1. Tigers_Wood | Rated | 03 Jan 2012 | Add A Review

This place seems to have been let go in recent years, though they still charge like a wounded bull. We managed to secure a "mideweek special" which was $69 inc a cart. Having played this course once many years ago as a junior, I remember it being stunning, unfotunately it doesn’t look like anyone has been maintaining it since then.

The first thing I learnt was that you have to take a drop on to the fairway if you hit the rough, because the rough is gravel with tiny patches of green in between. I landed on one of these bits of green but hiding beneath was some nice sharp gravel with left some nice damage to the sole and grooves of my brand new AP1’s. Sadly the bunkers are worse and covered in pea gravel, some of them can be played out of, though you need to pick out the gravel from around your ball first.

There are some positives though, the 9th is brutal. I’m by no means a long hitter but I took off from the tee thinking I’d be safe from the water protecting the green, but I made it in one…the water that is. The elevated par 3 16th is great and almost bordering on ridiculous, we played off the whites tees which was 153m, with a 25-30m elevation, a strong head wind and water protecting a lot of it. They’ve also put some nice hedges in front of the tee box so you can’t see where you’re hitting. A really good challenge.

Some good risk/reward holes but the course needs extensive work to make it playable. The fairways are dry and dead in a lot of places so preferred lies are required on every hole…1 club often doesn’t cut it. The rough/tree line is unplayable, so unless you’re willing to sacrifice your clubs, there’s not much you can do. You take a drop to the nearest bit of playable dirt or turf and most of the time you’re back on the fairway.

Overall, if they’re seriously charging the "rack rate" of $125 the owners are flat out delusional. This course should be $50 inc cart midweek, it’s no longer a "resort" course like their website suggests. Also charging $7.50 for a roll and $4.70 for a Powerade is nonsense. The Cut – an amazing top 20 links course – is offering 18 inc cart and lunch for $69 these days, the $80 I paid for the same at Araluen is highway robbery.

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2. stewj11 | Rated | 14 Dec 2011 | Add A Review

The best time to play this course is early Spring after a wet winter, simply because of its location on the rolling hills of the Darling Scarp. I played it in April and it was a bit dry, but the greens and tee boxes were in excellent condition. It would be rather hot in Summer (along with the snakes).

It is a fair drive from the city (even from the Brookton Hwy), so playing midweek with the special price and a cart makes the cost more palatable.

Fairways are quite open given the course is in the bush. The first hole needs a cosmetic overhaul, as some of the following holes that follow are very scenic. I dont think anyone playing the course will forget the downhill par 3 16th, although its not an overly tough hole.

Correct club selection off the tee (the 9th is a good example) is again the key to a good score at Araluen. All in all a good test of golf that is enjoyable at the right time of the year with the right company.

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3. GPeters | Rated | 25 Jul 2011 | Add A Review

The views on offer are sensational, some holes are on a par with the best holes in WA. The 1st is probably the least well maintained hole, the fairway somewhat rough and the cart path is broken beyond repair in some places. The poor cart paths can be seen throughout the course; lift your game, guys! But it gets better thereafter. The course has obviously suffered from heat stress, but right now it’s playing well, and the greens are true and tricky. Played two rounds mid-week, four weeks apart, the course was almost empty. Araluen is well worth the trip, at least it is in the winter of 2011. Under $50 for 18 holes plus cart, it’s good value for a quality course.

4. Bolt | Rated | 18 Apr 2011 | Add A Review

Have a special on at the moment, $39 for 18 holes including cart. Dont waste ur money! We were told the course was in good nic…….WRONG. The fairways are in poor condition, dry and lucky if your ball lands on any grass. Greens were in fair condition buy inconsistent.

Save your money, go to K-Mart and buy 2 dozen Top Flight distance balls.

Shame as the course has a great lay out with some really nice holes, wont be going back and getting burnt again!!

5. AndrewStrick | Rated | 04 Jun 2010 | Add A Review

Nice course, i played in summer so the fairways were a little dry and you got alot of run. Didn’t have a great round but it was 40 degrees and smokey.

they needed to clear out the rough a little, and maybe through a little more water around, but a great course with some awesome holes with great views.

