Perth is often overlooked as a golfing destination, mostly because it sits so far from everywhere else. However, that isolation is exactly what makes a golf trip to Western Australia so rewarding. Upon arrival, you quickly realise the journey is more than worth it.
The local climate is built for golf. Winter is mild and playable, while summer creates firm, fast fairways that let the ball run forever. Pick a morning tee time, and you can sneak around before the famous sea breeze arrives, shaping the round in a completely different way by the afternoon. All of it wrapped in the natural quietness and relaxed pace that seems to run through every local course and clubhouse.
ULTIMATE VARIETY
What surprises most visitors is the variety. Within short drives, you can move between totally different experiences. The metro stretches along the coastline, and that access to the ocean has produced some truly spectacular layouts. Green fees and memberships still feel refreshingly reasonable, almost like they’re stuck in another era, even though the courses themselves can stand toe-to-toe with the best in the country.
Clusters of courses sit close together, yet look and play nothing alike, giving every day of a trip a new flavour. And there’s no better place to begin that journey than the Swan Valley wine region, teeing off at The Vines Resort.
The Vines Resort is the opening chapter for any WA golf trip. Home to two full 18-hole championship courses, it blends genuine tournament layout with an easygoing resort atmosphere. From 1993 to 2001, it hosted the Heineken Classic, welcoming names like Norman, Els, Scott and Stadler, and that quality still shows in the design and conditioning today.
Both courses offer wide, inviting fairways and large, receptive greens, giving you room to swing freely while still demanding quality approach play. They won’t let you switch off, which makes them enjoyable for all levels, while still challenging better players.
It is the kind of place made for long, unhurried golf days. Book an early tee time, roll through your first 18 before lunch, grab a meal at the restaurant, then head straight back out to tackle the other course in the afternoon. Two completely different golf experiences on the same property keep the day fresh from start to finish.
Off the course, it’s just as easy to settle in. The kids can head to mini golf while you cool off by the pool, all surrounded by the wineries and relaxed charm of the Swan Valley. Spacious, welcoming and built for lingering, The Vines delivers that true resort golf feeling in one of WA’s best regions.
Considering the size of the state of WA, the range of golf on offer is remarkable. In fact, across just six courses, you can experience almost every major style of golf WA has to offer.
If you want to start with the purest and most traditional style of links golf, there’s nowhere better than The Cut Golf Course. Dramatically carved along the coastline, this course is consistently ranked among Golf Australia magazine’s top 100 layouts. From the first tee to the last green, you’ll find yourself reaching for your camera, with sweeping ocean views on almost every hole. Standing on the first green and looking out over the Indian Ocean, it’s not uncommon to spot whales. For all its beauty, however, The Cut is brutally tough. It is widely regarded as one of the most difficult courses in Australia; walking off with a score near your handicap, and only a few lost balls, feels like a genuine golfing achievement.
Just 30 minutes up the road is another top-100 links-style course, Secret Harbour Golf Links. With doglegs moving in both directions and bunkers positioned exactly where you don’t want them, it’s a true test of accuracy and patience. Here, the weather plays a huge role in how the course is experienced, either helping you along or exposing every weakness in your game. The smart play is often to leave the driver in the bag, use irons off the tee, and take advantage of the firm fairways and bump-and-run opportunities. Miss the fairway, though, and you’ll quickly learn why Secret Harbour has a reputation for biting back.
Heading inland, just 15 minutes brings a completely different feel at Meadow Springs Golf and Country Club. With the tagline “golf as nature intended”, it delivers exactly that. From the moment you step onto the first tee, you’re immersed in the course. Until you reach the turn, you won’t see another fairway, a house or a road, just golf unfolding naturally around you. The tee boxes melt into the fairways, creating a calm, flowing experience. The fairways stay lush year-round, the greens roll beautifully, and like many great courses, accuracy off the tee is the ultimate defence. Find the fairway early, and you’re in for a special day. One word of warning, though, avoid the 120m-long bunker on the 18th at all costs.
After the drama of links golf and the sweeping fairways of Meadow Springs, it’s time for something more relaxed. Maylands Golf Course is arguably the most central course in Perth, sitting just minutes from the CBD. You can book a tee time, play 18 holes and settle into the newly renovated clubhouse for lunch, all while overlooking the Swan River and Optus Stadium. The course is welcoming for golfers of all levels, and with no bunkers, it removes a common fear for many players. Holes along the river, particularly the 5th, 6th, 13th and 14th, showcase just how beautiful Perth can be, with water, city views and natural surroundings all on display.
