Golf around Melbourne is more than just drives Down Under – it’s a whole new dimension of the game.
Spoiler alert: Royal Melbourne isn’t the top pick in the golf bouquet of the Australian metropolis on the Yarra River—at least not for Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman is particularly bothered by the blind shots, which appear too frequently even on the composite course of West and East during the Australian Open, according to the five-time major winner.
Architectural masterpieces in the Melbourne Sandbelt
Today’s pros may have little appreciation for course features now deemed quirky—those that obscure the target line. But for many, these are charming relics from a time before bulldozers flattened every inconvenient bump. Working with the land led to some unavoidable quirks, which in turn produced unique, unforgettable layouts—like Royal Melbourne, completed in 1931.
It’s no coincidence that the early 20th century is considered the Golden Age of golf course architecture. The courses from that era are timeless classics, crafted by legends like Dr. Alister MacKenzie. A former surgeon who studied camouflage during the Boer War, MacKenzie applied his knowledge of deception and strategy—along with inspiration from Old Tom Morris and the Old Course at St. Andrews—to create masterpieces like Augusta National, Cypress Point, and Royal Melbourne.
Kingston Heath and Victoria GC: Sandbelt icons
MacKenzie also had a hand in designing Kingston Heath, located about 18 kilometers southeast of Melbourne. Built in 1925 with input from Scottish pro Dan Soutar, it’s McIlroy’s favorite in the region. The Sandbelt, with its ideal sandy soils formed over millennia, is as revered in golf as the linkslands of the UK or the heathlands of Surrey.
Kingston Heath originally featured a Par-82 layout with twelve Par 5s—a forward-thinking design that easily adapted to modern distances. It has hosted seven Australian Opens, the 2016 World Cup of Golf, and the 2009 Australian Masters, won by Tiger Woods. In 2028, it will host the Presidents Cup.
The Sandbelt is home to 25 golf courses, both private and public, with a trio of standouts: Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, and Victoria Golf Club. The latter, located just across the street from Royal Melbourne, hosted its fifth Australian Open last year and was the home club of five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson. Thomson once wrote that a club’s true character comes from its members and legacy—not just the course or clubhouse. Victoria GC embodies this spirit, with a MacKenzie-style layout to match its prestigious neighbors.
Royal Melbourne wouldn’t be what it is today without Alex Russell, a club member and 1924 Australian Open champion, and Mick Morcom, the head greenkeeper. MacKenzie, hired for £1,000 on a recommendation from the R&A, called Russell his design partner and Morcom the best greenkeeper he ever worked with. The club recouped its investment by brokering MacKenzie’s services to other clubs like Kingston Heath, Yarra Yarra, and Victoria.
MacKenzie spent just 12 weeks in Australia but left a lasting mark. He inspected the land, mapped the routing, and sketched a strategic layout inspired by the Old Course—rewarding precision and punishing inaccuracy. Russell and Morcom brought the vision to life, with expansive greens and boldly placed bunkers. The West Course opened in 1931, followed by Russell’s East Course in 1932.
Kingston Heath offers a stark contrast: flat terrain, minimal elevation, and subtle features that only reveal themselves up close—much like the Old Course. And with the 2026 Australian Open returning there, McIlroy might find it a welcome change after his challenges at Royal Melbourne.