The Royal Melbourne GC (East Course), Black Rock, Victoria, 3193

Overview

The Royal Melbourne GC (East Course)

Cheltenham Road

Black Rock, VIC, 3193

Australia

Tel:	+61-3-9599-0500
Pro:	+61-3-9598-2600
Web:	Visit the website

The Royal Melbourne GC (East Course)

Royal Melbourne Golf Club is continually rated as the number 1 golf course in Australia and has been as high as number 5 in the world. The golf club boasts 36 holes comprising of the East and West courses.

The 18 hole composite course comprises 6 holes from the East Course and 12 holes from the West Course all contained within the one boundary. The East Course crosses the road on 2 separate occasions and the "paddocks" across the road from the main part of the course are generally less hilly.

The style of holes are similar-the gaping bunkers, lightning fast greens, combination of short and long par 4 holes however the tree species features a number of eucalyptus trees which give the course a sort of country flavour in addition to the more populous tea tree which flanks most fairways.

There are a number of key features of Royal Melbourne - tea tree scrub lining the fairways and catching any errant shots, cavernous bunkers surrounding most greens and also placed strategically on most fairways to catch a slightly wayward drive and lightning fast greens that give up their fair share of 3 putts.

Both courses at Royal Melbourne consists of the full gamut of golf holes - strategic short par 4 holes measuring less than 300 metres (similar to another MacKenzie masterpiece - Cypress Point), classic par 3 holes with undulating putting surfaces, surrounding bunkers and local wind and reachable par 5 holes which reward precise shotmaking.

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Course Information

Par:	72
Length (m):	6030
Architect:	Alex Russell
Design Year:	1932
Top 100:	8

Playing Tips

1	Par 4, Length 304m A deceptive hole, short with a big fairway trap, but a real birdie chance. Players need to drive left or centre, with a fairway trap guarding the right side and a steep hill running into deep rough for tee shots hooked too far left. The small fast-sloping green is stepped and guarded by deep bunkers at the entrance.
2	Par 4, Length 402m A long-driving hole with a different approach. Accuracy is required off the tee to navigate the dog leg and then a deceptive hill up to the hole often leaves players short. The green is guarded by bunkers along the right fairway and on the left of the green.
3	Par 4, Length 350m A deceptive hole; short for a par four, but an accurate iron is recommended off the tee as the target area is small. The green is guarded on both sides by sand traps, but a good eight iron can set up a birdie chance. A trough from the centre of the green running right can be a problem.
4	Par 3, Length 184m Par threes often present a little relief from long driving, but not this one. A wood is often used off the tee, firing up to an elevated green, where it's hard to judge the distance. A straight shot can avoid a couple of huge bunkers, especially on the left.
5	Par 4, Length 317m The 5th Hole is a short Par 4. After a blind drive you require a lofted, well judged short shot to a green that slopes downward to the back of the green.
6	Par 3, Length 160m The 6th Hole is a tricky Par 3 surrounded by bunkers that require precise club selection. The green has many deceptive slopes.
7	Par 5, Length 475m The 7th Hole is a long Par 5 with bunkers along the right hand side. This green can be reached in two, given the right conditions.
8	Par 4, Length 396m This is a long par 4 and the main danger with this hole is to miss the green on the right hand side.
9	Par 4, Length 350m The 9th Hole is a demanding short Par 4. The drive is tight and the second shot, with approximately an 8 iron, is to a very narrow green, surrounded by difficult bunkers.
10	Par 5, Length 457m A good driving hole where there is room in the left for the average golfer from where he can lay up short of the fairway bunkers. The low marker may wish to carry the drive bunkers to set up a long second shot at the two tierd green. Such a drive must beware the out of bounds on the right. Leave all approaches under the hole to leave an uphill putt.
11	Par 4, Length 329m The 11th Hole is a short dog-leg Par 4, wide open driving hole to a very narrow sloping green.
12	Par 4, Length 412m The 12th Hole is a long Par 4 which sometimes requires two woods. The second shot needs to be accurate.
13	Par 3, Length 135m The 13th Hole is a beautiful short Par 3 with a sloping green. Well bunkered and requires good club selection.
14	Par 4, Length 393m The 14th Hole is a demanding dog-leg Par 4 that requires a precise long iron second shot to an elevated green.
15	Par 4, Length 277m This short Par 4 can be birdied with a well judged lofted second shot. The green has a slope throughout the middle making it a true Par 4.
16	Par 3, Length 151m The 16th Hole is a long difficult Par 3, well bunkered with a ridge running through the middle of the green.
17	Par 5, Length 520m One for the attacking golfers, with the barrier of fairway bunkers forcing the decision to go long twice or lay up short and approach with a sand iron. It's an open driving hole, but accuracy is needed, with all the emphasis on the choice of the second shot, with those traps neatly placed to catch the wrong decision-makers.
18	Par 4, Length 395m A great way to finish, with a long hole, but offering the accurate hitters a birdie chance to sign off with. The long drivers still need a big second shot, but the green is large and inviting once you pass over the fairway bunkers. The green is surrounded by traps with some rough in front and the entry is nice and narrow.