Links Kennedy Bay Golf Course

Kennedy Bay Links Golf Course is located on the Western Australian coastline, 50 kilometres south of Perth. Opened in 1999 and reopened in 2001 with a new management structure and some course renovations, the course is a strong contender for the best public course in Australia.

Michael Cotter has teamed up with the late Roger McKay and Ian Baker-Finch to create a wonderful modern links course. The long grass areas of the course are similar to those of Scotland's meadows and bougainvillea, but a closer look reveals that this long grass area consists mainly of native shrubs. Although there is some fine landscaping around the tees, this course retains a purely traditional style.

All the elements are present: fast fairways, dense grass, small pot bunkers, large bunkers riveted to the fairway surfaces, raised greens, dramatic runoff and unpredictable slopes. The way the fairways intersect the long grass areas without clear dividing lines is very realistic, and the flow through the grass is brilliantly designed. The course sits a little further out to sea, but the fairways are recessed enough that you can barely see the other holes, only their stubby flagstaffs swaying in the breeze.

Whilst the facilities around the course are still under construction, it doesn't matter as the course itself is the star of the show here.