On the advice of the R&A, the club commissioned Alister MacKenzie, of Augusta National fame, to formulate plans for the West Course, and in 1931, Australia's best course was born. The great irony of this phenomenal layout is that Mackenzie never saw the finished article; in fact, Alex Russell and Mick Morcom were left to turn the great doctor's vision into a reality. Architecturally, The West Course is as close to perfect as is readily available in the golfing world, and will undoubtedly remain one of the world's most celebrated and revered courses.

While the neighbouring East Course does not have the same iconic status as its greater sibling, it stands in its own right as a heathland classic. The incredible turf of the sandbelt forms the basis of some remarkable holes, most notably the par 3s. Morcom and Russell used the knowledge gleaned from Mackenzie's fleeting visit to implement an incredible architectural creation. Though not in the same league as the West - few in the world are - the East rounds off Royal Melbourne as one of the ultimate global golf experiences.