Barnbougal Dunes Golf Resort was an amazing place. We left Launceston & made our way to the resort in good time. It was raining and cold at Launceston but cleared by the time we reached the resort. The wind however was a different matter. It increased to gale force and we could hardly stand up against it. Not to be deterred from our golf as this was to be our main highlight we donned our winter chill gear & faced the course. Some of us bought the "Barnbougal Dunes" black woolen beanie as a normal golf hat would not survive the blast of the wind.
The wind was whipping up the sand which blasted into our faces, noses, eyes and ears.
Our push buggies were no match against the strength of the wind & kept tipping over. After about three holes we worked out that we had to lie them down between shots. Even the woolen beanies were blown off our heads. What an experience! It was difficult to do anything but try to hit the ball forward & hope that it went in the right direction. When we finally made the green the wind would keep blowing the ball along anything up the three feet at a time between wind gusts. It was quite hilarious and there would be a huge cheer if anyone actually got their putt into the hole. After nine holes some of us had enough of the struggle & waited in the comfort of the clubhouse with the open wood fire & waited for the others to play the other 9 holes. It was very dissapointing as we had looked forward to our game there for so long.
Earlier that day we had bought some beer and wine for "Happy Hour" after golf & that was to have been out on our little verandahs of the cabins. We settled on electing Bill's cabin for our drinks before dinner.
That night we had dinner at the clubhouse and it was a beautiful meal.
The cabins were surprisingly comfortable and contained two double bedrooms, TV, Tea & Coffee facilities, one bathroom and a little verandah facing the practice putting green and the clubhouse. We had a cabin for each couple which made it even more comfortable.
The next morning we woke to the wind as wild as ever & we had rain overnight. At first we resolved that the die hards could have another round although most opted not to. Then it started to rain and it really defied common sense to go out again. In the end it was decided that we would go on to Bicheno where we were to spend the next night & to visit St Helens on the way.
I guess that gives us a good excuse to go back to Barnbougal Dunes which we will do - but we will pick a summer month & hope for no wind.
So Barnbougal Dunes is back on my wish list again!
Images attached: note the horizontal tree (from the wind); Fay, Dick & Joyce at Barnbougal; our group at dinner at the Barnbougal clubhouse; At happy hour in Bill's cabin after golf (Dougie with the girls); various views of the golf course; Dick having a smoke out in the cold; after golf in the clubhouse; the open wood fire in the clubhouse; Doug, Fay & Wally out on the course; Doug nearly getting blown away out on the course; photos inside the cabin; our group arriving at Barnbougal Dunes; Row of cabins - our accommodation; the clubhouse and carpark; on the way to Barnbougal Dunes; view out of the bus window when we left Launceston in the rain (zero); Ron being the last on the bus when leaving Launceston; our luggage in the trailer.
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