At the moment, we’re cutting greens once a week, whereas once we’re open, everything will be much firmer, the ball will run a bit further, the grass will be shorter and the greens will be a bit faster,” Grant said. “I want them fast enough to highlight the slopes so golfers can use the slopes but not so fast that the ball is blown about by the wind. There’s an important balance to strike.”