Links Kennedy Bay, a prominent fixture on the Western Australian golf scene, is poised for a grand return. After five years of extensive redevelopment, the course is set to officially reopen its full 18 holes in November. This long-awaited event is being steered by newly appointed General Manager Jamie Brigden, who believes the revamped layout will stand as the most authentic representation of a traditional Scottish or Irish links course in the state.
“It’s been a long time coming, but the wait will certainly be worth it,” Brigden told Golf Industry Central. “The design is magnificent, featuring huge, sloping greens, contoured fairways, and more than 100 pot bunkers. We’re confident that golfers will be impressed with the experience and enjoy playing on greens that are among the best in Australia.”
A New Era of Excellence
While a recent spell of inclement weather has been the final hurdle for the course’s conditioning, Brigden is confident that a bit of sunshine will have the final touches—specifically the 1st and 9th fairways and several green surrounds—in pristine condition for the reopening.
With over two decades of experience as a GM at renowned Victorian clubs like The Dunes and Curlewis, Brigden has a proven track record of overseeing successful infrastructure projects. He’s confident the final product will resonate with the golfing community, both locally and internationally. “We want Links Kennedy Bay to be a destination course for golfers from intrastate, interstate, and overseas,” he stated. “I’m reasonably confident that it won’t be long before we’re recognized as being one of the top 30 or so courses in Australia again.”
More Than a Golf Course
Beyond the greens, Links Kennedy Bay aims to be a vibrant community hub. The newly constructed, family-friendly clubhouse and restaurant are already proving popular with locals. To further broaden its appeal, the club will also introduce four new padel courts before the grand reopening.
Brigden is also prioritizing initiatives to grow the game, with a renewed focus on attracting more women and juniors through clinics and programs. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to increase club membership by a targeted 60% over the next two years.
“The members have been incredibly patient throughout this redevelopment, and we’re grateful for their ongoing support,” Brigden said. “It will be a fantastic moment when they can finally play a full 18 holes again. I think they’ll really like what they see.”
GolfWA
