Cape Barren Island's Marra Wunna golf course, where shoes are optional

"You know what, you fellas? We should have a golf course on this island."

John Gardner remembers the day his late mother, Furley, put forward her brilliant suggestion.

Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains images of a person who has died.

It was 2013, and a public meeting was drawing to a close in one of Australia's most remote communities — Truwana/Cape Barren Island, in Bass Strait.

"We were all getting up ready to leave and then Mum put her hand up in the air," he recalled.

The local Aboriginal community had been independently running the island since 2005, when the Tasmanian government handed the land back.

It had never had a golf course.

But when Furley raised the idea at that meeting, John remembers every hand shooting up in support.

"I said, 'Ah well, that's it, it's going to happen,'" he said

With permission from the local Aboriginal Association Inc and the Aboriginal Land Council, John got mowing.

And so was born the green grass of Marra Wunna.

John's mother was not a keen golfer herself, but Furley was thrilled to see her idea come to fruition.

"I made her the patron of the course — she was pretty important," John said.

Doing golf differently

The views on these remote fairways rival those of any prestigious course in the country.

But you won't find rich high-flyers and corporate colleagues brandishing nine-irons here.

There are no tailored trousers or neatly pressed polo shirts.

You score an advantage if a crow steals your ball.

And shoes are optional.

John cares for the course as a volunteer, and describes himself as "greenkeeper, organiser, manager, player — everything".

He likes to keep things simple at Marra Wunna.

"It's a place to come and nobody worries about anything but the golf … we don't have any carry-on," he said.

What's with the name?

John insists his course doesn't promote drugs, but he likes that the name on the sign makes people chuckle when they say it out loud.

The name is not the only thing that sets this nine-hole course apart.

Free shots and laughs

Golf is a tourist drawcard for Tasmania.

King Island — also in Bass Strait — is home to a course recently named Australia's best.

A round there will set players back hundreds of dollars in greens fees alone.

But like the land it sits on, Marra Wunna golf course is not designed with rich tourists in mind.

John made this course for locals, and both entry and golf clubs are free.

"It was done for the community right from the word go," he said.

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Marra Wunna's weekly hole-in-one competition sees players put forward a few dollars each to create a prize money pool. It is a staple on the social calendar for the island's 80 or so residents.

Luana Towney is a regular. Like many people on the island, the first time she played golf was on this course.

Even kids use the course, with the local school organising golf days.

One of the best players on the island is Tim Maynard.

His name holds multiple coveted spots on the wall of the shed that serves as a clubhouse.

But Tim is not in it for the glory.

"I reckon it feels better when someone else gets a good shot in and you can celebrate it, join in it," he said.

That spirit of celebration and having a crack is central to Marra Wunna.

Unconventionally, John has even added backboards on the greens to give people a better shot.

Walking on Country

Buck Brown, a senior ranger on the island, remembers when football was played on the grass at Marra Wunna.

But it's been years since anyone scored a goal here.

Buck said while golf was not a "traditional" sport for Aboriginal people, it had become a key part of life on the island.

"One of the strongest things I've seen in this community, to actually pull the community together, has been this golf club, " Buck said.

John is thrilled people enjoy the place he puts so much work into, and he gets a lot of joy from maintaining it, too.

"Especially the day after I've mowed, there's a certain smell out here then, you've got fresh-cut grass," he said.

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