Located close to Perth’s central business district on the banks of the Swan River, the course originally consisted of nine holes and large expanses of sand. It was changed to its current 18 hole configuration in 1929. Sitting on a little over 80 acres of land, at just over 6,600 yards long, it is reasonably short by modern standards but remains a stern test.

Royal Perth has hosted three Australian Senior Opens, three Australian Amateurs and 13 WA Opens, the most recent of which was won by Stephen Leaney in 2017.

Mike Clayton, Partner at CDP, said: “I first played Royal Perth in the 1979 Australian Amateur. Ever since then, I have marvelled at how so much good golf could be squeezed into around 80 acres and wondered how the course could be made even better. This is unquestionably one of the most interesting design mandates in Australia.

“My colleague Lukas Michel grew up in Perth and knows the course and its recent history extremely well. As one of Australia’s leading amateurs, his input will be invaluable, especially with regard to how the best players manage their way around the course. My partner Mike DeVries will also be involved, particularly when renovation works commence.

A regular tournament host venue, Royal Perth have engaged Mike Clayton and Harley Kruse to advise on the course moving forward. PHOTOS: Brendan James.

“I have known Harley Kruse for many years. When it comes to course design, we share many of the same mantras and beliefs. The skillsets of our two teams are highly complementary. All of us at CDP greatly look forward to working with Kruse Golf on this assignment.”

Kruse added: “The design collaboration of our two firms will bring an amazing depth of experience and knowledge to the process at Royal Perth. It is an exciting prospect and we look forward to working with this historic club for improving the golf on its sand based golfing land. It is tight by modern standards so every centimetre will count as we plan and work from boundary to boundary. Royal Perth can be a great example of how well-designed golf does not necessarily need to be bigger to be better.”

Founded in 2019, Clayton, DeVries & Pont is the partnership of three of the world’s foremost golf architecture practices:

-Clayton Golf of Melbourne, Australia

-DeVries Designs of Traverse City, Michigan, USA and

-Infinite Variety Golf Design of Den Dolder, The Netherlands.

With clients in 10 countries on four continents, whether designing and building a new course or renovating an old one in order to restore its architectural brilliance, CDP is driven by an abiding passion to deliver the very best projects for its clients by utilising its unique strengths.

Founded in 2010, Kruse Golf is headed by Kruse, who has been in the golf course design industry for over 30 years. Harley is the only golf course architect to have worked for considerable periods at the design companies of Australia’s two legendary male professional golfers, namely, five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson and twice winner of the Claret Jug, Greg Norman.

Harley’s highly regarded design work spans multiple new courses across Asia and Australia, course renovation work, and also the specialist area of golf course landscape. Kruse Golf currently consults to clubs in Australia and also serves a select number of Asian projects.