Gary Player gives honest verdict on Royal Melbourne as the Australian Open nears

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Gary Player’s legacy at the Australian Open is unmatched, holding a record seven titles at the event.

This year’s tournament will be played at Royal Melbourne, where Player won one of his seven titles.

Player was ahead of his time in more ways than one. While many players of his era stuck close to home, he travelled the globe, playing regularly around the world and not just in South Africa.

The now 90-year-old South African travelled the world to play regularly, while many of his rivals competed mostly in the United States.

Player was not just a winner on the course; he also played an important role in growing the game’s popularity across Australia. His influence can still be felt today.

But what does he really feel about Royal Melbourne – the host of this year’s Australian Open – as a golf course?

Gary Player’s take on Royal Melbourne as the Australian Open returns

Wayne Riley was the last player to win the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne, taking the title in 1991.

Fans are eagerly awaiting the tournament’s return to one of Australia’s most iconic venues.

Reflecting on his 1963 win at Royal Melbourne, Player told Inside Golf’s Andrew Crockett:

“I’ll never forget Royal Melbourne, it’s one of the greatest golf courses in the world. In 1963 I won by seven shots, and that victory helped me enormously. I’d just come off playing the World Cup in Paris, and I remember Jack, Arnold and myself had to make a tough decision because there was a heavy fog delaying our flight. We were told that arrival would be about three hours before our tee time. They said no thanks, but I didn’t want to miss it, especially since I won the year prior.

“It was hectic travel but quite common in those days. I flew from Paris to New York to San Francisco to Hawaii to Fiji to Sydney before arriving in Melbourne right at three hours to spare. Ate a sandwich on the drive in and went straight to the first tee without ever seeing the course. Winning after that might be my greatest accomplishment in professional golf given the circumstance.

“I went on a similar trip a few years earlier and doing so enabled me to win the Ampol Tournament, which gave me the means to get married. Perhaps that is the most important win of my professional career as Vivienne and I started our lives together as husband and wife shortly after,” he concluded.

What to know about Royal Melbourne

The renowned venue along Australia’s south coast was recently ranked as the seventh-best golf course in the world, edging out Augusta National, which came in eighth.

This year’s Australian Open will use a composite layout featuring holes from both the East and West courses.

Both layouts were crafted by Dr. Alister MacKenzie, with the West Course opening in 1926 and the East following five years later in 1931.

The combined course measures just over 7,000 yards and is set up as a par 72.

If you are hoping to play there yourself, it is worth noting that Royal Melbourne is a private members’ club with limited access for visitors.

But next month’s Australian Open offers the perfect opportunity to see the course in action from home. The tournament will give everyone a closer look at what makes Royal Melbourne so special.