“Old Macdonald had a farm, ee aye ee aye oh, and on that farm he had a…golf course?”

Farmer Macdonald may not have had the acreage on his nursery rhyme farm for a world class course, but Richard Sattler had plenty on his at Barnbougle near Bridport on the Northern Tasmanian coastline. And when an enthusiastic and passionate local approached Sattler about a vision for a top quality links course, the first seed had been sown in the farm of fairways down at Barnbougle Dunes.

The 1960’s at Launceston’s York Park Speedway where six-day racing was full of thrills, spills and even some West Indian

cricketers!

As I reached for the bag of donuts from high above the counter, the sound of clanging metal and bodies slapping on cement arose in the background over gasps from the packed crowd. “There’s been a fall in the back straight, “race-commentator Alf Brooks blasted across the speakers. “ One, two, – three teams have come down in another sensation here at the six”.

I turned and darted for the fence, clinging onto the bag of donuts with sugar coated fingers after quickly devouring my first one. I weaved in and out of the crowd like a goldfish in a tank. At the fence I peered over and towards the mangled wreck of bikes strewn across the track. There was chaos everywhere with riders untangling themselves from the mess and handlers and officials dashing to the scene.