Kennedy Bay Golf Club

IN: COURSE REVIEWS | BY: Matthew Mollica | | REGION: Peel, WA DATE: 20 Mar 2006 | Rated

Hole 5

(Photo: David Scaletti/Sportscapes)

The Golf Club, Kennedy Bay was a bold project undertaken by Golf Club Properties Limited many years ago. A collaborative design effort from Ian Baker-Finch, Michael Coate and the late Roger Mackay, Kennedy Bay has wowed the Australian golfing public since its day of opening. Built on a modestly corrugated landscape, the course at times is only several hundred metres from the beach. Kennedy Bay is located about forty minutes drive south of Perth, and as such, requires a little effort to play for most enthusiastic Australian golfers. The trip is well worth the effort, with hole after hole of solid, thoughtful design, demanding sure and steady play. A stiff breeze often acts across Kennedy Bay, and although it's a welcome friend on some holes, it can serve as a strong adversary on others, usually through the closing four.

The Game Begins

The game begins at Kennedy Bay on a relatively wide par 4 of modest length. Prevailing winds do little to hurt the ball in flight, instead pushing it away from peril in the form of a long water hazard, which extends along the right side of the fairway. A solitary bunker left fairway 270 metres from the tee serves as a good aiming point for the drive. Nearing this trap leaves one with a wedge in hand, for the opening approach of the day, which is played towards a deep and generously sized green.

The third hole is a par 3 measuring 162 metres and is surprisingly rated the easiest hole on the course. The putting surface is almost totally obscured by a sizeable mound at the front of the green. The putting surface also tilts gently from front to back, and is flanked by left and right greenside traps. Ample room exists around the green for those needing to chip on with their second. A valley of significant size is at the rear of the green, and owing to the geometry of the hole, no doubt sees a lot of play. This green is really only receptive to a well-struck and well-flighted mid iron. My bet is far more golfers bogie it than par it.

The course turns 180 degrees at this point for the 520 metre par 5 fourth (named 'Hell' for reasons described later). The breeze usually acts from left to right. A pair of tiny but deep pot bunkers flank the right of the fairway 250 odd metres from the tee.

The bunkering philosophy prevalent at Kennedy Bay is distinctly penal in nature. Many pot bunkers are similar in size to a small spa bath, only deeper. Escape from them is often only achieved with a sand wedge. Finding a trap on the fairway sees a full stroke penalty in essence, as it's more often than not impossible to advance the ball anything more than a few dozen metres. The presence of these nasty hazards dictates conservative lines of play on many occasions, and greatly rewards the aggressive, accurate shot.

Once the first traps on the fourth fairway have been negotiated, one may think of the flag, either with a long second at the green, or a conservative play leaving a short wedge third shot. In attempting to reach the green, one must negotiate a sizeable bunker eating into the right two thirds of the fairway around 100 metres short of the green. Sharing its name 'Hell' with the similarly sized bunker on the 14th at The Old Course, this trap loudly dictates strategy. Those clearing it with their second will no doubt feel a sense of accomplishment, even if the green is missed.

The second par 3 of the day is the 6th hole, and at 195 metres from the pegs, requires a lusty blow. Bunkers protect this elevated green at the front left and right. The greenfront is open for a run-up shot which may be the play of choice on many occasions, with the prevailing wind at one's back, and a back to front sloping green.

Play turns in towards the direction of the prevailing breeze for the par four 7th. This 285 metre hole provides a good deal of temptation, with the green seeming reachable from the tee. Offset fairway bunkering and a solitary left greenside trap protect a narrow sliver of green; it demands a very accurate approach from those who have played a conservative tee shot. Slopes at the front and rear see that any ball not solidly struck, almost certainly slips away from the shelf of green.

The second par 5 of the day is the 8th, and at 495 metres into a prevailing wind, is a genuine three shot hole. Play from the tee is directed to the right half of the fairway, away from the pair of leftside fairway traps 247 metres from the tee. The quality of one's drive dictates the strategy for the second shot. A diagonal triumvirate of fairway traps cuts across the fairway, a nine iron or wedge short of the green's centre. Those who have hit a long drive may elect to traverse these hazards and aim to the left half of the fairway beyond, which enables a relatively easy pitch. Those who have driven poorly, or don't take the courageous option with their second, may elect to play short of the traps, and to the safe right half of the fairway. This complicates the approach, due to the presence of several right greenside traps. This hole provides lots of options from the tee, right through to the approach, for all levels of golfer, in a variety of conditions. Another green of good depth is found at the end of the 8th hole, which is no doubt a welcome relief to those playing the course on typical windy days.

The 9th hole is a 407 metre dogleg left par 4, and ranks as the second toughest on the course. A series of diagonally placed pot bunkers lines the inside of the dogleg, demanding that those who wish to shorten their approach hit the most heroic of drives. Those playing safe and short of the traps leave themselves a mid to long iron approach, to yet another interesting green. The ridges and contouring that divide the putting surfaces at Kennedy Bay are consistently good. The concept of greens within greens is well executed, and the slightly undulating terrain of the course is well mirrored by the subtle breaks, humps and hollows through the putting surfaces.

