HISTORY OF THE GOLF COURSE
The public golf course at Maylands Peninsula opened in 1994 as a 9-hole course, becoming an 18-hole course some time later.
For many years the site at Maylands was a civilian airport. The airport formally opened in 1924, when West Australian Airways (“WAA”) immediately moved their hangar from Perth’s Esplanade. It continued operating for nearly forty years, when the opening of Jandakot finally allowed the closure of the Maylands Aerodrome in 1963. During World War II, Maylands Airfield was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Air Force.
WAA was owned by Sir Norman Brearley, and initially operated Bristol Tourers up the west coast. In 1929 WAA established an air service between Perth and Adelaide using de Havilland DH66 Hercules aircraft. The DH66 was a huge aircraft for its day, and special hangars were constructed at Maylands to house them. All of these large grey hangars survive to this day; in fact they are the only structural reminders of Mayland’s aviation history, and are clearly visible from the course’s 12th fairway. They are among the oldest surviving hangars in Australia and are currently occupied by the WA Police Force.
Other tenants to occupy the aerodrome included:
- MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co (MMA – which took over the North West coastal service from WAA in 1934);
- Airlines (WA) Ltd (founded by Captain C W Snook in 1935, and servicing the Goldfields), and
- Royal Aero Club of WA.
Of historical importance, Maylands Airport was where Charles Kingsford-Smith made his landing to complete the first non-stop flight across Australia. On 8 August 1928, Kingsford-Smith’s “Southern Cross” took off from Point Cook near Melbourne and set course for Perth, a distance of over 3,200 kilometres. An unpleasant journey, ending with an arrival at Maylands airport where they found that unusual summer rains had turned the airfield more or less into a swamp. (The Swan River was prone to flooding, and although a levee and pumping station were installed, Maylands remained boggy in winter.)
The previous function of Maylands Peninsula will forever be remembered, as the holes on the course commemorate the pioneering pilots in the exciting birth of the air travel industry.
A short hole-by-hole description of the golf course
1. Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith
Considered a straightforward hole to start your round. The aim should be to keep the ball on the fairway, without trying for too much distance. Avoid the thick bush on the left, just before the green.
2. Stanley Brierley
Downhill from the tee with a dog-leg left. Big hitters may get close to the green by cutting the corner, although the bush on the left is progressively thicker and closer to the fairway as you approach the green. There is a lateral water hazard close to the left and behind the green. On the right side of the fairway there are grass mounds which complicate the approach shot if you are too long and straight from the tee.
3. Frank B Colquon
A dog-leg right to a slightly elevated green. There are grass mounds on the left side of the fairway. The green needs to be read carefully, and the right slope should be taken into account on the approach shot.
4. JHR (Jock) Testrail
This is rated the easiest hole on the course and a birdie opportunity for low handicappers. The hole has a left then a right dog-leg. Avoid the heavy vegetation on the right when approaching the green. With a long drive, the green can be reached in two, however never play a blind shot to the green before knowing that it is clear.
5. Horrace (Horrie) Clive Miller
The first Par 3 with lateral water hazards on the left and to the right and front of the green. A two tiered green adds to the difficulty of the hole, particularly if the flag is on the top level, where the landing zone is quite small. Getting the distance right is important, as the hazard will quickly gobble up any balls left short!
6. FJ (Fred) Searle
A hole with clear river views and an open fairway. The course often features out of bounds to the left of the fairway marked by pine posts. This hole is a good example – beware! Also typical is a slope on the green towards the river to be taken into account on the approach and when putting.
7. Frank Neale
A wide fairway allows big hitters to open up. The left hand side out of bounds posts are progressively closer to the fairway as the green is approached. This hole demonstrates a feature of the golf course - a slightly elevated green which is not sympathetic to balls left short. Additionally, the Velcro around the green rarely allows a successful chip and run shot to the green.
8. Bert Heath
Although short and straight, many players face this hole with trepidation and uncertainty. Some may go for the green from the tee, however there is a danger posed by out of bounds on both sides and immediately behind the hole. Out of bounds posts past the tree line on the right are within the course. A large two tiered green also has its challenges. Most players will lay up with an iron, and then approach the green from around the 100 metre mark. It sounds simple; however a mistake on this hole has ruined many a promising round!
9. LTE (Len) Taplin
Complete the nine with confidence on this hole. Avoid the water to the right, and don’t expect to be able to run up to the slightly elevated green if you are short. Check the wind direction, which may not be obvious from the protected tee area. We know of one instance when a ball landing on the pro shop roof was deflected onto the green, but this is not a recommended strategy!
10. Sir Norman Brierley
This is a relatively long and straight Par 4, with the main danger being out of bounds to the left. There is a fence on the course to the left just before the green, to protect players from errant balls hit from the driving range. Relief may be taken if the fence interferes with the stance, swing or line of sight, and a drop zone is available. Again, just stay on the fairway, and don’t expect a low ball to run onto the green.
11. VR (Val) Abbott
A relatively short hole that tempts the big hitters to go for the green. Local rules allow a free drop from a vehicle track which follows the left hand side out of bounds fence. Thick bush on the right of the fairway may be problematic. Perhaps a shorter club from the tee could be considered to be on the safe side.
12. Keith V Anderson
This hole has a dog-leg left and is made more difficult from the back tee as the lake to the left side of the fairway comes into contention. A prevailing westerly breeze and a sloping fairway should be taken into account from the tee to avoid this lateral water hazard. Also beware of the heavy vegetation to the left front of the green followed by out of bounds closer to the hole.
13. HS (Bobby) Hiscock
A straight Par 3 without too many dangers, although the left hand side out of bounds catches many. A westerly breeze may make this hole play longer than it appears.
14. K (Bob) Hiscock
This is considered to be the signature hole of the course. It features a narrow fairway, wind off the river, out of bounds to the left for the length of the hole and thick bush to the right. This means that direction rather than length is imperative. A long approach shot to the green is possible, as there is room for error around the green.
15. Charles William Snook
The longest Par 4 of the course to a slightly elevated green. A long straight drive is required, avoiding the bush on both sides of the fairway to reach the green in regulation. Once again the Velcro surrounding the green will not usually allow a running ball to make it on to the dance floor. The green is wide though not long, to make for a difficult approach shot.
16. Harry Frederick Baker
The last Par 3, with the main danger being a lateral water hazard on the left. There is a drop zone should your ball travel past the point then enter the hazard. Club selection taking into account the prevailing wind is important to ensure your par.
17. EH (Eric) Chater
Slight dog-leg right then an uphill approach to yet another elevated green. Very heavy bush guard both sides of fairway particularly to the right.
18. James (Jimmy) Woods
Finish your round with a birdie opportunity on this straightforward Par 5. A long drive from the tee over the rise may be rewarded with a downhill run. The green may then be reachable in two