6. Bolt | Rated | 22 Apr 2010 | Add A Review

Had a round here today as they had a special on $59 including cart. Course condition is ok, greens are in good nic but the fairways are fairly bumpy with preferred lies needed. A good top dressing or 2 wouldnt go astray.

What ruined the day was one of our carts (the one i was in) ran outa juice with 4 holes to play. We used the other cart to push us the next 3 holes and left it about middle of the 18th. After loading 4 bags onto the one cart 2 of us made the long walk up to the pro shop and all they said was "really sorry about that". Not even a drink to quench our thirst.

Customer service…..meeehhh!

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7. Bolt | Rated | 18 Sep 2009 | Add A Review

Had a round at Araluen today. Prices have gone up to $82 for 18 and a cart, up from $50 2 weeks ago. They also no longer have the Drummond Club discount.

8. Bolt | Rated | 16 Sep 2009 | Add A Review

Agree with the below comment. Played there a few weeks ago and with the winter rains the course is looking great, the fairways are nice and green and the greens themselves are in good nick. Well worth the drive and great value for money. Drummond Club members get a discount too. Hardly anyone up there when we played and it felt like we had the whole course to ourselves. Just hope that the course will get watered during the summer months.

9. thechopper | Rated | 03 Sep 2009 | Add A Review

Played here on 24th August and unlike the other reviewers found the course to be in great condition.

They have received a lot of rain recently which has helped the course

Guy in the pro shop said they are over their finacial problems.

For $60 we got a game, cart, lunch and beer.

Best deal in Wa

Recommend you go have a look…

10. KBoey | Rated | 04 May 2009 | Add A Review

Played this course on april 21 and what an absolute waste of time and money. The fairways were completely dead – no grass. just one big dry potato patch. unplayable.

Don’t even bother making the drive up to the hills. Shame the layout was pretty decent. probably the worse conditioned course i have ever played.

11. Jed08 | Rated | 13 Apr 2009 | Add A Review

i have seen greener cricket pitches than the fairways here,the greens are good. the place just needs a good soaking.played into one bunker, there was more gravel than sand

12. ISG_r_CUNTS | Rated | 01 Apr 2009 | Add A Review

A warning to anyone thinking of venturing out to Araluen, they’re up to their old tricks again. I played there last weekend (28-03-09) and the majority of the course is still dead, literally. They are making some good improvements on the greens, but my friends and I were covered in head to toe with dead grass dust, all in our bags, everywhere.

While I didn’t bork too much as the price was $43.50 for a weekend game with cart, I have seen they have recently increased their green fees to $59.00 weekend rate, with absolutely no course improvement whatsoever.

I rang and pretended to be someone wanting to play my first game there, and asked how the course was, I was told an absolute load of shit. The guy did say ’a couple’ of the fairways were ’needing a little work’ but the greens were ’excellent’.

If you call excellent lumpy, sandy and in the great majority unplayable, then you’d be safe making that statement. The fairways are unplayable in many large areas also Beware anyone thinking of going out there, its still an overpriced dustbowl.

13. NUFFIETHEGOLFMAN | Rated | 02 Jan 2009 | Add A Review

Played Araluen today with idgolfguy and got the drummond club special of 2 for the price of 1 – $49 each with a cart. We played it off the blue tees and it measured 6380m with a par of 72 and an ACR of 75. It was a very hot day and so we were relieved we took the cart. I played to the 75 rating.

The layout of this course and the design was great, it reminded me muchly of Cypress Lakes in the Hunter Valley of NSW. There were some amazing views from the hills down to the valleys to the west, with the Indian Ocean visible in the distance. There were wildflowers everywhere, most particularly on the back nine which apparently reach full blume in early spring. This course has loads of potential, however it came up short of my expectations, given the great things I’d heard from colleagues and read about here on iseekgolf.

