Golf around Melbourne is more than just drives in Down Under – it’s a whole new dimension of the game.
Spoiler alert: Royal Melbourne isn’t the top course in the golf-rich metropolis by the Yarra River—at least according to Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman is not a fan of the blind shots that appear too frequently, even on the Composite Course of the West and East layouts used for the Australian Open.
Royal Melbourne: A MacKenzie Masterpiece
Modern pros may not appreciate quirky course features that obscure the target, but these are charming relics from a time before bulldozers flattened every inconvenient bump. Working with the land led to some of the most unique and timeless designs—like Royal Melbourne, completed in 1931. Designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the legendary Scottish architect behind Augusta National and Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne is one of the crown jewels of golf course architecture’s Golden Age.
Crown jewel in Dr. Alister MacKenzie’s portfolio: Royal Melbourne. (Photo: The Royal Melbourne Golf Club – Course Maintenance/Facebook)
The Melbourne Sandbelt: Ground for Golf
Just southeast of the city lies Kingston Heath, another MacKenzie-influenced gem. For McIlroy, it’s the number one course in the region. The Sandbelt, with its sandy soils and natural contours, is as revered in golf as the links of Britain or the heathlands of Surrey. Originally a Par-82 with twelve par-5s, Kingston Heath was designed to be shortened over time—a foresight that allowed it to adapt to modern distances. It has hosted seven Australian Opens, the 2016 World Cup of Golf, and will welcome the Presidents Cup in 2028.
Eponymous: Kingston Heath and its lush heathland. (Photo: Kingston Heath Golf Club/Facebook)
Victoria Golf Club Completes the Elite Trio
The Sandbelt boasts 25 golf facilities, both private and public, but three stand out: Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, and Victoria Golf Club. The latter, just across the road from Royal Melbourne, hosted the Australian Open for the fifth time last year. It’s the home club of five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson, who once said that tradition is built not just by facilities, but by the people and their achievements. Victoria GC, with its MacKenzie-inspired design, stands proudly among its illustrious neighbors.