Lake Karrinyup Country Club

About the club

Just north of Perth and near the Sunset Coast is Lake Karrinyup, the star in western Australia's golfing firmament. The course was designed in the late 1920s by Alex Russell, Mackenzie's main assistant when he came to put his mark on the Melbourne Sandbelt. Named after the lake that it surrounds, Lake Karrinyup is also renowned for its highly variable topography and wide array of natural vegetation and bird-life; members call it a botanical garden. Though Perth's suburbs have gradually filled in the area, the abundance of trees and shrubs ensures that not a single dwelling is visible. Though not overly long, the subtleties of the course, including many doglegs and tricky greens, maintain its reputation. Norman Von Nida won the first Australian Open first played here in 1952; other winners include Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, and more recently Retief Goosen and Ernie EIs in the 2002/3 Johnnie Walker Classic.