As golfers grow ever time-poor, nine-hole courses are growing in popularity, and Embleton Golf Course is one of the best examples of how good they can be. Just seven kilometres from the CBD, this underrated layout offers a mix of par-3s and par-4s and is perfect for a quick nine or a relaxed walk with mates. It is a course that feels made for carrying your bag, especially late in the day when the sun filters through the trees. Don’t be fooled by the scorecard, though. Embleton is far from easy. Tight, tree-lined fairways keep you honest.
To round out the full range of golf styles, the final stop is resort golf at its best, Joondalup Resort. Regularly ranked as the number-one public access course in WA and consistently inside Australia’s top-100, Joondalup offers 27 holes across three distinct nines – Quarry, Lakes and Dunes. Each has its own character, but together they create an exceptional experience. If time allows, staying to play all three nines is highly recommended, but if you have to choose, the Quarry course is the priority. Holes two through six are sculpted around an old quarry, with dramatic drops of 20 to 30 metres into greens that feel almost unreal. The views are so striking, they barely look real, and the conditioning is immaculate year-round. Having recently hosted the WA Open, Joondalup continues to set the benchmark, with wide fairways, large greens, and extensive practice facilities. Add in the regular sight of kangaroos roaming the course, and it becomes an experience that feels unmistakably Australian. Joondalup Resort never stops impressing.
After experiencing Joondalup, it’s the perfect introduction to the premium end of golf here on the West Coast, and Western Australia has no shortage of courses that comfortably fit in that top tier.
PREMIUM LAYOUTS
Just 15 minutes north of the CBD sits one of the state’s most iconic layouts, The Western Australian Golf Club. From the moment you arrive, it’s obvious how much care, time and respect has gone into every square metre of the property. Looking across the 9th green, with the hedged WAGC letters reflecting in the lake, it’s hard not to pause and take it all in. The course wastes no time announcing itself, either, opening with what is arguably one of the toughest starting holes in WA, a demanding 212 metre par-3. Yet as challenging as it is, your attention is constantly pulled away by the scenery. The lake separating the 1st and 9th holes, framed by the classic clubhouse and immaculate greens, is one of Perth’s most recognisable views in golf. From the 12th tee, the highest point in the metropolitan area, you can see the entire course laid out below you, with the city in the distance – a moment that really makes you appreciate how lucky golfers are in this part of the world.
It is impossible to talk about premium golf in WA without mentioning Lake Karrinyup Country Club. Regularly ranked inside Australia’s top-20 courses, it has hosted the Australian Open four times, along with events such as the ISPS Handa and World Super 6. As you’d expect, Lake Karrinyup delivers an unforgettable experience, defined by immaculate conditioning, strategic bunkering and fast, true greens that demand precision from start to finish.
Just five minutes down the road from WAGC is another standout, Mount Lawley Golf Club. It isn’t until you walk through the clubhouse and stand on the first tee that you realise you’ve almost been transported from Perth to Melbourne’s famous Sandbelt. Completed in 2025, the full course renovation has successfully introduced a true Sandbelt feel, with sand waste areas, tight-cut bunker edges and lightning-quick greens. Hosting the 2025 WA Open so soon after the renovation, the course received widespread praise for its condition and playability – huge credit to the work done.
On the other side of the city sits the first of Perth’s two Royal clubs, Royal Perth Golf Club. From the moment you step onto the property, it delivers that unmistakable private club atmosphere. There is history here, along with a sense of prestige and polish that’s hard to replicate. Currently undergoing a full course redevelopment as part of a long-term master plan, Royal Perth is set to become an even stronger drawcard, with new hole designs and larger, more undulating greens. The clubhouse remains one of the best in the state, perfectly positioned overlooking the 1st tee and 8th green.
A short drive down the freeway brings you to Royal Fremantle Golf Club, the home club of one of Australia’s Min Woo Lee. “Royal Freo” offers an incredible variety of holes, all wrapped into one cohesive layout. Long and short par-5s, sweeping doglegs in both directions, iron-only par-4s and demanding par-3s, it’s all here. It is the kind of course you could play for the rest of your life and still find something new every time you tee it up.
And then there’s Cottesloe Golf Club. When people think of Western Australia, beaches often come to mind, and for golfers, Cottesloe is the course that captures that feeling best. In my eyes, it comfortably sits in the top five courses in the state. There is something special about feeling the sea breeze, watching the sun set over the fairways and out towards the ocean, and knowing that experience is there every day of the year. When you play at Cottesloe, you genuinely feel privileged to be there. The striped fairways, pure white bunkers, immaculate surrounds and manicured gardens all combine to make it one of the most memorable places to play golf in WA.
