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.

Wembley GC. PHOTO: Joel Innes.

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.

Whaleback GC. PHOTO: Joel Innes.

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.

Mount Lawley GC. PHOTO: Joel Innes.

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.

Nedlands GC. PHOTO: Joel Innes.

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.

Sun City. PHOTO: Joel Innes.

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.

Carramar GC. PHOTO: Joel Innes.

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…