The Cut
On the dunes at Port Bouvard, just south of Mandurah, The Cut is the closest thing Western Australia has to true links golf. James Wilcher routed his first solo design through natural sand hills along the Indian Ocean, a par 72 that ranks among the best public courses you can play in the country.
Photo: The Cut Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
The Cut is the rare Australian course that earns the word links honestly. Laid out on genuine coastal sand dunes at Port Bouvard, beside the channel that gives the course its name, it plays firm and fast with the Indian Ocean wind threading through almost every hole. It opened in January 2005 as the first full 18 hole solo design of James Wilcher, who learned his craft across more than a decade on the Greg Norman design team, and it announced him as a serious talent.
It suits a group that wants a dramatic, exposed test in a setting that feels a world away from parkland golf. Public access, a short drive south of Mandurah and consistently ranked near the top of Australia's courses you can simply book and play, it makes an ideal centrepiece for a Perth and south coast golf run.
The Cut at a glance
- Opened
- January 2005
- Designer
- James Wilcher
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,395 m
- Access
- Public
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Golf Australia, Planet Golf and the club. The Cut opened in January 2005 as James Wilcher's first full 18 hole solo design, a par 72 of about 6,395 metres from the back tees on the dunes at Port Bouvard. It is a public access course; green fees change by day and season, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Cut opens gently before the land begins to heave. The front nine works in and around the lower dunes, where the wind decides club selection more than the yardage on the card ever will. By the turn you have learned to keep the ball low and to respect the run on firm, contoured fairways that feed toward trouble as readily as away from it.
The back nine is where The Cut becomes memorable, climbing into bigger dunes with holes that frame the Indian Ocean and expose you fully to the sea breeze. The closing stretch is a genuine examination, asking for controlled long irons into greens that repel a loose strike, the kind of finish that rewards the player who has managed the wind all day rather than fought it.
Wilcher built generous lines off the tee for the brave and bail out room for the cautious, so the course flexes from an enjoyable resort round to a stern test from the black markers. It is a layout that asks you to think your way around, not just hit it hard.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public; tee times bookable in advance, one of the highest ranked courses you can simply play in Australia |
| Green fee | Lower weekday rates, higher on weekends; recent published 18 hole rates ran from the high 30s midweek to around 79 dollars on weekends (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book online or by phone through the club; weekends and holidays fill early |
| On the day | Carts and clubhouse dining available; neat golf dress applies; pack for wind off the ocean |
| Getting there | Port Bouvard, south of Mandurah, about 50 minutes from Perth's southern suburbs |
| Best months | October to April for warm, settled days; the wind is part of the test year round |
Green fees and access verified June 2026 from The Cut and recent course guides; public rates change by day and season, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Mandurah, a few minutes north, is the natural base, a waterside city with hotels, apartments and restaurants along the estuary and easy reach of the course. It makes a relaxed hub for a group splitting time between golf, the beach and the local dining.
Perth is about fifty minutes north, so The Cut also slots neatly into a wider Western Australia itinerary that pairs it with the great private clubs of the city and the wine country of the Swan Valley. For a links fix without leaving the country, this is the southern anchor of any Perth trip.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Cut.
Build a Western Australia golf trip
We pair The Cut with the best of Perth's private clubs and the Swan Valley, and book the lodging around your group. 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 Golf Course?
The Cut was the first full 18 hole solo design of James Wilcher, who spent more than a decade on the Greg Norman design team. It opened in January 2005 at Port Bouvard, south of Mandurah.
Is The Cut a true links course?
Yes. The Cut is laid out on natural coastal sand dunes beside the Indian Ocean, with firm fairways, dune framing and exposed, windy conditions that give it a genuine links character rare in Australia.
Can visitors play The Cut?
Yes. The Cut is a public access course and one of the highest ranked you can play in Australia. Tee times are bookable in advance, with weekday rates lower than weekends. Always confirm current green fees and availability directly before booking.
How far is The Cut from Perth?
The Cut sits at Port Bouvard, just south of Mandurah and about a 50 minute drive from Perth's southern suburbs, making it an easy day trip or the centrepiece of a south coast golf run.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.