Brace yourself for The Cliffs: Kangaroo Island’s bold bid for golf greatness.
The whispers are turning into roars across South Australia. On the rugged shores of the world-famous Kangaroo Island, a golf course is taking shape that many insiders believe could be the best new layout built on Aussie soil in decades.
Welcome to The Cliffs Kangaroo Island.
Those building this seaside showstopper can’t stop talking about the process, which is genuine cause for excitement given these are the same contractors who shaped Cape Wickham – the country’s No.1 course, according to the current Australian Golf Digest Top 100 Golf Courses ranking. After walking all 18 holes with the construction team, one thing was crystal clear – just like the waters that frame this remarkable site, once complete, The Cliffs could well stand as their greatest achievement Down Under.
When the first shots are struck before the year closes, Australia’s golf landscape will be stronger for it.
The timing is deliberate. A limited, invite-only preview season will begin in March/April 2026, offering the golf world a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come. Then, next October, the planned opening will officially announce Kangaroo Island’s arrival on the global golf stage. For Sam and Rachel Atkins, the couple driving the project, it’s the culmination of a dream to create not just another golf course, but a destination for their beloved island.
“Destination golf is a unique and exciting development for any region, offering an experience that people will travel the world to enjoy,” Sam says. “I can guarantee that The Cliffs Kangaroo Island will not disappoint and is just one more reason to visit this hidden gem, one of the world’s truly great island getaways.”
To help deliver on their dream, the pair turned to Darius Oliver, the internationally renowned golf course designer known for his sharp eye and as someone who doesn’t just sketch holes, he lives and breathes them. His eccentric habit of rolling basketballs across unseeded greens during the shaping process to test the contours may look unusual, but the results speak for themselves. At The Cliffs, such attention to detail will define the course’s DNA and playability – wide, open expanses and incredible views off the tee and a stack of risk-reward fun from 100 metres and in.
Turnpoint, the construction team executing Oliver’s vision, knows what world-class golf looks like, too. Their work at Cape Wickham has already achieved near-mythical status – a course where every shot is a rush of adrenaline, and every view fights for your attention against the pounding Bass Strait beyond. At The Cliffs, that drama continues, with the Southern Ocean offering fleeting calm between brave encounters with Oliver’s bold, imaginative green complexes.
But golf is only part of the story. To make The Cliffs a true pilgrimage, the Atkins family is pairing the course with boutique luxury. Construction is set to begin next month on a new clubhouse that will feature a restaurant, bar, café, pro shop and changeroom facilities. In terms of accommodation, guests will choose between one and two-bedroom lodges, some with saunas and private spas – the kind of touches that turn a quick 18 into a multi-day indulgence.
Kangaroo Island’s operational airport makes the journey simple, whether from Adelaide or interstate, and once you’re there, the island itself takes over.
Nature, surf breaks, wildlife, pristine beaches – Kangaroo Island has long been a hidden gem for families and adventurers. Now, it will also be a mecca for golfers. Evenings might end at the Penneshaw Pub, uniquely positioned where you can sip a beer while gazing back across the water to mainland Australia.
For South Australian tourism, The Cliffs could be transformative – adding to the pull of LIV Golf and the region’s world-class wine and food as reasons for travellers to stay longer. For Australian golf, it has the potential to reset the benchmark for coastal design. And for the Atkins family, it’s living proof that vision, persistence and the right team can deliver something truly extraordinary.
“There’s nothing like this in the world,” declared world-class golf photographer Jacob Sjöman
The wait to see if he is right is nearly over.
Photography by: Darius Oliver, Jacob Sjoman
