On Course for a Thrilling International Championship
July 10, 2012Approximately $3.5million has been spent rebuilding the course since the international Johnnie Walker Classic was held at Lake Karrinyup back in 2003. Holes have been both lengthened and shortened and every green and bunker has been rebuilt to enhance Lake Karrinyup’s world-class reputation.
Course architect and former European Tour player Mike Clayton said the quintessentially Australian golf course had its own character and would provide new challenges to players when they arrive in Perth for Australia’s richest golf event – the Perth International (18 to 21 October).
“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.
“The course’s character is distinguished by expansive fairways and holes that require the player to execute a wide variety of tee shots. Those with the skill to shape the ball to fit the hole, to fly it through the ever-present seaside winds and who hit to the best part of the wide fairways on their approach to the flag will earn the rewards and shoot the lowest scores.”
Course superintendent Trevor Strachan agreed the new layout would challenge the most seasoned pros in the new US$2million tournament.
“The course is now more open and the bunkering is closer to the greens. We now have a course that requires a different type of golf to be played,” Strachan said.
