The Cut
James Wilcher carved The Cut through the dunes at Port Bouvard in 2005, a true links along the Indian Ocean about an hour south of Perth. A par 72 of roughly 6,385 metres from the back markers, it climbs and tumbles over windblown sand, with the back nine running hard by the water and into the prevailing sea breeze.
Photo: The Cut Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
James Wilcher, who spent a decade on the Greg Norman design team, built The Cut on a strip of duneland at Port Bouvard south of Mandurah, and it opened in January 2005. It is one of the few genuinely links style courses in Western Australia, the fairways set down in the sand and the wind off the Indian Ocean rarely still. A par 72 of around 6,385 metres from the tips, it has earned a steady place on Australian top 100 public lists.
What lifts it above a pretty seaside layout is the routing. The opening holes work inland through tea tree and scrub, then the course tilts toward the coast and the closing stretch plays along the dunes with the ocean filling the eye. It is exposed, firm and fast when the easterly drops, and a stern test when the sea breeze gets up in the afternoon. As a resort and public course it is open to visitors, which makes it one of the most accessible great rounds on this coast.
The Cut at a glance
- Opened
- 2005
- Designer
- James Wilcher
- Type
- Oceanside links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,385 m
- Green fee
- Public, indicative
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from The Cut Golf Course and leading course databases. The course was designed by James Wilcher and opened in January 2005, a par 72 measuring about 6,385 metres from the back tees, roughly 6,980 yards. The Cut is a public and resort course, so a green fee applies and varies by season and time of day. Fees are indicative for the 2026 season; always confirm the current rate and tee availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Cut opens away from the coast, the early holes threading through low dunes and coastal scrub where club selection in the breeze matters more than raw length. Wilcher gives the player width off the tee but defends the greens with run off slopes and deep sand, so the angle of approach is everything on this firm, fast turf.
The middle of the round builds toward the water, and the par 3s are a highlight, played across hollows and into wind that can swing two or three clubs in a single afternoon. The greens are large and full of movement, rewarding the player who keeps the ball low and uses the contours rather than flying everything to the flag.
It is the closing holes along the Indian Ocean that people remember, the dunes rising and the surf in earshot as the course runs back toward the clubhouse. Played into the prevailing sea breeze, the finish asks for control and nerve, and on a blustery day it is as honest a links test as Western Australia offers.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public and resort course; visitors and trip golfers welcome by tee time booking |
| Green fee | A public green fee applies, varying by season and time of day (indicative, 2026); confirm directly |
| Booking | Book a tee time online or through the pro shop, or let your trip planner secure it; weekends fill early |
| On the day | Carts and clubs available to hire; links conditions reward low ball flight and patience in the wind |
| Getting there | Port Bouvard, just south of Mandurah, about an hour by road south of central Perth |
| Best months | September to May for warm, dry days; mornings are calmer before the afternoon sea breeze builds |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; The Cut is a public course and rates change by season and demand, so always confirm the current green fee and availability directly with the pro shop or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves around Mandurah, a short drive from the course, where the marina, restaurants and waterfront make an easy and relaxed stay. It pairs well with a wider Western Australia golf trip taking in the Perth metropolitan courses to the north.
For a fuller trip, Perth and its suburbs put the city's best layouts within reach and give you flights, dining and the Swan Valley on the doorstep. The Cut sits naturally on a southern Western Australia itinerary, an oceanside links to balance the parkland and sandbelt golf found elsewhere in the state.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Cut.
Build a Western Australia golf trip
We book the tee times at The Cut, pair it with the best of the Perth and Western Australia coast and arrange the lodging around your round. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Cut questions
Who designed The Cut and when did it open?
The Cut was designed by James Wilcher, a former member of the Greg Norman design team, and opened in January 2005 at Port Bouvard near Mandurah in Western Australia.
What is the par and length of The Cut?
The Cut is a par 72 measuring about 6,385 metres, roughly 6,980 yards, from the back tees, played as a links over coastal dune land beside the Indian Ocean.
Can visitors play The Cut?
Yes. The Cut is a public and resort course open to visitors and trip golfers. Book a tee time through the pro shop or online, and expect weekend mornings to fill early.
How far is The Cut from Perth?
The Cut is at Port Bouvard just south of Mandurah, about an hour by road south of central Perth, which makes it an easy day trip or part of a wider Western Australia golf itinerary.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026; indicative public green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.