It fell away in its overall condition which was a bit unfortunate. There is no way I’d play competition here as I had to take about 6 drops from the edge of the fairway as my ball was sitting on ironstone and wasnt going to destroy any of my good clubs. This was a big problem around the majority of this course and had never seen conditions like this before, so I put it down to the unique geology of the Araluen/Darling escarpment area. The bunkers were very well designed, however maintained very poorly, with grass growing in them and on the walls. Many were not even raked. One of my partner’s shots rolled straight into the one on the right of the 13th fairway and didnt come out. However it was never to be seen again when we got down there. I had this same problem at Glen Iris, with balls plugging and burrowing into the walls of bunkers. On a course of this quality, this is simply not on.

The greens I found also to be very inconsistent and on the slow side. Some were soft and others were hard, some were flat and others bumpy, some seemed rolled and others felt like they hadn’t been. This is very much a could of, should of and would of course, but just doesn’t take the cake for me.

This is unfortunate as it boast some great holes. On the Par 4 9th of 398m, the fairway drops by over 60m to a water hazard that is over 80m wide at the front of the green. You can easily hit a 3-iron off the tee and watch it travel 300m, down to the 100m marker, where a PW will see you on the green in regulation.

The other holes I liked were the 16th – Par 3 of 165m, which is about a 80m drop from tee to green. It is the only hole like it in WA and reminds me of a hole at Northbridge Golf Club in Sydney, NSW, just you can actually see this ball land before you get to the green, rather than have to hit a completely blind shot at Northbridge. If there is no wind you must take 2 clubs less. The 17th is a very sneaky par 5 at 479m, with water completely down the right side, left also to catch your second shot and at the front of the green to catch your approach if it is misshit. The finishing hole is a par 4,395m and uphill all the way, at index 1. This is definitely the hardest hole and when into the wind, it can take two massive hits to get on the green.

So like I said, its a shame to see a course with such a great layout kept the way it currently appears. Im not sure if it comes down to a money or irrigation problem for management, but there’s a great deal of work required before I’ll ever come back and play a competition round here. It has the layout to be a bit like Western Australian Golf Club, undulative with some good holes, but it comes up way short. Its a bit of a shame really. Its worth going and playing there to compile your opinion though. Maybe it might be better there in September-October. Lets wait and see….

PROS

• Great undulative layout, drummond 2 for 1 on offer, relaxed setting, with loads of promise

Cons

• Poorly maintained fairways, greens, rough and bunkering, with lots of work to be done

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14. IDGolfguy | Rated | 07 Oct 2008 | Add A Review

Four of us, Iseek members played Araluen on the Sunday 5/10/08. Lovely course and thorougly enjoyed it.

The course was in good condition. We had a GPS and Rangefinder but found the immense contours made those tools ineffectual.

The greens were in great condition but I had difficulty putting the longer distances. A better putter probably would not have too much trouble as they were quite true.

The fairways were very nice to hit off and the ball flew and rolled long distances. Good for the ego.

The cut rough was quite generous and predicatable, however, once you got into the bush, take an old club with you as the gravel scarred my forged sand wedge the first time I hit out. The next few times, I was more tentative and was happy to just tap out.

The way the course is designed, playing of the white tees, all greens are reachable with a long iron and mid iron (if you’rs a short hitter). The longest par 5 was a driver and three iron to ten metres short of the green because of the severe slopeon you second shot.

Araluen is not a ‘bomb and pitch’ course unless you know the course well and can consistenly hit your driver straight. Placement shots and the use of the course contours will encourage a good score.

Take a few golf balls with you as they do get scuffed when they hit the outer rough and bush. Some of the bush can be quite aggressive.

15. girlsforbidden | Rated | 04 Oct 2008 | Add A Review

I'm from Melbourne, I played 18 with three clients on the weekend. It's a given this place is a fair drive but I have never interacted with my clients better on the way up. The place is spectacular, the course is the best I've played in whilst in Perth. Joondalup had a lot of show but no follow through. It is in the suburbs basically.

The Araluen staff were the most welcoming and showed real interest in our experience throughout the day. the pro shop staff actually know what their talking about. I last visted six months ago and something has changed.

The staff actual took an interest in my experience. After nine we went in for lunch to a restaraunt which was full in two different locations and a terrace area which was also full of guests, yet we still receive timely service and top quality food.

