Enjoy world-class golf courses in this picturesque, remote city

While Melbourne and Sydney are Australia’s most famous golf cities, Perth is often overlooked. But Western Australia’s capital – renowned for magnificent beaches and lush, clean suburbs – has more than 30 courses, including several world-class facilities.

Perth’s seven finest courses maximize this natural splendor, weaving through forest, sand dunes, hillsides and rock quarries. Some are public facilities where bookings are easily made online. Others are members-only clubs, which let out-of-state visitors apply to play.

Joondalup Resort

Intimidating, surprising and memorable. That encapsulates my experience of playing at this 27-hole complex. Joondalup Resort offers three nine-hole courses – Quarry, Lake and Dune – designed by one of the world’s leading golf architects, Robert Trent Jones Jnr.

Each is laced through the tranquil scenery of Joondalup Resort, a country club 25 minutes north of Perth. Golfers can combine two of these three layouts for an 18-hole round, as I did with the Lake and Quarry courses. Lake tested my skills, with its multiple water hazards and heavily-contoured greens, which make putting a menace.

Quarry, meanwhile, left me in no doubt why it’s considered Perth’s greatest golfing challenge. I had to strike shots over deep canyons at this former rock quarry site and avoid bunkers up to five meters deep. Dune, on the other hand, is a hilly course, with thick scrub waiting to swallow errant shots. An 18-hole round at Joondalup is US$93 Monday to Thursday, and otherwise US$110.

Cottesloe Golf Club

One of Perth’s oldest golf clubs, Cottesloe was formed in 1909, before shifting from its beachside perch here to the woodlands of Swanbourne. Its immaculate 18-hole layout offers fresh challenges on each hole and forested scenery, which helped calm me every time the course bested me. And that was often.

Heightening Cottesloe’s appeal is its two-story clubhouse, where guests absorb ocean views over a post-round drink. Although Cottesloe is a members’ club, it’s open to guests invited by members, or who are members of the many golf clubs worldwide with which it has reciprocal playing agreements.

The Cut

One hour south of Perth, amid the serene beaches and pretty canals of Dawesville, The Cut is Perth’s most scenic course. I learned it also rivals Joondalup as the trickiest. Especially when the wind whipped across this links-style course, positioned through coastal sand dunes.

Not only is The Cut quite long, at 6,385 meters, but its layout is complex and unforgiving. Missing the fairway often resulted in my ball disappearing into the scrub. Combined with deep bunkers, elevated greens and multiple blind shots, The Cut demanded my full concentration. Despite its elite condition, The Cut costs just US$37 a round midweek and US$43 on weekends.

The Western Australian Golf Club

It was a thrill to finally step inside the iconic, Tudor-style clubhouse of the Western Australian Golf Club. Now almost 100 years old, it’s knitted into magnificent forest, and owns a lofty perch in Perth’s inner-north, which gave me striking views of the city skyline as I tackled its 18-hole layout.

Particularly from the elevated tee box of the 12th hole, from where I could admire the majestic Darling Ranges hills which flank Perth. The course, itself, is sublime. From fairways to greens, this club is pristine. Its layout is unique and demanding, without being so harsh that it ever fractured my spirit.

This is a members’ club, but welcomes guest players invited by members, or who are members of the close to 50 golf clubs worldwide with which it has reciprocal playing agreements.

The Vines Resort

The Vines Resort is, in itself, a worthy destination. Located in the picturesque Swan Valley, 25 kilometers north-east of the city, this resort and golf club is flanked by national parks and surrounded by more than 40 wineries and vineyards. Guests can choose from more than 100 rooms and villas, and savor its spa, salon, gym, tennis courts and 25-meter swimming pool before or after tackling its 27-hole golf facility.

Its nine-hole Lakes layout complements The Vines’ star – an 18-hole championship course, which has hosted many big tournaments involving golfing icons like Greg Norman, John Daly, Ernie Els and Gary Player. A round of its championship course costs US$53 on weekdays and US$60 on weekends.

Royal Fremantle Golf Club

Royal Fremantle Golf Club is a classic Perth golf course. Tall trees line its holes, which roll up and down small hills on the edge of Fremantle, Perth’s main port and a popular tourist destination due to its bohemian vibe and revered dining scene.

I was enamored with its layout from the time I teed off on the first hole, from an elevated position which offers sprawling views of this woodlands-style course. Royal Fremantle’s practice area is also impressive, particularly its huge short game facility. Tourists to Perth can contact this members’ club to request an invitation to play. It also has reciprocal playing agreements with dozens of clubs worldwide.

Meadow Springs Golf and Country Club

A concealed jewel, Meadow Springs would be far more famous, far more crowded and far more expensive if it were in central Perth. It lacks nothing. Fairways are pristine, greens are slick, the layout is wonderfully varied, and the natural setting is glorious.

Golf is intended to be a relaxing sport and it’s easy to become deeply mellowed amid the towering trees and gentle bird song that embellish this 18-hole course. Meadow Springs’ design, meanwhile, continually made me ponder, with new challenges presented hole after hole. Get here early, as this club also has terrific practice facilities. Dozens of guest tee times are available each week at this members’ club, from just US$33 on weekdays and US$50 on weekends.