Lake Karrinyup rebuilt ahead of Perth International
Lake Karrinyup, often considered Western Australia’s best golf course has had a make over in the lead up to the biggest golf tournament to be held in Perth in several years.
The last big golf tournament to be held in Perth was the Johnnie Walker Classic in 2009, ultimately won by the then amateur, Danny Lee. Since then Danny Lee has struggled since turning professional and the eastern states, namely Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, have taken the lion’s share of the important golf tournaments.
But it is set to change when Lake Karrinyup hosts the Perth International from October 18 – 21, co-sanctioned by the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.
The Perth International will feature US$2million in prize money and will hopefully attract some of the big name European Tour players that will go on to play more European Tour events in China in the weeks after the Perth event.
Although often regarded as Western Australia’s best golf course, Lake Karrinyup hasn’t held a major golf tournament since the Johnnie Walker Classic in 2003. It has recently undergone a redesign by Mike Clayton ahead of the tournament that is now a little more open, with closer bunkering near the greens.
“Lake Karrinyup is a course that asks players interesting and quite obvious questions. The answering of those questions is what makes it an enduringly interesting course to play,” Clayton said.
Course superintendent Trevor Strachan agreed the new layout would challenge the most seasoned pros in the new US$2million tournament.
“Spectators will have a better experience with the new layout as well. It’s easier to get around the course and there are some great new vantage points.
“You can see eight holes within a 500 metre walk and around the lake will be a terrific place to see a range of holes including the back of the 8th to the 11th and even the 3rd hole. Plus there will be grandstands set up on the 12th and 17th,” Strachan said.
Players, tickets and sponsorship will all be announced for the Perth International later this month.
