Joondalup Resort is Perth's most thrilling golf destination, a raw and unforgiving masterpiece designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. that opened in 1985. The 27 holes are split into three distinct nines—Quarry, Dune, and Lake—each weaving through harsh Australian bushland with surprising personality. The signature Quarry nine cuts through a former limestone excavation with holes that feel almost alien in their drama: approach shots beneath 30-meter cliff faces, moon-crater bunkers the size of small houses, and greens perched precariously above gorges. This is Jones' most inventive Australian work, delivered when he was at his creative peak.
The Dune nine hammers home the punishment with severe elevation changes and thick scrub that borders fairways like prison walls. Massive elevated greens reward precision while punishing ego. The later-added Lake nine (1990) offers slightly more breathing room with open vistas and occasional glimpses of the Indian Ocean, though it's hardly a reprieve. This is not a course that coddles—elevation changes, contoured greens the size of quarter-acres, and strategic bunkering make every shot a puzzle. Even strong players report playing to much higher handicaps on first visits. The resort itself is tucked 25 minutes north of Perth in tranquil bushland, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, making it the ideal 54-hole destination for committed golfers seeking genuine challenge and complete accommodations in one place.
The most dramatic nine featuring Jones' world-class work around limestone quarries with enormous bunkers and cliff-face hazards
Severe elevation changes sweep through dense bushland with tiered fairways and thick scrub creating a relentless challenge
Added in 1990, slightly more open with links-like qualities and distant ocean views through lakes and swales
The Joondalup Resort Hotel features 70 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites available in four categories: Resort rooms with garden views, Gardenview rooms overlooking landscaped gardens, Lakeview rooms with panoramic lake vistas, and expansive Suites with golf course and lake views. All rooms offer complimentary WiFi, free parking, smart TVs, Nespresso coffee machines, and either shower or bath/shower combinations. The property is a Small Luxury Hotels of the World member with state-of-the-art conference facilities, an outdoor lagoon-style pool, endota Spa (Australia's largest day spa network), multiple dining options including The Alcove restaurant and Café 28, and excellent leisure activities including a walking/jogging track, gymnasium, aviary, koi pond, and resident kangaroo spotting at dusk.