1. NuffieTheGolfman | Rated | 04 Jan 2009 | Add A Review

Lakelands is a good private club, one of the newest in the Perth region. It is a tricky course with course management being paramount if you are to shot in the 70’s. I played a number of rounds there in 2007 as a visitor when I first moved to WA. At the time I was still a member of Georges River in Sydney.

Some good holes on the front nine include the par 4 3rd, that is over 400m long and requires an accurate drive that is not left behind a strategically placed tree in the middle of the fairway. The par 4 4th is much shorter and can be almost driven, however it is best to lay up to this green not be dead in the trees on the right side short of the green if you cut the drive. The par 5 5th can be a 2 or 3 shotter, depending on the wind direction at the time. The par 3 6th is a tough, long hole of 182m, and any shot landing left or right of the green pin high will find the bunkers, leaving a tricky up and down, so its best to be just short if you miss this green. The 7th is my favorite hole, a dogleg par 5 which is risk reward at its finest. There may be no hazards but there is trees and scrub to the left if you try and take the green on in two. This hole is best played with a shorter club off the tee and then a positioning shot for the 2nd. A wedge will get you to the flag for your third – setting up a good birdie chance if played accurately. The 8th and 9th holes are both long par 4’s and require long, accurate drives followed by good pinpoint approaches. Bigger hitters will require a short iron into the 8th and a mid-iron into the 9th, I needed a mid on the 8th and then a long iron on the 9th respectively as I’m no monster off the tee.

On the back nine, the standout holes were the par 3, 13th at about 160m long and well bunkered. The par 5 14th of over 500m in lenth and uphill is a good testing hole, most particularly if it is played into a westerly or Freo doctor. The second shot has a narrow landing area and the green is well bunkered and slopes from back to fron for the approach. The next hole, par 4 15th of over 360m is a tight driving hole and one of the hardest as well with a massive 2 tiered green. The next hole which is arguably the signature is the par 3 16th of about 145m. It is all carry over a water hazard and has a steep slope just short of the green that will catch any miss-timed shot and fan it back down into the water. The 17th is a long dogleg par 4 where a long accurate drive is required to see the green and then a good approach to hit a well bunkered green. The par 5 18th can be reached in two, however beware the tighness of this hole. It is a sleeper and can destroy a great round as it did me. However if the westerly is in and you get home in two, its an easy green to putt on and get your bird.

All in all this course will get better and better. The greens are fantastic and the fairways are well kept. The rough is very unforgiving on most holes but I feel a real strength of this course. They also offer a very affordable 3 month trial membership for any of those who want to play the course for a bit and decide if they want to join. I may try to get more games there in the near future and consider the offer. Worth a look for people who like course management type courses, such a Joondalup.

PROS

• Great condition, some tricky holes, good trial membership option

Cons

• Hard to get on unless your a member or know one, flat course but still quite difficult

2. prudee | Rated | 28 Mar 2007 | Add A Review

Challenging with narrow fairways and punishing rough. The faiways are in great condition and the greens superb. Possibly the best greens in Perth, they run very true and are lightning fast. Not a long course so the emphasis is on accuracy and course management. Recommend you give it a try.

3. bobjnrgolfnut | Rated | 10 Jul 2004 | Add A Review

Lakelands is a lovely course in the northern suburbs near Wanneroo. Currently at about 6200mtrs the course will soon go through some length and strategy changes (mid 2004). Lakelands greens are pure and the course is now in superb nick. The par 3's all are individual and provide great challenge. The 2 picks for challenge are is 13 a 170mtr par 3 very exposed over black boys with a 2 tiered green and usually against the freo doctor. Hole 6 is the other measures190 from the back and has 4 greenside bunker protecting the entire green so if u miss, make it short, a excellent hole. 16 is a 145 mtr par 3 with no bunkers but water 10 mtrs short so hit it solid. 2 is a 154 mtr par 3 which is my favorite par 3 because of 4 beaut greenside traps and a nice feel to the hole. The pick of the 5's is 5. At 500 mtrs and against the doctor it is a definite three shotter and is played fairly exposed with lots of shrub off the fairway meaning premium accuracy. 18 is only 454 mtrs but soon on the dogleg right there will be a strategic fwy bunker and the right greenside bunker filled with water and ob on the right because currently you can play up the driving range and it will be a ripper dramatic finishing hole. 7 is a sensational risk reward hole, at only 440 mtrs it bends about 100 degrees left and if you cut the corner and bomb it it's a mid iron but play safe and the 2 tiered green still gives a birdie chance. The other is 14 which suits a cut off the tee like 18 and is 490 mtrs up hill and into the wind a 3 shotter, tricky putting surface. The pick of the par 4's are maybe 4 and 11, 4 is a short 290 mtr par 4 with accuracy a premium. If u pull out driver you could block yourself out. If the hole is polayed smart your second will be a wedge to the guarded 2 tier green, 1 of the top 4 short par 4's definitly in WA. 11 is only at 350 mtrs and played slightly downwind but people often choke because of a 4 by 4 mtr tiny pond dead in front of the green threating to catch any slightly mishit shot. The other poar 4's are 1 a gentle 340 mtr opening hole, 3 is a tough 410 mtr par 4, 4 already mentioned, 8 a downhill 36 mtr par 4 which sweeps to the left, 9 a 380mtr uphill agaisnt the wind climb, 10 an exposed 360 mtr par 4, 11 already mentioned, the 389 mtr 12th is very demanding, 15 is a very tricky 345 mtr par 4 it's very tight and 17 is a brutal 400mtr hole. The vibe around the club is friendly and it's a great place to be. It is generally flat and suits a right to left ball flight. Along with The vines, Lake Karrinyup, Kennedy Bay and Joondalup I think a top 10 wa course.

4. andy04 | Rated | 04 Sep 2002 | Add A Review

The course has some interesting holes but it also has some stupid holes.

A perfect example is the third. A 400m straight par 4 that requires an accurate drive. But if you hit your drive to long you will not be able to have a shot at the green because of a tree in the middle of the fairway.

The condition of the course is not the best. The greens were slow and bumpy the last time that I played there but I have seen them lightning fast.

5. bgreen | Rated | 07 Aug 2002 | Add A Review

I've been a member for 1 year now and out of all the courses I've played this one would have to be one of my favourites. I't rewards you if you have good course management but if you go out to belt the crap out of the little white devil you could fall a victum. It has a nice course layout with some hard holes. The 5th hole, a 500m par 5 that most of the time playes into wind is a challenge. All in all I would say that you must try it out.