This Wednesday the 16th of March The State Amateur Championships of WA gets underway at the Mount Lawley Golf Club. Commitments over east means some of WA’s big names will be missing, but we will still be seeing Adam Brady, Riley Gott and Simon Liddell and recent TPS Murray River junior winner Sheridan Clancy in action. An exciting tournament is still surely on the cards. The tournament begins with two rounds of stroke play culminating in a final field of 32 for the men and 16 for women, setting up for an entertaining weekend of match play golf.
Mount Lawley’s layout will be a real test for the field, with well placed trees, testing doglegs, bunkers and tiered greens. Some of the long holes will be a real challenge when the wind gets up for the afternoon players.
The challenge begins with a par 4 first hole. From a good drive a mid to short iron is required to reach the green which is guarded by a deep bunker short right. Approach shots missing the green will leave a difficult chip with the mounding on the left and swale on right side of green.
If big hitting drives tickle your fancy then Mount Lawley will not disappoint viewers. The big hitters have some great opportunities to showcase their length.
The 4th hole with bunkers on the right side of the fairway will challenge the big hitters seeking the shortest route to the green. The 5th hole has large trees creating a classic chute through which the drive must be threaded, which will suit accuracy over power.
Hole 7 with two fairway bunkers on the inside corner will challenge the long hitters who can gain a significant advantage if successful in carrying them. To finish off the front nine is a sweeping dogleg where only the brave will hit their second shots across the trees on the corner.
On the back nine the dogleg 10th hole challenges the long hitters to take the short way home across the corner trees. This could see some casualties if they get it a bit tight.
The 11th is known as the toughest hole at Mount Lawley as it requires a strong drive to the corner to leave a direct shot to the green. Anything short of the corner leaves a blind shot that must be drawn around the corner and over the hill. A severely sloping green will test their nerves.
Mount Lawleys signature hole must be the 13th, named “The Commonwealth”, for its unique resemblance to the shape of Australia. Don’t be fooled by its lack of length as it is also the one most affected by the wind. Played from an elevated tee either into the prevailing sea breeze or with the morning easterly, club selection is critical. Pin positions are often described by their ‘geographical’ location. When the wind is blowing, Alice Springs represents the safest target, even when the pin is cut at Kalgoorlie or Broken Hill. A definite birdie hole that just as easily becomes a bogey hole if your tee shot is off mark.
If they are coming down to the 16th hole one down, this might be their chance to turn things around. It is a classic short par 4 that dares the long hitters to power a drive around the dogleg into a tight green.
We all love to see a par 5 hit in two and the 17th hole will also provide some good birdies and hopefully a few eagles when the prevailing sea breeze is blowing.
Mount Lawley will certainly test your putting with subtle contours and ridges but when the greens are running fast the 18th hole is the fastest of them all, providing some interesting viewing.
Overall, Mount Lawley will test the mettle of the players over the five days. The winners will certainly be worthy State Amateur champions. We look forward to seeing you there if you are playing or watching from March 16 – 20 2022.
