The world's longest golf course in outback Australia has just celebrated its 10th anniversary and appears to be growing in popularity as a tourist attraction.



Key points: 'A little peculiar' is how some have described the world's longest golf course in the outback

'A little peculiar' is how some have described the world's longest golf course in the outback The concept for the attraction was conceived over a drink in a bid to keep tourists in the area for longer

The concept for the attraction was conceived over a drink in a bid to keep tourists in the area for longer Celebrating its 10th birthday, the 1,365km course is gaining popularity with golfers from around the world

The 18-hole Nullarbor Links spans 1,365 kilometres from Ceduna in South Australia to the Western Australian mining city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.



Co-founders Alf Caputo and Bob Bongiorno with Nullarbor Links chairman Graeme Wilmot. ( Supplied: Alf Caputo )

The concept was born over three bottles of wine shared between Alf Caputo and the manager of the Balladonia Roadhouse, Bob Bongiorno, who wanted to find a way to keep tourists in the remote region for longer.



Mr Caputo, who remains the course manager today, said thousands of people had played the Nullarbor Links over the past decade.



"We have receipts for about 17,000 that have actually paid to play by getting a scorecard, but we know and understand from feedback from the roadhouses that almost the same amount play but don't pay," he said.



"The other side of it is there have been benefits in people playing the course from a safety point of view.



"There's some compelling figures to say the accident rates have dropped significantly because fatigue doesn't exist if you drive 100 kilometres, have to get out and hit a ball."

John Flood, Brian Atkin, Cheryl Flood and Narelle Atkin at Caiguna. ( Supplied: Alf Caputo )

Synthetic greens are no St Andrews

Each year in April, players tee off for the week-long Chasing The Sun tournament on the Nullarbor Links.



This year's field of 71 included tourists from Germany, the United States and Canadian couple Art and Joy Parker.



The retired teachers from Toronto are keen golfers back home and have visited the home of golf at St Andrews in Scotland.



The Nullarbor's synthetic tees and greens — which cost $351,000 to install a decade ago and were funded by Federal Government — are certainly no St Andrews.



Joy and Art Parker travelled all the way from Canada to play the Nullarbor Links. ( Supplied: Alf Caputo )

But the couple said the highlight of their fifth trip Down Under was the opportunity to visit the Great Australian Bight.



"You go to Europe to see history and architecture, but you come to this country to see landscapes, geology and culture, and the Bight is really an outstanding feature," Mr Parker said.



Travelling light, the couple brought just five golf clubs for the trip.



"The first question our friends asked was, 'is that for real?', because they just couldn't understand the notion of playing a hole and then driving 150 kilometres and playing another hole and stretching this event out over five days of so," he said.



"They thought it was a little peculiar, and well, it is peculiar."

John Terrell tees off at Mundrabilla. ( Supplied: Alf Caputo )

'Sense of adventure' in Australian outback



In Canada, half of the golfing year is lost due to snow, and the Parkers' local club closes in October with the opening of moose and deer season.



On the Nullarbor there was no shortage of wildlife with kangaroos, wedge-tailed eagles, camels and emus.



Mrs Parker said she would recommend the experience to any golfer.



German golfer Reiner Seike with Don Collins before teeing off in Ceduna. ( Supplied: Alf Caputo )

"It's not really just about the golf, it's the people you meet and the fun you have along the way," she said.



"It should be on your bucket list if you play golf, but you need to realise you'll get so much more out of it, even if you get a lousy score.



"I don't know anyone from Canada who has done this and it's just great to have this experience.



"If you want to have a perfect golf score and be on pristine fairways, it's probably not for you, but if you have a sense of adventure and want something new you should do it.



"Every hole's a new experience."

Musician Bernie Scott, with his dog Lucy, provides entertainment on the Nullarbor at each rest stop. ( Supplied: Alf Caputo )

Tourism potential for unique attraction

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Another couple from Canada, Brian and Cindy Bushfield, completed the Nullarbor Links on foot in 27 days in 2010 as part of a charity fundraiser.



That charitable spirit is carried on during the Chasing The Sun tournament, which raises valuable funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Apart from the annual tournament, Mr Caputo is convinced the course can become a "tourism icon".



He said the popularity of the Nullarbor Links was starting to grow a leg on social media, with more than 1,600 Facebook followers from all over the world.



The course's official website also gets 2,700 visits a week.

Bill O'Brien, from Wangaratta in Victoria, took part in Chasing The Sun with his wife and some friends.



"The course is very demanding but well worth the effort to come and play it," he said.



"We've really enjoyed the trip across the Nullarbor.



"I think it certainly will [become a tourist attraction], it probably comes down to word of mouth at the moment."



Kalgoorlie golfers John Law and Paul Smythe at Ceduna. ( Supplied: Alf Caputo )

Golfers play course more than once

Lyndon Humphrey, who was born in Kalgoorlie but left the WA mining region in the 1970s, made the journey for this year's tournament from Melbourne.



"To me it's like a homecoming and I spread the word every opportunity I get," he said.



"People have a perception of what the Nullarbor is like and it's nothing like it in most instances.



"It's an amazing experience and just meeting people along the way is the experience of a lifetime.



"This is the second time we've done it and we'll be back."

Mavis Clinch and Mabel Crouch travelled from Victoria for this year's Chasing The Sunsets tournament. ( Supplied: Alf Caputo )

One of the unique rules of the Nullarbor Links is players must tee up their ball, whether it lands on the fairway or rough, for every shot to avoid damaging the natural environment.



This year was the third time Judy Pierce, from north-east Victoria, has played the Chasing The Sun tournament.



"We love it and we'll probably be back again," she said.



"The drive across is not what you expect it to be — the scenery as well as the golf is just great.



"We're spreading the word because it's a great experience.



"The course is so bizarre so it's not intimidating for a non-golfer, so people can go there and just have a bit of fun."

The Chasing The Sunset field before tee off on the first hole at Ceduna. ( Supplied: Alf Caputo )

Hole-in-one prize goes begging

The course is kept in pristine condition by caretakers Eric and Mary Donkin, of Kambalda, who for the past decade have regularly driven out to each hole to compact the sands.



It has also attracted the odd professional, with women's golfer Hayley Bettencourt holding the course record.



She shot a two-under-par round of 70 last year, eclipsing the previous course record of 72 held by her partner Matt Jager.



Graham Hutchinson using his putter in the rough at Mundrabilla. ( Supplied: Alf Caputo )

Two holes-in-one have been achieved on the Nullarbor Links - the most recent being Edward Down from Brisbane in 2013 on the par three Border Kangaroo hole at Border Village.



Tasmanian Chris Salmon was the first to score an ace on the 141-metre, par three Sheep's Back Hole at Fraser Range Station in 2009.



For the past few years, Fraser Range has been the scene of a hole-in-one challenge, giving competitors the chance to win $10,000 cash if they can ace it.

The prize has gone begging every year so far.



Retired Kalgoorlie school teacher Patti Law attempts to sink a hole-in-one at Fraser Range Station. ( Supplied: Alf Caputo )

Mr Caputo said the cash prize at Fraser Range was a novelty, but the unique landscape was what brought people to the course.



"The other day we were all standing there at the Fraser Range tees and these three kangaroos just ran past the green," he said.



"It really is Australia's outback and that's what makes this course so unique compared with others around the world."