One of Australia’s leading golf courses, Links Kennedy Bay, has fully re-opened following an 18 hole re-design that includes the addition of over 100 pot bunkers featuring synthetic revetted faces EcoBunker.

Course: Links at Kennedy Bay

Course Type: Links Style

Project Overview: The ambitious project was led by former Tour professional and acclaimed course architect Graham Marsh, working alongside Western Australian industry leader Trevor Strachan. With the original back nine sold for development, the redesign required a brand-new back nine as well as the rerouting of holes 5 to 9. The changes gave Marsh a rare blank canvas to elevate playing conditions while safeguarding the long-term integrity of the course.

Chief among the challenges for the re-design were the extreme weather conditions in the area. Along with the very hot, dry summers, Perth is renowned as one of the windiest cities in the world. In addition, the region receives up to 600mm of rain annually, most of which comes in the winter months, making bunkers vulnerable to sand blow, wash out and erosion.

Bunker walls on the course now range from 60cm to a dramatic 1.8 metres. Installed by Sports Turf Construction with support from EcoBunker Australian distributor Turfcare Australia, the system adapted to every design challenge across the four phase project.

The course takes inspiration from the world’s great links courses including an interpretation of the famous ‘Hell Bunker’ from the 14th at St Andrews – a test which EcoBunker construction passed with flying colours.

“I was initially concerned about using synthetic faces in such a beautiful, natural landscape, but the results are superb. The bunkers are indistinguishable from natural revetts and come with a minimum 25-year lifespan.”

Adam Strachan of Sports Turf Construction

Key Achievements

  • Stabilised revetted bunkers under extreme weather conditions
  • Reduced sand contamination to virtually zero
  • Significantly reduced maintenance burden
  • Enabled construction of technically challenging hazards
  • Natural look with long-lasting materials
  • Delivered consistency across the course
  • Feasibility study found long-term benefit over natural turf revetting

“I’ve been delighted with the technology and after 100+ bunkers we’re very confident in the process. Having seen the results at Links Kennedy Bay I’ll certainly look to use EcoBunker wherever I can on future projects.”

Adam Strachan of Sports Turf Construction