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.
Truwana/Cape Barren Island sits off the north coast of Tasmania and is home to about 80 people, most of whom are Indigenous. (ABC News: Sharon Gordon)
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.
Mount Strzelecki looms behind the truwana/Cape Barren Island golf course. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
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.
Shoes are optional at what might be the most relaxed golf course in the country. (ABC News: Morgan Timms/Sharon Gordon)
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.
John Gardner keeps things interesting by making changes to the shape of the course. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
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.
A unique name for a unique golf course. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
"It's a bit of a play on words … it's completely ours, you won't find another name like it,"he said.
The name is not the only thing that sets this nine-hole course apart.
John has named the holes on the course. (ABC News: Morgan Timms/Sharon Gordon)
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 green fees alone.
But like the land it sits on, Marra Wunna golf course is not designed with rich tourists in mind.
Golf has become an unexpected staple of the social calendar on the remote truwana/Cape Barren Island. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
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.
Loading...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.
The golf course is a social hub and hosts memorial rounds for community members who have died. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
Luana Towney is a regular. Like many people on the island, the first time she played golf was on this course.
"It doesn't matter if you're good at golf or not, people support you and people laugh at each other,"she said.
Luana Towney made her golf debut at Marra Wunna. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
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.
Kailah Maynard congratulates her brother Tim after another great shot. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
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.
"It's all set up to not make things too hard for anybody,"he said.
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.
Buck Brown says the course gets people out walking on Country. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
"One of the strongest things I've seen in this community, to actually pull the community together, has been this golf club, " Buck said.
"I've seen it get a lot of people out of the houses in the community … and out walking on Country, that's what it's all about."
Marra Wunna Golf Course on truwana/Cape Barren Island. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
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.
"If you come out in the morning, the sun's shining, the mountains are on. It's beautiful."