Melville Glades

The course at Melville Glades Golf Club is a 1969 design from the late Sydney-based architect Al Howard. It’s since been modified by Graham Marsh and Ross Watson when they were in partnership together.

According to its website, “the Club has now endorsed Phil Jacobs as its designer for the future.” However, when we contacted Phil in January 2021 to ask about any course improvements he told us he’d not been involved there for the last six years and “no longer had contact with anyone at the club.”

Featuring Santa Ana tees, Couch fairways and G2 bent greens, the playing surfaces at Melville Lakes are second to none. Located only a 20-minute drive from Perth city centre in Leeming, this 18-hole parkland track nestles next to the John Connell Reserve.

The layout measures 6,200 metres from the back tees, playing to a par of 71. Highlight holes on this tight, tree-lined track include tough par fours at the 10th and 12th (ranked stroke index 1 and 2) and the 493-metre, left doglegged 18th, which might just yield a birdie if played sensibly.