30 A new golf course designed by Darius Oliver at The Cliffs Kangaroo Island destination in South Australia is on track to open for preview play in January 2026. “The opportunity to work on a site that was just as beautiful and just as dramatic as Cape Wickham was a great privilege, but also a little daunting,” said Oliver. “Kangaroo Island is the perfect place to build a destination course.” Oliver’s design has five holes (two, three, eight, fourteen and fifteen) laid out along the clifftops, while three holes (one, seven and thirteen) play south towards the cliff edge. “The eighteenth doesn’t reach the coast but offers a lovely final view of the Southern Ocean,” said Oliver. “There are views from most holes, and a surprisingly glimpse of Pelican Lagoon from the par-three twelfth. While the aim is to build 18 really solid, fun and interesting holes, it’s really the flow of the round and the variety of settings, and surprise views, that we hope will provide golfers with a full sensory experience and keep them coming back. “While there are some similarities with Wickham, the courses are quite different,” continued Oliver. “The Cliffs is set along a more linear coastline, with the seaside golf up on much higher cliffs. The long views are stunning. Fortunately, the internal holes are blessed with rolling duneland that resembles ‘The Cups’ country of the Mornington Peninsula. Some of my favourite holes are away from the coastal edge. “Like Cape Wickham, although a dunes-style golf course, it’s not one of those modern layouts with sand everywhere. For the most part, bunkers are used sparingly and strategically. The pure sand dune holes do feature some natural waste areas, but the inland holes weave through rolling dunes covered in island pasture grasses that provide an ideal rough.” The Cliffs Kangaroo Island to open in 2026 TEE BOX
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