Royal Melbourne GC - West (1)

A very kind invitation saw us head out to Royal Melbourne Golf Club on a Friday afternoon with the weather gods smiling although a bit warmer for Melbourne with a top of 32C.

Royal Melbourne recently hosted the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship that saw the winner Antonio Murdaca qualify for the 2015 Masters at Augusta, congratulations.

Clubhouse from practice green

From the entrance, driveway, practice fairway, clubhouse everything is spectacular at Royal Melbourne and that is before you even head to the first tee.

 

 

We were playing the West course which is consistently rated as number 1 in Australia.
It was fantastic to finally be out on the famous fairways that have hosted so many wonderful tournaments and elite golfers. 

The bunkering is very strategically placed with the surrounding rough being almost as difficult to get out of. 

4th tee - uphill par 5

Areas of bracken that I'm sure don't trouble the professionals too much certainly troubled us enough today.

The beautiful par 3 5th hole where the only place to be is on the green, sufficiently away from the front to avoid the ball rolling back about 40m down the slop and fairway.

Cavernous bunker on 10th

Yes that's my ball at the bottom of the huge bunker that protects the corner of the fairway on the short 10th.

Long par 3 16th hole where you need to avoid bunkers left and short right is the bail out option.

18th tee - do you take on the line over the bunkers?

A wonderful day out on a magnificent course that will be long remembered, alas the golf was not at an equivalent standard to the course and facilities.