Course Comparison - Barnbougle Dunes vs Lost Farm

Last month we drew comparisons between heavily manufactured dunes courses in Scotland (Kingsbarns) and Wisconsin (Whistling Straits), with our poll respondents clearly of the view that Kingbarns (80% of votes) was superior to this year’s controversial PGA Championship venue, Whistling Straits (which only received 20% of votes).

This month we look at some of the most natural dune country in all of golf, as we compare Tasmanian siblings Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm. Lost Farm opens later this year, but is already being hailed a masterpiece by those fortunate enough to play preview rounds. While Doak’s original links at Barnbougle Dunes has had several years to mature and continues to delight golfers, the great news for visitors to this charming destination is that Bill Coore’s new creation does not in any way suffer by comparison. They are both outstanding and, crucially, very different.

Rather than ask users to vote on which is best, we’ve instead decided to create a head-to-head match between the two courses – comparing all 18 holes and trying to work out which course perhaps steals the points this way.

Hole 1 – Barnbougle Dunes - BD 1 up

Barnbougle’s opening par five is an under-rated starting hole, with plenty of options and a wonderful green complex. Lost Farm similarly begins with a soft par five, the drive played strategically around a waste area but the small green site lacking the exciting contour of Doak’s target.

Hole 2 – Lost Farm - Match Square

The flattish 2^nd at Barnbougle is a much-maligned hole and, despite being better than many give it credit for, loses to the strategic short par four 2^nd at Lost Farm. Coore’s hole is dominated by a broad fairway, a massively wide green, a deep bunker 100 yards short of the target, and a subtle diagonal ridge that complicates play for those approaching the pin from the wrong side. It’s not a difficult hole, but is much harder to birdie than would appear.

Hole 3 – Hole Halved - Match Square

How do you split two brilliant sandy par fours, the Barnbougle hole played across a ridge and then straight into the dunes, and the drivable Lost Farm hole into a small, naturally tired target protected by superb blow-out bunkers.

Hole 4 – Barnbougle Dunes - BD 1 up

The 4^th at Lost Farm is a picturesque short par three with a glorious coastal backdrop. It’s arguably the best loser in this exercise, but few par threes anywhere can match the sheer excitement, drama and originality of Doak’s brilliant short par four 4^th(pictured right).

Hole 5 – Lost Farm - Match Square

Lost Farm pulls out its big gun at the 5^th, a monstrous par four along the Barnbougle estuary and with its green nestled in the distance on the water side of an enormous sand dune. It’s easily superior to the short 5^th at Barnbougle Dunes.

Hole 6 – Lost Farm - LF 1 up

I’ve nothing against the 6^th at Barnbougle, but always felt the hole looked, and would perhaps work, better played in reverse. It’s a solid hole through some heavy dunes, whereas the 6^th at Lost Farm (pic right) is a beguiling short hole that boasts one of the more interesting green complexes on the entire property – the target here is angled across the tee and shaped to fall away on the left side and with a backstop on the right.

Hole 7 – Barnbougle Dunes - Match Square

Again the 7^th at Lost Farm is desperately unlucky to lose this contest, but even with all its strategic qualities it’s clearly no match for the best par three on either course (right).

Hole 8 – Lost Farm - LF 1 up

A tough match-up, with Doak’s brutal split-route par four up against the strongest par five on Lost Farm, and a hole that first crosses the side of an exposed dune and then heads toward a wonderful plateau target surrounded by sand. Coore’s 8th is a real gem and narrowly gets the points based on its playability in all winds.

Hole 9 – Hole Halved - LF 1 up

Different but equally interesting and attractive par fours, Doak’s hole recommended more for its stirring approach than its awkward drive and Coore’s hole less strategic than the other short par fours here but with options from the tee and an appealing chase-in green site.

