Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Royal Melbourne’s West course has a perfect blend of undulating topography to match the brilliant golfing architecture of the layout of the course. Redesigned by the Scot, Alister Mackenzie in 1926, the best principles of links golf show through on this course. Every hole and every shot require thought before a correct choice can be made for club and shot selection. Two of the most famous holes at the course illustrate this. The 6th, a dogleg right par 4, demands a long downhill drive over rough for the birdie-seekers, while a safer line leaves a long uphill approach to the tricky green, well bunkered on both sides. Miss the fairway and you will drop shots – hit it and an easy chip will have you close to the flag. It leaves a player to evaluate his abilities and ambitions. The 10th offers the same temptation; a short par 4 with a tantalizing tiger line to the pin on the opposite hill from the tee. It’s a temptation too big for many of the big hitters, but to succeed you have to carry a monster bunker set just ahead of the green. The alternate route stays on the fairway, leaving a short iron into the green and two putts for par. Risk and reward, thought and choice. What more do you need from a great course?
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