Royal Melbourne East: 2026 Update
Often spoken of as the junior partner to MacKenzie's West, Alex Russell's East course at Royal Melbourne is a sandbelt masterpiece in its own right and supplies many of the holes that make the famous Composite Course great. Here is where it stands in 2026 and how to play it.
The news: a masterpiece in its own right
The East course at Royal Melbourne was designed by Alex Russell, the 1924 Australian Open champion who had worked alongside Alister MacKenzie on the famous West, and it has always lived slightly in the West's shadow. Into 2026 that reputation looks increasingly unfair: the East is a par 71 of around 6,000 metres that consistently ranks among the very best courses in Australia and is regarded by many sandbelt regulars as the equal of its more celebrated sibling.
There is no renovation drama to report for 2026, and that is the point. Royal Melbourne has held firm to the classical sandbelt principles, firm and fast turf, bold bunkering and contoured greens that reward angles and run, so the East continues to play exactly as Russell intended. The headline is simply a reminder that this is a great course to seek out, not an afterthought to the West.
The course, and the Composite that made it famous
The East's lasting fame comes partly through the Composite Course, the tournament layout that combines twelve holes of the West with six of the East to keep championship play inside the club boundary. That composite is routinely ranked among the best courses in the world and has staged Presidents Cups and Australian Opens, and several of its most admired holes are pure Russell, drawn from the East.
Played as its own eighteen, the East is a wonderful sandbelt examination, with the same emphasis on strategy off the tee and around greens that fall away from anything less than the perfect approach. It sits at the heart of the world's greatest concentration of sandbelt golf, a short drive from Kingston Heath and Metropolitan, which is exactly why a Melbourne trip is built around several clubs rather than one.
How to play it in 2026
Royal Melbourne is a private members club, so access for overseas visitors is typically arranged through the club, often on a weekday and frequently as part of an organised sandbelt golf trip that strings together several of the great clubs. It is not a casual walk up, and demand is high, so the East rewards planning well ahead rather than hoping on arrival.
The sandbelt plays best in the southern spring and autumn, when the firm, fast turf is at its finest and the weather is kindest, though Melbourne golf runs year round. A 2026 sandbelt itinerary naturally pairs Royal Melbourne with Kingston Heath, Metropolitan and the others, and many visitors extend the trip to the Tasmanian links. Arrange access early and confirm every detail directly before travelling.
Our take
Our take is that the East deserves to be played and judged on its own terms, not filed away as the lesser Royal Melbourne course. Spend a round on it and the strategic genius is everywhere, and the realisation that the Composite borrows so heavily from it tells you all you need to know about its quality.
For 2026 the advice is to build a proper sandbelt trip rather than chasing a single round, secure access well ahead through the club or a trusted planner, and time it for spring or autumn. Played alongside the West and the neighbouring clubs, the East completes one of the truly great golf experiences in the world.
Plan your Melbourne Sandbelt golf trip
From Royal Melbourne's East and West to Kingston Heath and Metropolitan, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, arranging access through the right channels, with no obligation.
Questions
Who designed the Royal Melbourne East course?
The East course at Royal Melbourne was designed by Alex Russell, the 1924 Australian Open champion who had worked alongside Alister MacKenzie on the celebrated West course. Russell laid out the East on his own and produced a sandbelt course of the highest order, a par 71 that stands among the finest in Australia in its own right, not merely as a companion to the West.
What is the Royal Melbourne Composite Course?
For major tournaments Royal Melbourne plays a Composite Course that combines twelve holes from the West with six from the East, keeping all play within the club boundary and avoiding road crossings. This composite layout is regularly ranked among the very best courses in the world and has hosted Presidents Cups and Australian Opens. The East course supplies several of its most admired holes.
How do you play Royal Melbourne East in 2026?
Royal Melbourne is a private members club in the Melbourne Sandbelt, so access is typically arranged through the club for overseas visitors, often on a weekday and frequently as part of a sandbelt golf trip. The East plays best in the southern spring and autumn when the sandbelt's firm, fast conditions are at their peak. Arrange access well ahead and confirm all details directly before travelling.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts, design credits and the Composite Course details verified June 2026 from club, ranking panel and golf travel sources; the East was designed by Alex Russell, who had worked with Alister MacKenzie on the West. Access rules and conditions change, so always confirm directly before travelling. Last reviewed June 2026.