The Metropolitan
The Metropolitan Golf Club is the sandbelt purist's choice, a par 72 of about 7,170 yards whose turf and bunkering are widely held to be the finest in Australia. Opened in 1908 and shaped over a century by J.B. Mackenzie, Dick Wilson and the modern hand of Crafter and Mogford, it runs firm and fast over South Oakleigh sand a short drive from central Melbourne.
Photo: Douglas Norris via Google.
The verdict
Ask the players who know the Melbourne sandbelt which course has the best turf and the most precise bunkering, and many will name Metropolitan before any other. Founded in 1908, its original layout by engineer member J.B. Mackenzie was refined when Alister MacKenzie passed through in 1926, reshaped by Dick Wilson in 1960 after a land acquisition cost it several holes, and unified in recent years by Crafter and Mogford. The result is a par 72 of about 7,170 yards that plays as a seamless whole.
What sets Metropolitan apart is conditioning. The couch and bentgrass surfaces run firm and fast, the greens are immaculate, and the bunkers are cut tight and steep into the putting surfaces in the classic sandbelt manner. It has co hosted the Australian Open and staged World Cup and tour events, and it remains a private members club where access is limited and prized. For the golfer building a sandbelt pilgrimage, it is non negotiable.
The Metropolitan Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1908
- Designer
- J.B. Mackenzie, Dick Wilson, Crafter & Mogford
- Type
- Sandbelt heathland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,170 yds (6,556 m)
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from The Metropolitan Golf Club and leading course databases. The club opened in 1908 to a J.B. Mackenzie routing, with Alister MacKenzie input in 1926, seven new holes by Dick Wilson in 1960 and a modern enhancement led by Crafter and Mogford, a par 72 of about 6,556 metres, roughly 7,170 yards. Metropolitan is a private members club with limited visitor access and no published public green fee; any guest rate is arranged through the club, so always confirm access directly before planning.
The holes worth the trip
Metropolitan rewards the ball striker who can control flight and spin onto firm, fast greens. The fairways are wide enough to tempt, but the angle into each green is everything, and the famous bunkering sits so close to the putting surfaces that a marginal miss is swallowed at once. There is no hiding from the short game here, the surrounds are shaved and the recovery shots demand touch.
The greens are the headline, large, subtle and running at double figure stimp readings, the truest surfaces on a belt full of great ones. The par 3s are a particular pleasure, each framed by sand flashed hazards and asking for a precise, committed iron. The routing flows naturally over the sandy ground, doglegs running in several directions so the wind never favors a single shape.
It is a course that flatters good golf and quietly exposes the careless, which is why the best players hold it in such regard. Walk it, study the angles, and treat the greens with respect, and Metropolitan delivers the purest examination on the Melbourne sandbelt.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; overseas and interstate visitors play on a limited basis, generally Monday and Thursday mornings and Friday, with an introduction |
| Green fee | No published public fee; any guest or visitor rate is arranged through the club (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Apply in writing or by email well in advance; a letter of introduction from your home club helps |
| On the day | Walking is permitted at all times and is the tradition; caddies can be arranged; firm, fast turf |
| Getting there | South Oakleigh, about 25 minutes southeast of central Melbourne and the airport beyond |
| Best months | October to April for the warm, dry sandbelt season when the course runs at its firmest |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Metropolitan is private and policies change, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in central Melbourne or the bayside suburbs, both an easy drive from Metropolitan and the rest of the sandbelt and full of excellent hotels and dining. A city base puts the club and its neighbours within half an hour, while the bayside suburbs around Brighton sit even closer to the heart of the belt.
This is an ideal region to build a multi course trip around, pairing Metropolitan with Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath and Victoria for the finest concentration of classical golf anywhere. Melbourne itself is one of the world's great sporting cities, so a non golfing partner will never run short of things to do.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Metropolitan Golf Club.
Build a Melbourne sandbelt trip
We secure the Metropolitan tee times where access allows, pair them with the best of the sandbelt and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Metropolitan Golf Club questions
Who designed The Metropolitan Golf Club and when did it open?
Metropolitan opened in 1908 to a layout by engineer member J.B. Mackenzie, with Alister MacKenzie input in 1926, seven new holes by Dick Wilson in 1960 and a modern enhancement led by Crafter and Mogford.
What is the par and length of Metropolitan?
Metropolitan is a par 72 of about 6,556 metres, roughly 7,170 yards, played on firm, fast Melbourne sandbelt turf with the finest greens and bunkering in Australia.
Where does Metropolitan rank?
Metropolitan is consistently rated among the very best courses in Australia and on the Melbourne sandbelt, renowned in particular for the quality of its turf and its tight, steep greenside bunkering.
Can visitors play Metropolitan?
Metropolitan is a private members club with limited visitor access, generally on Monday and Thursday mornings and Friday. Overseas and interstate visitors should apply in advance, ideally with a letter of introduction from their home club.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.