Then the post-2000 course building boom kicked in and world class links layouts opened for play in Tasmania (Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm) and Victoria (The National, Thirteenth Beach and Moonah Links). Western Australia’s offering came soon after, in 2005, with the launch of The Cut.
Laid on and around sand dunes at Port Bouvard, just south of Mandurah and a leisurely 50-minute drive from Perth’s southern suburbs, The Cut is the centerpiece of a massive residential development wedged between the Indian Ocean and the picturesque Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary.
In the late 1980’s, scientists discovered the Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary were developing severe algal blooms and urged the State Government to cut a channel to the Indian Ocean, allowing regular flushing of both waterways. This channel soon became known locally as The Cut, and the name was embraced by the developers of the new course more than a decade later.
The par-72 was the first full 18-hole design of Sydney-based designer James Wilcher, who worked on the Greg Norman design team for more than a decade. Since The Cut opened for play, he has overseen the construction of NSW courses Pacific Dunes and The Ridge, as well as major redesign work at Elanora Country Club and Strathfield Golf Club.
Wilcher had two significantly contrasting landscapes to work with at The Cut – from the subtle slopes of the outer half to the dramatic twists, turns and elevation changes of the inner nine.
A blind uphill second shot awaits on the interesting short par-4 11th. PHOTO: Brendan James.
“Rarely do you find a piece of property that stunning that you just can’t imagine it being used for anything other than golf, and more rarely again do you get the chance to design and build a golf course on such a property,” Wilcher said after the course opened. “At The Cut we got both. The result is one of the most spectacular golf courses that will test the skill and emotions of those lucky enough to play it.”
The opening hole leads straight from the clubhouse to the ocean and the following three holes run parallel to the beach across gently undulating terrain. The 2nd and 3rd holes are terrific short par-4s where a narrow strip of dense native scrub to the left is all that separates the fairway from the back of Pyramid Beach. The views are worth every cent of a million dollars and can easily distract you from the task of making par or better.
The 508-meter par-5 5th is the first of five holes that wind between the residential development. This is not the most memorable run of holes at The Cut and you could be forgiven for dismissing them as a drain on the overall experience of a round here. But the quality of Wilcher’s hole designs across these five holes go a long way to making you focus on the golf rather than the homes that overlook your every shot across this section of the course.
Arguably Wilcher’s finest short two-shotter at The Cut – the narrow 17th hole. PHOTO: Brendan James.
Heading to the 10th tee, first timers should feel the excitement building with the knowledge they are about to tackle one of the best nine-hole stretches of golf in Australia.
The back nine at The Cut is more undulating than the front nine with each hole bordered by thick walls of native shrubs – there are more than 30 species spread across the 85-plus hectares of the property – while high dunes play a major role on some holes. A combination of rough, natural bunkering and manicured traps punctuate strategic points en route between tee and green on every hole.
This back half opens with a 419-metre par-4 (from the back markers), which offers a blind tee shot down into a valley enclosed by peppermint trees. A well-struck tee shot should find the valley floor and leave a long iron to a slightly elevated green guarded by two large bunkers short and right.
Correct club selection is vitally important for your approach to the 18th green. PHOTO: Brendan James.
Undoubtedly the highlight of the back nine is the 400-metre par-4 12th. The tee is perched high above the beach, offering panoramic ocean views and a sighter of the green, parked on another high dune off in the distance. The fairway drops quickly from the tee, cutting through some rugged sand dunes before reaching the corner of the dogleg and the flat driving zone. The fairway turns right and heads uphill, past sandy wasteland and mounding to the right, to the putting surface. This hole offers bucket loads of the “wow” factor and is worth the price of the green fee alone.
Wilcher has a flair for designing challenging and interesting short par-4s, of which there are two on the back nine.
The journey on the 317-meter 11th begins from an elevated tee where you play to a rolling fairway that climbs to a green perched on a dune high above the Indian Ocean. There are a lot of questions asked on the tee here about club choice and playing line, with most answers being valid. The green, blind from the bottom of the fairway, rolls and dips from back to front.
The 293-metre 17th is arguably the best of Wilcher’s short two-shotters at The Cut. Leave the driver in the bag here and play for the middle of the fairway ‘saddle’ about 180 meters from the tee as any drive long of the saddle risks flying into a deep ravine or the large bunker lying through the end of the slight dogleg right fairway.
A round at The Cut is a wonderful experience, which is a view shared by Golf Australia magazine’s Top-100 Courses ranking judges. The Cut was ranked No. 63 in the Top-100 for 2022, down four spots on its 2020 position.
“The Cut weaves its way through some big dunes next to the Indian Ocean,” said judge Ashley Clinch. “The first four holes on the front nine next to the ocean are good fun and the back nine from start to finish is all fun. I found the course in excellent condition given how much golf is played here.”
And this from fellow judge, Nikki Scott: “Beautiful ocean views, dramatic golfing land and well-manicured fairways and greens. If you can’t like that, then you’re too hard to please.”
The picturesque par-3 13th leads players away from the ocean and into the dunes. PHOTO: Brendan James.
One judge, Tristan Holmes, suggested clearing some vegetation on some key holes would certainly improve the playing experience in his opinion.
“For a seaside course that is easily affected by wind, I think many of the fairways are a little too narrow to handle,” he said.
“My last game there, we played in a strong easterly that played as a crosswind on the beachside holes – like the 2nd, 12th, 16th and 17th – and you had to aim well away from the fairway to get your ball on the fairway. It made scoring tough going. That said, I enjoyed the challenge and will be back.”
So will this writer. I’ve enjoyed every round I’ve played at The Cut… and you can’t ask for anything more than that from a golf course.
FACT FILE
LOCATION: Country Club Dve, Dawesville, Western Australia, 6211
CONTACT: (08) 9582 4444
WEBSITE: www.the-cut.com.au
Designer: James Wilcher – Golf By Design (2004).
COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: David Cassidy.
PGA PROFESSIONALS: George Campbell.
PLAYING SURFACES: Santa Ana couch (tees); Wintergreen couch (fairways and short rough); L-93 creeping bentgrass (greens).
GREEN FEES: $39 (18 holes, Mon-Tues); $65 (Wed-Fri); $79 (weekends). *Prices quoted are for walking.
MEMBERSHIPS: To view all available membership categories, and the fee structure, visit the club’s website.
ACCOLADES: Ranked No.63 in Golf Australia magazine’s Top-100 Courses for 2022; Ranked No.17 in Golf Australia magazine’s Top-100 Public Access Courses for 2021.
© Golf Australia. All rights reserved.