PUBLIC ACCESS
Stepping away from the private, members-only clubs, Perth’s public-access golf scene is where things really open up for the everyday golfer who just wants to get out, play 18 holes and enjoy some seriously good golf. And there’s no bigger name in that space than Wembley Golf Course.
Wembley is a destination in every sense of the word. Home to the busiest driving range in the Southern Hemisphere, fully fitted with Trackman bays, it’s a place where golf never stops. Add in two full 18-hole courses, mini putt, a playground and a restaurant, and it becomes somewhere you don’t just play a round, you spend the entire day. Bring the kids, bring the family, settle in and make a day of it.
Just up the road, Hamersley Golf Course has undergone a huge transformation, with a completely new clubhouse and driving range that have changed the way the venue is used. It is no longer just about turning up, playing and leaving. Now it’s a spot to relax, grab a drink, enjoy some food and take your time either side of the round. The range is constantly busy; a great sign of how golf in WA continues to grow. On the course, Hamersley delivers a tight, well-presented layout that suits golfers of all abilities and rewards accuracy from tee to green.
It is one of the busiest courses in the state, but Whaleback Golf Course is consistently in great condition, and also one of the most enjoyable. Shorter in length, it’s the perfect place to sharpen your game without feeling the need to hit driver on every hole. Keeping the ball in play is the real challenge here, and it’s a course that quietly teaches you a lot about course management. Just make sure you pack a couple of extra balls for the par-3 13th, where it feels like there’s more water than green.
Collier Park Golf is another standout and a genuine gem close to the city. Made up of three 9-hole courses, it offers huge flexibility and you can always get a round in. The flatter layout makes it ideal for walking, and while it looks playable on paper, it has a habit of slowly wearing you down over the round. Tall tree lines frame the holes beautifully, especially in the early morning or late afternoon when the shadows stretch across the fairways. It is a great place to sneak in 9 or 18 holes and finish the day with a few well-earned beverages.
Together, these courses show just how strong Perth’s accessible golf offering really is - welcoming, busy and built for everyone who simply loves the game.
NINE HOLES
We are lucky to have a strong collection of nine-hole courses over here, and if you want to see just how good they can be, Nedlands Golf Club is a perfect place to start. Sitting neatly between the river and the city, it’s only minutes from the CBD, yet feels a world away once you arrive. Nedlands is tight and rewards players who can shape the ball both ways. It is a thinking golfer’s layout, where placement matters more than power. One of its standout features is the use of 18 alternate tee boxes, which gives the back nine a genuinely different feel and keeps the round fresh from start to finish. The centrally positioned clubhouse overlooks the course beautifully and ties everything together, exactly how a clubhouse should. For a 9-hole venue, Nedlands sets a seriously high standard.
Another standout 9-hole option is Point Walter Golf Course. The hardest part here is finishing nine holes and wishing you’d booked 18. This traditional parkland layout offers a great mix of holes, keeping things interesting and challenging throughout the round. It is an easy course to enjoy, but never one to take lightly. Point Walter is also incredibly family-friendly, and for many visitors, golf isn’t the only reason to come. The mini golf course is a standout in its own right; perfect for little kids and big kids alike, and the relaxed atmosphere makes it an ideal spot to settle in for a couple of cold ones afterwards.
PERTH SURROUNDS
With most of the more central courses around the CBD ticked off, it’s time to start venturing a little further afield. And there’s no better place to begin than my favourite pocket of courses in Western Australia, south of the river.
Just 15 minutes south of the city, Melville Glades Golf Club sets the tone for what golf in the southern corridor is all about. This private, parkland layout demands precision from the opening tee shot. Tight fairways, small greens and well-placed bunkers mean there’s very little room for error, and anything not struck cleanly is quickly punished. Despite being heavily tree-lined, the wind has a habit of sneaking through and turning the course into a proper test, even for low markers.
A couple of freeway exits further south sits Kwinana Golf Club, a course many WA golfers quietly rate as one of the more challenging in the state. Semi-public and parkland in style, it’s renowned for its length and lightning-fast greens. Long irons into par-4s are common, and while the greens are holdable, putting on them can feel like rolling the ball on glass. The practice facilities here are among the best in Western Australia, and the two-storey clubhouse overlooking the 9th and 18th greens is hard to beat when the sun starts to drop.