I tried the Nasi Goreng, the waiter said it was the best in W.A… I'd agree. It was good to be looked after like I was a Vip.

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16. NeverEagle | Rated | 12 Aug 2008 | Add A Review

Played a midweek round on 08/08/08. Fairways in good condition, none of the horror stories of great dead patches so tick that one. a cross for the people that don’t bother using the sand buckets provided plenty of divots on the fairways. Tee boxes have recently been cored and are soft and spongy. Greens have recently been cored and sanded so are slow. They also had been granule fertilised the day before I played and with the promised rain not arriving it made putting a bit of an adventure. The location and the helpfulness of the staff were excellent and course guides are in the pipeline as anyone playing the location for the first time as I was is really in the dark on where holes disappear to with the numersous changes in elevation and dog legs. The website does have hole diagrams so at least have a look there to get an idea.

I would certainly play there again, but maybe leave it at least another 2-3 months.

17. MegaWatty | Rated | 17 May 2008 | Add A Review

Well, after years of no water, it is sort of coming back. There are still a lot of bare patches on the fairways and greens, but you can see a lot of new grass coming through. I would say that it is still a long way from it’s best. The turf in the tee boxes was quite spongey as with the greens. They have a hell of a lot of work in front of them during Spring/Summer to make sure it comes back to it’s best. The fairways will need to be levelled either with topsoil or by grading them down. The greens feel like they need a good de thatch as well.

I can’t tell you how much it upsets me seeing the course in this condition. I also played it at it’s worst and struggle to understand how it could ever get that way. And to think it’s been like that for over two years is near criminal.

They have invested in a brand new fleet of electric carts and the course designer was there checking out the course, so it seems that there may be some money available for them to try and get it back to 100%.

At it’s best, I reckon this is one of Perth’s best courses. It is a magic trip through a beautiful valley surrounded by stunning bushland.

Not sure if it’s yet worth the green fees, but come Spring/Summer it will certainly be worth another look.

18. Aaron76 | Rated | 07 May 2008 | Add A Review

I played a round of 18 today with a couple of mates. I had heard of horror stories with the burst dam and all. However, we all had a great day. Araluen is nearly at it’s picture-postcard appeal again, the greens were racey, and the fairways better than what we had expected. Loved it a lot, and sure greatful of the buggies we hired. Hills!!!

My advice, get in quick while there is relatively little traffic on the course, and the green fees are a bargain as they’re doing all they can to get the faithful back. Played on a Wednesday: $65 (included fresh made lunch, buggy hire and 18 holes). We will be back for sure.

After wasting away with the general public at Burswood, and Whaleback where the greens cop a hiding, it was like a breathe of fresh air to put on hard, racey and challenging greens.

Well done to Araluen Country Club on what seems to be a remarkable recovery. You have our support for sure. Keep up the good work!

19. usaeagle | Rated | 28 Aug 2007 | Add A Review

Folks, Araluen is back! WIth the burst dam restored and the retic unclogged from the resulting mud, the course is on its way back to world class condition. Full Coring and Sanding will be done on the 10-12th of September, and the fairways and greens will be scarified mid month. Along with this, full restaurant facilities will be restored in October, and the hotel constructio is set to begin this spring. When all is done, you won’t recognise the place.

20. wincro7 | Rated | 17 Apr 2007 | Add A Review

As I had booked a game at Araluen on 16 April and had heard some criticism of its condition, I checked iseekgolf for recent reviews. I did not expect the course to be in tip top condition, but I did not expect it to be as bad as it was. Most of the fairways were dead, and a lot of the greens had sandy patches. The 1 club length preferred lie on all fairways did not help as there were very few patches of grass anywhere. The sandy patches on the greens were treated as GUR, but this was not helpful if you were off the green and the sand was between your ball and the hole. The only holes I enjoyed were the four par 3s, as all tees were in reasonable condition and there were no "fairways" to negotiate. If you are thinking of playing Araluen, don’t!! You will have a better golfing experience at any of the metro public courses, etiquette aside, and it will cost you less!

