Mathew Goggin proposes to create ‘golfing precinct’ with new course to complement Seven Mile Beach development

Mathew Goggin’s 18-hole Seven Mile Beach course, currently under construction, is about to get a whole lot bigger, with a proposal to turn it into a massive “golfing precinct”. Find out what’s planned.

The professional linksman behind a proposed new golfing “precinct” just outside of Hobart says the ambitious project will rival the best courses on the planet.

Mathew Goggin is spearheading the development of the Seven Mile Beach golf course, which is currently under construction.

And now the Mercury can reveal that a second course will complement Golf Preserve Pty Ltd’s original 18-hole development, with an adjacent site at Five Mile Beach to create a vast golfing precinct.

“There aren’t too many places in the world like this,” Mr Goggin said.

The 48-year-old said about $20m was being invested into the precinct, which will have a total footprint of more than 300ha.

Golfer Mathew Goggin at the Seven Mile Beach Golf Course that is under construction. Picture: Chris Kidd

Looking out onto the Tasman Peninsula to the south and kunanyi/Mount Wellington to the west, the Seven Mile Beach site offers spectacular panoramic views and is expected to open to the public late next year.

The proposed Five Mile Beach course, meanwhile, has passed the first hurdle in the state government’s Tourism EOI process for reserves and Crown land – however, it still requires planning approvals from the Clarence City Council.

Mr Goggin said he hoped construction could begin at Five Mile Beach by 2024 and that both courses would be among the top 100 in the world.

Following the raging success of Barnbougle in the state’s north-east and Cape Wickham and Ocean Dunes on King Island, Mr Goggin believes golf tourism is at an all-time high in Tasmania, with three of the top four courses in the country according to Golf Australia’s 2022 rankings.

Seven Mile Beach Golf Course that is under construction. Picture: Chris Kidd

“I think, really, the success of Barnbougle made this project [possible],” Mr Goggin said.

“Because it’s public land, you want to maintain public access and you want to maintain it as a public amenity.

“The idea of building a private golf course down here is just an absolute non-starter.

“And Barnbougle proves that the public model can be really successful.”

The Five Mile Beach course is set to be developed on an abandoned radiata pine plantation, with plans to undertake revegetation of the site using native coastal species.

Mr Goggin said facilitating public access to the area was important to him.

“We want to have … recreation options, not just golf,” he said.

According to the accomplished golfer, green will be affordable at about $140.

The precinct is being designed by the London-headquartered golf course architecture firm Clayton, DeVries & Pont.

Golfer Mathew Goggin and Guy Barnett MP at the Seven Mile Beach Golf Course that is under construction. Picture: Chris Kidd

Michael Clayton, one of the firm’s partners, co-designed the Barnbougle Dunes course.

State Development, Construction and Housing Minister Guy Barnett said the government welcomed Mr Goggin’s “continued commitment to invest and develop exciting projects in Tasmania”.

“Importantly, research shows that visitors that come to Tasmania to pursue interests such as golfing are more likely to stay longer and spend more, which benefits our local communities and the broader economy,” he said.