SYDNEY - A group of determined golfers were Friday tackling the world's longest course, the Nullarbor Links, which snakes through vast tracts of the inhospitable Australian Outback.

Kym Woods, secretary of the Ceduna Golf Club, said the opening tournament for the course - with 18 holes at towns and service stations spread over 1,365 kilometres (848 miles) - had kicked off in South Australian.

"The competition is in progress," he told AFP.

Woods said the players were aiming to complete three or four more holes Friday at stops along the drive from Ceduna to Border Village some 450 kilometres to the west.

The Nullarbor Links, which spans two time zones and measures more than the entire length of Britain, features synthetic tees and greens plotted along a red desert landscape better known for dingoes and kangaroos than golfers.

The inaugural group plans to finish the par-71 course, designed to attract tourists to the desolate Nullarbor Plain on Australia's southern coastline, in the remote mining town of Kalgoorlie on Tuesday.

Along the way, the golfers will be able to visit the tourist highlights of the region including whale-watching along the Great Australian Bight and a working sheep station.

Project chairman Don Harrington said he had been encouraged to build the course by support from golfing enthusiasts from Australia and around the world.

"This is the longest golf course in the world. It's unique terrain, there's something for everybody," he told AFP earlier.