Another 15 minutes down the road, and Rockingham Golf Club feels like a hidden oasis. Tucked away among the bush, it’s at its best in the early morning when the dew is still on the fairways, and the kangaroos are out in force. The course is more open and forgiving off the tee, but it still rewards smart golf. Shorter par-4s that demand precise placement rather than brute force are a standout, and holes like the 4th perfectly capture what makes Rockingham so enjoyable.
Continuing south brings you to Links Kennedy Bay, the newest addition to the region, following a major renovation. This is as close as Western Australia gets to true links-style golf. Wind dictates everything here, with club selection changing dramatically from day to day and even hole to hole. Hidden pot bunkers, firm fairways and revetted bunker faces combine to create a layout that feels raw, exposed and endlessly entertaining.
The journey south finishes at Mandurah Country Club, a course which offers a welcoming, country club feel while still delivering a championship-level challenge. This parkland layout hosted the 100th WA Open in 2024 and showed it can stand comfortably alongside the state’s best. Tight fairways, lightning-quick greens and afternoon coastal winds ensure it plays tough, especially late in the round.
Hartfield Golf Club is one of those courses that quietly surprises you. Tucked away in Perth’s eastern suburbs, it doesn’t shout for attention, but once you step onto the first tee, you quickly realise just how solid it is. It is challenging without being intimidating, making it a great test for experienced golfers, while still being enjoyable for those newer to the game. There is a relaxed, welcoming feel around the club.
Gosnells Golf Club offers a completely different, but equally enjoyable experience. Set among rolling terrain and framed by natural bushland, it feels far removed from the city. The course has a strong sense of character, with elevation changes that create a variety of interesting tee shots and approaches throughout the round. The greens are well protected, and missing in the wrong spot can quickly turn a good hole into a difficult one.
Together, these courses showcase just how strong and varied golf south of the city really is, each with its own identity, challenge and reason to make the drive.
Turning the car north again, just 10 minutes above Fremantle sits one of the most iconic 9-hole experiences in the state, Sea View Golf Club. Perched above the coastline, the course looks straight out over Cottesloe Beach and delivers views that stop you in your tracks. From every hole you can see the ocean, hear the waves crashing and feel the sea breeze rolling across the fairways. There are barely any trees to hide behind out here, which means the elements take centre stage. At Sea View, there’s really only one skill that matters; learning to play in the wind. Club selection changes by the minute, shots which feel perfect can drift wildly, and creativity becomes your greatest weapon. It is raw, exposed and absolutely unforgettable.
Heading away from the coast, Marangaroo Golf Course feels like a quiet escape tucked into the northern suburbs. This tight parkland layout rewards accuracy and patience. Despite being close to everything, once you step onto the course, the noise of the city fades away and the focus shifts purely to the next shot. Compact, but full of character.
Not too much further north, having arrived at Carramar Golf Course, the first thing which stands out is the space. A huge practice area and full-length driving range set the tone before you’ve even hit your opening tee shot. Then the round begins with a short par-4; the perfect gentle introduction. If you’re feeling confident, you can let the driver go, but the smarter play is often a mid to long iron to find the fairway and ease your way into the day. Carramar is one of those courses that really rewards local knowledge. Despite the challenge, there’s a constant sense of calm out there. Kangaroos roam the fairways and gather beneath the trees, adding to the peaceful, almost-rural feel. It is a course where you can be aggressive if you choose, cautious if you need to, and relaxed the whole way around.
At the northern edge of Perth’s suburban golf lies Sun City Country Club, and it might just be the biggest surprise packet of them all. From the moment you arrive and look out from the clubhouse across the sprawling layout, the course feels like a unique blend of styles. There is a touch of links in the way the ball runs along the firm, fast fairways, a hint of Sandbelt in the sandy waste areas and hazards, and enough parkland character to keep every hole distinct. Venture off the short grass and you’re instantly reminded how important accuracy is, with the natural washways and scrubby wasteland ready to punish anything loose.
Consistently ranked among Australia’s top-100 public access courses, Sun City has a look and feel that’s genuinely rare in this country. It is bold, open and visually striking, and after just one glance across those opening holes from the clubhouse, you know you’re somewhere special.
Perth doesn’t just deliver great golf, it genuinely surprises you. We might not have the sheer volume of courses seen elsewhere, but what we do have is incredible variety that more than holds its own. Within a short drive you can go from a dramatic, windswept links perched above the ocean to a peaceful, tree-lined journey that feels completely immersed in nature.
Add in the relaxed pace of an uncrowded city, scenic coastal drives and year-round playing conditions, and it starts to feel like a golfer’s best-kept secret. Western Australia has all the ingredients to become a must visit golf destination. Just maybe don’t tell too many people…
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