The Back Nine

The back nine starts with consecutive par 4's of similar length, both aided to a degree by prevailing winds. The 10th hole measures 390 metres from the championship tees. A pair of pot bunkers lie at the left of the fairway. The broad green is defended by a small swail at its front, and a small lone centrally positioned pot bunker a few metres short of the putting surface.

The 12th hole is arguably the best on the course. It's so often the case with quality short par four's. Measuring 330 metres from the championship tees, and 294 metres from the member plates, the hourglass shaped green lies perpendicular to the axis of the hole, and sits slightly to the left. It sits in a pretty little depression, obscured from the tee by a small crest in the fairway, and a thicket of coastal shrubs. It is also protected by a string of three diagonally placed bunkers, which may be avoided by a long, accurate, drawing drive. Much of the green tilts slightly from front to back and may even be unsighted on approach by those playing too conservative a tee shot, out to the expanse of fairway on the right of the hole. All manner of shots are available from the tee, and given the strength of the prevailing wind, which typically aids a draw, one may attempt to drive the green.

The 13th is a 508 metre par five, played in the same direction as the 12th. Plenty of room is afforded to those players who drive modest distances. A fairway bottleneck around 260 metres demands accuracy from the long hitter. A solitary and significantly sized fairway trap may be out of the equation for those hitting a long second, yet it may complicate things for players electing to lay up around 100 metres short of the green. The well sculptured two-tired putting surface is protected on both sides by deep sand traps, with the deepest of these protecting the small left tier of the green, no doubt used for club championships and medal day play. With the 13th green at the most remote point of the course one turns and heads for home to play the remaining holes. Prevailing winds usually prove a staunch enemy for the trip back.

The mid-length two shot 15th is another affording both the short and errant hitters significant room from the tee, while demanding accuracy from the long driver. One may be lulled into playing safe from the tee. Yet those confronted with a long approach may rue their decision at the tee. The deep, narrow green is wonderfully situated, in its own little dell, surrounded by low growing coastal shrubs and other native flora. It's somewhat difficult to access, yet approaches played to the left can feed down a small bank, much closer to the flag.

The 16th is arguably the best par 3 on the course and another contender for Kennedy Bay's best hole. Measuring 138 metres, it features a narrow offset green running from 4 o'clock to 10 o'clock protected by steep slopes at its front, a solitary and centrally placed pot bunker, which seems to eat its way right into the waist of the green. A pair of hazards beyond provide definition, whilst also catching the overcooked tee shot. The presence of these traps may also tempt golfers into underclubbing, producing higher ball flight, and on this windy part of the course, will more often than not result in a green missed. Recovery from any point either to the side, short or long of this green, is very difficult. The steep lopes, shallow green, and voracious pot bunker are all factors to contend with. The hole is a wonderful little design, not unlike the 16th at The Cut, or the 16th at Paraparaumu Beach.

The penultimate hole is a 498 metre par 5, played directly into the prevailing Fremantle Doctor. Drives longer than 240 metres must be straight, so as to avoid fairway bunkering both left and right. Playing short of these hazards sees far greater fairway width. The green is ideally approached from the right side of the fairway in almost all instances, yet this is where a string of diagonal bunkers sits. Golfers can either play left of these traps, thereby complicating their approach shot, contending with a solitary left greenside trap on the approach, or alternatively, accurately gauge the distance and wind, playing either short or long of the diagonal hazards. The 17th is yet another relatively deep green, demanding accurate assessment of hole location, and correct club selection on the approach.

The par 4 18th hole is a tough finish to the round, again playing essentially into the prevailing wind. Two lusty blows will be needed to travel the 394 metres to the putting surface. Even having achieved this aim, par is no certainty with a number of subtle breaks found on the final green.

Top Ten Course

Kennedy Bay has enjoyed a position among Australia's top ten golf courses since it's opening. The course is ideally situated in close proximity to the Indian Ocean, on gently corrugated sandy land, with good coverage from native shrubs, and strong breezes for good measure. The design philosophy is clear, simple and consistently executed. Hazards are small, yet deep and punitive, extracting a full shot penalty on most occasions. Their frequent diagonal placement is a welcome return to a sound design philosophy prevalent in the Golden Age, particularly well employed locally by Alex Russell.

Kennedy Bay's greens are artfully constructed, and blend harmoniously with the prevailing terrain. Fairway width is generous for those playing conservatively, progressively narrowing with increased driver length. The course boasts good variety, and wonderful rhythm, with excellent short and long par 4's found on both sides. The par 3 holes form a strong quartet, and the run home from holes 14 to 18 provides a stern test. Given the somewhat limited amount of traffic the course receives, it's no surprise that tees, fairways and greens are all in very good condition. Perhaps one benefit of being so far from a significant population centre. I'm sure the flip side is that a paucity of golfers from the eastern seaboard enjoy Kennedy Bay's pleasures. In time, with greater recognition, perhaps more will come to appreciate the quality of this course, and venture west to undertake it's examination.

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