The Golf Club Kennedy Bay and The Dunes ranked Australia's top golf courses

The Golf Club Kennedy Bay, in Western Australia, and The Dunes on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula - both managed and marketed by IMG Golf Course Services - have been named Australia's top two public access courses in the 2003 Golf Course Guide rankings.

Two other golf courses that IMG has relationships with - Moonah Links on the Mornington Peninsula and Links Lady Bay in South Australia - were ranked at 15 and 32 respectively. Neither was ranked last year.

"When IMG entered golf course management in Australia just over two years ago, we committed to representing high quality properties with excellent opportunities for development," said Mr James Cooper, Golf Course Services Manager for IMG.

"Our strategy was to brand prestige courses around Australia, and market them vigorously in much the same way that prestige accommodation groups develop and market their range of properties," said Mr Cooper.

"The Golf Course Guide rankings are great news for each of these courses, and reinforce our commitment to and expertise in managing and marketing top quality courses."

There were three criteria used by judges in selecting the best public access golf course.

These were:

· Course design (40 per cent weighting), assessing how each hole presents an enjoyable challenge to golfers of all abilities; the variety of holes which make up the course; the variety of shots each requires; and where on the course the hazards come into play.

· Course conditions (40 per cent weighting), assessing year round playing conditions, from best to worst season, and maintenance of greens, fairways, tees, rough and hazards, and

· Course aesthetics (20 per cent weighting), assessing the obvious beauty of the setting, and the very subjective quality of ambience and tranquillity.

Mr Cooper said The Golf Club Kennedy Bay leapt from sixth position last year to top ranking this year, while The Dunes retained second position.

"These are both young courses, and it is a great accolade for each to be ranked so highly, so soon," he said.

Mr Cooper said the IMG golf course strategy was broad, targeting the golf purist, the leisure and business markets, and the meetings, incentives and conventions segment.

"I am confident that The Golf Club Kennedy Bay and The Dunes will remain at the top of the rankings in Australia as usage grows and as facilities improve," said Mr Cooper.

"The next milestone in this programme of constant improvement of the courses we manage will be the completion of a $4 million clubhouse facility at The Golf Club Kennedy Bay, overlooking the Indian Ocean and Warnbro Sound."