21. crnile | Rated | 09 Apr 2007 | Add A Review

I have played Araluen CC about 25 times over the past 10 years, the last round being on April 9 2007. I was trying to find a word to describe what I found there on this particular day knowing what the course has looked like in the past. It was a total dissapointment. The fairways are bone dry and in some cases non existant (read that as dead) and in some areas there is missing turf in the middle of the fairways and some patches appear burnt. The greens are lumpy and are at best poor with sandy patches found in most greens. The tees are poorly maintained and whilst at times it may be unavoidable the amount of kangaroo droppings and duck droppings is unacceptable. Having played Joondalup CC on the 1 April 2007 and found it to be in immaculate condition the people from Araluen need to travel and see what other courses that are well presented look like. It is a terrible shame to see this course in this condition.

22. bundy1 | Rated | 07 Apr 2007 | Add A Review

Took another look at Araluen after being disappointed how bad it was 6 months ago. Unfortunately little has changed. Greens are terrible and have repair marks all over them with lots of yellow sand filling holes / dead areas still.

Fairways are dry and although understandable for summer the poor state of the greens with the sand and long furry finish makes this course worse than a suburban public course

Beware and check it out carefully before spending the $$. In its prime is a great course but seems to me operators are really struggling at the moment to do the work required

23. stulee | Rated | 04 Jan 2007 | Add A Review

This is the fourth time I played at Araluen. Each time, the quality of the course, especially the greens, has deteriorated.

The layout of the course, the views and the amazing 16th hole are reasons I have taken visitors from out of town to play the course.

But now I have decided to give this a miss for a while. When we were there last, some fairways were barely watered and some greens patchy. Given the dry year we've had this isn't exactly a crime, however they hadn't even bothered to sweep the roo and duck poo off the greens on the day, even for the member's comp.

I truely hope they plough some money back in, because at full flight this is a magic course.

24. anthonydonetta | Rated | 20 Dec 2006 | Add A Review

Araluen is great. it has great practice facilities like a driving range, a putting green and a bunker. The staff are friendly and the Proshop is awesome.

The course layout is Brilliant! The course is in good nick but there are some greens that have sandy patches.

Overall a great, challenging course.

25. nogood | Rated | 19 Oct 2006 | Add A Review

Have played there a few times in the last couple of months, and the damage they had is nearly all gone. I played there in summer shortly after it happened, and it was very severe. A great course with spectacular views and holes, well worth the visit again.

26. stinga59 | Rated | 21 Jul 2006 | Add A Review

After reading previous reviews felt it necessary to add my own comments.

I play off an 18 handicap and have played some beautiful Perth courses including Mt Lawley, Yokine The Cut and The Vines.

Yesterday July 20 I visited Araluen for the 2nd time only in 12 years.

My friend who also plays off an 18 and I thoughly enjoyed the course.

Fairways and Tees were good as were the greens.

We found them to play true for the most part. Quite quick but true.

Yes there was some damage, but you expect that with a course like this that has a resident kangaroo population.

I had a 12 trying to get out of a deep bunker on the front 9 so ended with a cricket score but I loved the course, found the staff on the day courteous and respectful and we have already planned a return visit.

Some of the most challenging holes I have ever encountered and breathtaking views.

Definately should be on any serious golfers agenda.

27. capewes0 | Rated | 19 Jul 2006 | Add A Review

A total disappointment! This used to be one of the premier courses in Perth but what we played on today was nothing more than a goat track. The greens were the worst part - very lumpy and inconsistent speed with a lot of sandy/bare patches that meant that sinking puts was pot luck. The entire course looked very unkept and in desperate need of a good watering. The greenkeeping staff did not extend the courtesy of turning off their machines or ceasing their conversation when we were putting or about to tee off which is not what you expect from a course of this standard. The chicken sandwich I bought for lunch was good though - probably not good enough to bring me back again.

28. dazza123 | Rated | 13 Jul 2006 | Add A Review

its a shame a great layout and design has deteriated in condition to the point i will never go back! the condition of the course was pretty bad with no green fees going back into the maintenance of the course, you could tell by the poor condition the greens and fairways were in. if only some effort was made to bring this course back into what it should be and was 2-3 years ago alot of people would return to one of what was Perths best Hills course.

