Royal Melbourne – West Course

Royal Melbourne West is one of the finest MacKenzie designs and alongwith Cypress Point and Augusta National, ranks in the Top 10 courses in the world which is exactly why Dr. Alister MacKenzie and the Golden Age of Architecture remains relevant.

My visit to RMGC followed the MacKenzie Gathering in Titirangi which allowed me to acquaint members of the RMGC team but above all else, I owe Ben Jarvis, Director of Golf at RMGC for arranging my visit over 2 days to play both courses and walk the courses for photos. The warmth and friendship extended by all is well noted and will never be forgotten.

This is where it all began for golf in the Sandbelt region, The Melbourne Golf Club split into what is now Royal Melbourne and The Metropolitan Golf Club. Following relocation from Caulfield to Sandringham and then Black Rock – Dr MacKenzie was sought out to route the West Course in 1926.

The Good Doctor’s well documented visit to Melbourne would change Australian golf forever with noted inputs at nearby Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Club. His influence at clubs like Metro may be disputed but his strong influence on Alex Russell (designer of the East Course among others) and Mick Morcom saw a golfing masterpiece in the layout of Royal Melbourne.