The longest golf course

Until recently, golf courses -- even the longest course in the world -- were measured in yards. The Pines Course at The International in Bolton, Mass., is almost 8,400 yards. Dub's Dread in Kansas City, Kan., was 8,204 yards when it opened but has been trimmed to 7,100. Antler Creek Golf Course in Denver is a par-72 at an altitude of 7,000 feet and measures 8,058 yards. Finally, outside of Lijiang City, China, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, perched in the Himalayas at 10,000 feet, extends for 8,450 yards, including a 735-yard par 5. Who would want a longer golf course?

Apparently, Australians wanted a longer, more leisurely golf experience. The brainchild of the Eyre Highway Operators Association, Nullarbor Links in southern Australia extends 848 miles (1,365 kilometers) along the Eyre Highway from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia. The 18-hole, par-72 course features a hole in each participating town or roadhouse along the highway, and players are advised to allow at least four days to play the entire course. (Something tells me that someone is going to try to play straight through in less than 24 hours. I think the folks at Guinness World Records should be hearing from them soon.)

Each hole has a "somewhat rugged outback-style natural terrain fairway" and a green and a tee. In a bit of unpleasant news for turf lovers, the greens and tees are all synthetic turf. Green fees are $41.35 (Aus $50), but players must provide their own transportation. Golfers can start at either endpoint of the course. Players have their score cards stamped at each hole to verify that they have played the hole, and once they have completed a round and have stamps for every hole, they receive a certificate of completion at the visitors' center where they finished.

Each hole is named after a place or thing unique to the area, and each tee also has a name, usually the name of local pioneers or more recent inhabitants. For example, the No. 4 hole is called Wombat Hole because of the large wombat population (about 2.5 million) in the area. The tee for No. 4 is Karinkabie, named after the 150-year-old Karinkabie Well, which is visible from the tee. Another one of my favorites is Skylab, named after the space station that fell to earth near the site of hole No. 12.

Foundation memberships are available to the public. Members receive a number and a golf shirt and hat with the course logo, all for a mere $165.40 ($200 Australian) plus shipping and handling.

Nullarbor Links is expected to open to the public on Aug. 15 with the official opening date and inaugural tournament taking place on Oct. 22. To make reservations to play in the inaugural tournament or to learn more about Nullarbor Links, go to http://www.nullarborlinks.com/.