Hole 10 – Hole Halved - LF 1 up

While neither of these holes is poor, neither the 10^th at Barnbougle nor the 10^th at Lost Farm stand out in such esteemed company and we can’t split them. The Barnbougle hole is a strategic test but the flat fairway and a green that has always seemed a little too severe hold it back slightly. Similarly, at Lost Farm the fairway is quite flat, although initially the hole is surrounded by large ridges. The clever crowned green site works well here, but it would be unfair to nominate the hole as being better than Doak’s.

Hole 11 – Hole Halved - LF 1 up

An interesting comparison, between the under-appreciate bedrock of Barnbougle’s back nine, and one of the most exciting driving holes on the property. The 11^th at Lost Farm traverses a bunkered ridge before leaving the dunes and falling toward a putting target that Bill Coore heavily manufactured. At Barnbougle, Doak’s shortish par five isn’t quite as exciting from the tee, but the green complex is superior and challenges those bailing from the dangerous right side whilst appropriately rewarding bold, aggressive players who flirt with the hazards. A tie here is a fair result.

Hole 12 – Barnbougle Dunes - Match Square

The 12^th at Lost Farm is a left-bending par five across relatively dreary ground and with another manufactured green site. Coore did well to make this an interesting hole, but it’s not in the same league as Doak’s wonderful short par four at Barnbougle.

Hole 13 – Barnbougle Dunes - BD 1 up

Another tough match-up, between a divisive par three with some crazy putting contours and a strong par four played across flat ground but through giant sandhills. Despite its objectors, the Sitwell Park par three at Barnbougle (pictured right) is simply great fun and blessed with some of the most interesting putting contours in all of Australia. By contrast, the 13^th at Lost Farm is a terrific test in the wind but it doesn’t quite hold the same appeal or intrigue as the best par fours on the course.

Hole 14 – Lost Farm - Match Square

An obvious choice. The 14^th at Barnbougle is a decent par five but the equivalent hole at Lost Farm is an exhilarating all-world short par four (pic right), and sure to be quickly regarded as a genuine Aussie icon.

Hole 15 – Barnbougle Dunes - BD 1 up

Tough call on Lost Farm here, as the 15^th is a gorgeous par three played from atop beachside dunes to a green cut into the side of a mammoth ridge. Despite its very obvious appeal, the hole isn’t the standout par three on this course and is a distance behind the wonderfully strategic 15^that Barnbougle – one of our favourites here at Planet Golf.

Hole 16 – Lost Farm - Match Square

Lost Farm returns to the flatter section of the property at the 16^th hole, where Bill Coore created a wide, mid-length par four across relatively unappealing ground but with some expertly sited bunkers and a subtle green complex. It’s unlikely to grab many headlines, but neither does Doak’s partly-hidden par three at Barnbougle, which is a decent hole but without the same charm as the previous threes. The fact it’s the third of four short holes where you play the ball off a steep surrounding slope hurts.

Hole 17 – Barnbougle Dunes - BD 1 up

Coore’s uphill par three here might not have pleased Mike Keiser, but it’s a beautiful setting for a hole and especially enjoyable with a slightly angled wind. It’s not in the same class as the 17^th at Barnbougle, however, which rank’s among the best long par fours in the country. Doak’s green site, and the advantage it gives tight, aggressive, drives, is superb.

Hole 18 – Lost Farm - Match Square

Barnbougle’s 18^th has never been a favourite of mine, it’s a solid four but the crested drive is a little uncomfortable and the pre-green undulations seem to influence the approach shot more than is ideal. Still if the home hole at Lost Farm were not so outstanding, it probably would have held its own and ensured Barnbougle Dunes won the match one up. That’s not the case, as the Lost Farm 18^th is a wonderful closer played right along the beachside dunes and into a deceptive target set back from a frontal trap.

So we have a tie, and despite going through this exercise with the aim of picking a preferred golf course, what’s clear is that little separates these two beautiful layouts. Visitors to Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania are not only spoilt for quality golf now, they have endless discussion subjects as well.

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