Heritage hole in one for Albany Golf Course

Albany Golf Course, the oldest links golf course in Western Australia, has been heritage listed.

Heritage Minister John Castrilli said the course was an economic asset to Albany drawing tourists to play on its wind-swept, undulating course, with vistas to the scenic hills and coast.

"Albany Golf Course attracts top golfers from across the country and overseas and has nurtured some of our home-grown champions," Mr Castrilli said.

"The course record has been held by WA international golfer Graham Marsh since 1967.

"Fellow Australian Craig Parry has described Albany as his favourite Australian golf course because it plays 'hard and is never the same'.

"The course, which opened in 1900, has also been favourably compared to the best of the traditional links courses in Scotland.

"In its early days, one of the challenges faced by golfers was straying cattle. By-products from the whaling station were used to fertilise the greens and sheep kept the grass down and were a source of agistment fees towards club revenue."

Albany Golf Course has been placed on the State Register of Heritage Places which is managed by the Heritage Council of WA.