29. hlhchan | Rated | 03 Apr 2006 | Add A Review

By far, this course is the worst of the 5 courses (this, S.Harbour, Cut, Kennedy & Mdw Springs) I played at recently on a golfing holiday. Staying at Mandurah, its quite a distance although an easy hour's drive to the course. On arrival at the course, there was nobody that attended to the golf bags that we left at the golf bag drop area. We had to move it ourselves although not much of a drama given the pro-shop was only a short distance to bags. At the pro-shop, the register wasn't working, which again wasn't much of an issue since they were nice enough to suggest we settle the green fees after the game (which turns to be a blessing in disguise-explained later).

The course was the real dissappointment. Hole maps were no where to be found except at the social tee boxes. Given this, I thought at least the scorecards should have a course map. The fairways & greens appeared unkept with leaves lying all over the place. There were sand patches on most if not all the greens (to which the pro-shop informed that it was due to vandals). Green speeds were also terribly inconsistent. Most if not all the sand traps that I saw and was in were unraked. Some of the pins on the greens had its little flags flying half-mast. Some of my playing partners who had played the course before several years back said that there use to be GPS on the carts that are no longer available now, which we found out after from the manager that the vendor was sacked sometime back cause they didn't provide the service required & hence discontinued the GPS. It was also alleged that the 'pump' on the course wasn't operating for the past several months. For whatever reasons it hadn't been repaired until now, I don't know. It is 'expected' to be operating soon though as we were told. The bistro didn't have any beers on tap, didn't stock enough beers of 1 type at all and there were no cooked food available. In my opinion, these shortcomings were signs that the course owners were either short of cash or had bigger problems to sort.

On the plus side, the manager at the pro-shop was kind enough to knock of A$10 off the green fees after we voiced our displeasure (not intentionally but only because he asked how our round was). I thought this was a very good gesture of goodwill but it would take a lot more than that to entice me & my fellow golfing buddies to return to the course in the near to distant future unless some serious effort is made to improve conditions.

30. tiprat | Rated | 13 Sep 2005 | Add A Review

well worth the drive into the hills. this course is very underated & i'm sure most have never heard of it but you will be treated to a sensational course , not too crowded . well worth adding a day to your week of golf in perth. trust me you'll love it.

31. robevans | Rated | 01 Jun 2004 | Add A Review

This is a magnificent golf course. Thoroughly enjoyable and quite difficult. Rewards good stroke play and has some spectacular golf holes.

The surroundings are very peaceful and there is a great outlook which makes it conducive to good golf.

Having played 8 out of the top 10 of the so called by ranking golf courses in Australia...I would say that this is highly under-rated and would definitely be in Australia's top 10 courses. It is a hidden gem.

Be wary of the water on the right of the 18th green...you can't see the dam from the fairway to the elevated green and if you miss the right edge of the green (which was 10ft to the right of the pin when I played it) you are wet!

32. andrew14966 | Rated | 19 Jul 2003 | Add A Review

A wonderfully maintained course with fast, true greens that are difficult at times, but always a pleasure to putt on.

This is a course where good golf is rewarded, but the course is not so difficult that it is impossible for the beginner.

The closing holes are a great way to finish, & put pressure on when you are pushing for a good score.

Well worth a visit.

33. shanzo21 | Rated | 30 Dec 2002 | Add A Review

Araluen has to be by far the best course I have played in Australia. It has some amazing holes (including the very scenic 16th) The course is beautifully maintained with the holes being a range of difficulties (the 17th and 18th providing a challenging finish which can easily upset a seemingly perfect round) The staff are very friendly and helpfull which helps to make any game more enjoyable. It's only major drawback is that it can be a little hard to find as you have to travel down a very lonely looking road as you enter the enchanted valley, however this only adds to the charm of the place as it's isolation helps to provide some very spectatular views. I recomend this course to everyone, it is suitable for the beginner to the most experienced pro. Even for the non-golfers the restaurant and bar mixed with the beauty of the place could make a very suitable destination for a Sunday drive.