History & Course Overview
The Royal Melbourne Golf Club is recognised as one of the world’s leading golf clubs, featuring two exceptional courses that consistently rank among the finest anywhere.
Founded in 1891, the Club has hosted numerous national and international tournaments, including the Presidents Cup in 1998, 2011, and 2019. Royal Melbourne is renowned not only for its championship pedigree, but also for its welcoming and inclusive experience for members and guests.
Much has been written about Royal Melbourne, but its greatness can be distilled into a simple formula: outstanding design executed on exceptional land. Dramatic natural undulation, fertile sandy soil, and a rugged, understated aesthetic combine to create a timeless Sandbelt test.
Bold bunkering defines strategy throughout both courses, while native grasses around tees and hazards frame each hole beautifully. The greens are among the finest in the world — large, immaculately contoured, and designed to reward precise positioning from the tee. Approaches played from the correct angle are inviting; those played from the wrong side become progressively more difficult.
The Royal Melbourne Golf Club features prominently in several curated Melbourne Sandbelt golf itineraries, including the Melbourne and the Jewels of the Sandbelt itinerary, Melbourne Sandbelt and The Great Ocean Road itinerary, and the Melbourne Sandbelt and the Mornington Peninsula itinerary, allowing golfers to experience one of the world’s most celebrated courses as part of a broader Sandbelt journey.
Course Architecture Legacy
The West Course, designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie, is widely regarded as his greatest achievement and is consistently ranked as the best course in Australia. The East Course, designed by Alex Russell, complements the West with its own strategic brilliance and championship quality.
Dr Alister MacKenzie (1870–1934) was one of the most influential golf course architects in history and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. His designs span four continents and include legendary courses such as Augusta National Golf Club, Cypress Point Club, and The Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West Course) — all regarded among the world’s finest.
Services & Features
Royal Melbourne is also included in the Melbourne Sandbelt Extended Stay itinerary and the Melbourne Sandbelt Plus a Day Trip itinerary, offering additional opportunities to incorporate this iconic venue into a complete Melbourne golf experience.
Golf Digest Ranking
Highlights
Location & Access
Contact Information
Signature Holes
5th Hole — Par 3
161m (Men) / 130m (Women)
The first one-shot hole on the West Course and one of the finest par 3s in world golf. Played downhill across a valley to a green perched on the opposite slope, the primary objective is simply to reach the putting surface. Shots landing short are swept back down the bank, while shots too long leave a treacherous downhill putt.
6th Hole — Par 4
391m (Men) / 337m (Women)
A masterclass in strategic design, this classic dogleg par 4 features perfectly positioned bunkers on the inside corner. Players must decide whether to challenge the bunkers for a better angle or play safely left. The green slopes sharply from front to back, making distance control essential — especially when the flag is cut on the right side.
10th Hole — Par 4
285m (Men) / 235m (Women)
One of the most intriguing short par 4s in golf. From the tee, multiple lines and clubs are available, but the enormous bunker known as Hell’s Half-Acre dominates the left hillside. The green sits atop the hill, protected by deep bunkers and a fronting swale that repels under-hit approaches.
Visitor Playing Information
The Royal Melbourne Golf Club is a private Members’ club. Members may invite guests to play on most days.
Members of our reciprocal clubs are extended playing rights aligned to their club’s reciprocity agreement with Royal Melbourne.
International and interstate visitors, who are members of a golf club, are welcome to inquire about visitor tee times which are available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays (subject to availability and excluding public holidays)
Royal Melbourne is a walking course only.
Course Information
| Course | Par | Length |
|---|---|---|
| West Course – Blue | 72 | 6077m |
| West Course – Red | 73 | 5246m |
| East Course – Blue | 71 | 6007m |
| East Course – Red | 74 | 5316m |
