The Links at Kennedy Bay, Port Kennedy, Wetsern Australia

www.kennedybay.com.au

Blue tees par 72, SSS (ACR) 72, 6107 metres
Red tees par 72, SSS (ACR) 74, 5274 metres

The Links at Kennedy Bay lies south of the city of Perth just outside Port Kennedy on the Indian Ocean coast. Opened in 1998 it was designed by Michael Coate and Roger Mackay with input from Ian Baker-Finch, the 1991 Open champion.  The course has been closed twice since because of financial problems but re-opened in 2008.  Fortunately the second period of closure was only for five months which minimised any effect on the course.

First impressions are not good as the clubhouse leaves a lot to be desired but the friendly staff assured us that there are plans for a new development including a hotel.  The course itself is a delight, winding through sand dunes with numerous challenges.  The fairways are fast running but tight with dense thickets of scrub close to the edges. The greens are gently sloping and surrounded by swales to catch even a slightly errant shot.  The 115 bunkers on the course are fed by the slopes on the fairways making them difficult to avoid but we were disappointed with the quality of the sand which was hard packed and most unlike links sand.  Although the Indian Ocean can be heard at the far end of the course it cannot be seen which is a pity as views of the ocean would have added appeal.

                                         

Five bunkers guard the 6th green

We played Kennedy Bay on a warm sunny day, accompanied by the constant south westerly wind.  Although there were many good holes, few are particularly memorable.  The par fours are strong and well bunkered.  The 5th is a good example.  Named 'Thread the Needle' it narrows progressively between bunkers to a green shared with the 7th.  The 7th itself is a short par 4 which might tempt the longer hitter to go for the green but the bunkering and the steep run offs around the green make it much more difficult than it appears at first sight.  The 15th is a lovely par 4 up a valley but into the prevailing wind.  Avoid the left side where there is a blind shot to the green which lies in a bowl and is quite forgiving to the approach shot.  Probably the best hole on the course is the par 3 16th, 'Wee Tap'.  It is only
123 metres from the blue and 104 metres from the red tees but the shot is to a narrow green guarded by a bunker on the left and a deep swale on the right with a prevailing right to left wind.  The course finishes with a strong par 5 which needs three good shots to the well guarded green and a final well bunkered par 4.

'Wee Tap', the challenging par 3 6th

Worth playing?  Yes - the truest of the true links course in Western Australia