Aussie legend reveals secrets to playing Royal Melbourne

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Peter Thomson knows how to win at Royal Melbourne -- he captained the International team to victory in 1998.

The hole-by-hole descriptions below were written by World Golf Hall of Fame member and Melbourne-born Peter Thomson, who captained the International Team in 1996, 1998 and 2000. Thomson was the captain in 1998 when the International Team beat the United States to win The Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
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NO. 1 | Par 4 | 354 yards | 324 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "The opening hole is the 3rd West to those familiar with Royal Melbourne. It is no easy exercise and it's rarely given enough respect, often being referred to as a drive-and-pitch. But the original constructors left a medium-sized green that slopes quite steeply from front to back. Also the corner of the green nearest the striker presents a virtual apex to pitch to. The modern balls and equipment, which allow the golfer to impart astonishing backspin to wedge shots, has largely defeated the greens characteristic. Even so, the hole demands a considerable skill. Birdies are not that common."

NO. 2 | Par 5 | 521 yards | 476 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "This spectacular hole retains an ancient 'sandblow' bunker on the skyline crest of the first half of the 461 meters (504yds), hemmed in by the district's tea tree which allows no short cuts forward. It's a daunting drive over the danger to an unsighted fairway. This bellows out to a comfortable width and flatness for the second shot -- the most inspiring approach shot of the whole course. Marked as a par 5, it's more like a 4.5 as birdies are plentiful enough to the competent player who can steer his approach through a narrow gateway onto the green. The second hole is as always worth watching."

NO. 3 | Par 3 | 176 yards | 161 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "Early in the round comes the famous and much photographed par-3 third. It's a mid-iron shot across a valley to a steeply sloping green, this time mercifully higher at the back than the front. Surrounded by deep natural bunkers, there's no escaping its demand for a superior shot. Tactics teach the player to ensure he doesn't over-hit, as the downhill putts have to be slow dribbles. Threes have to be earned, but twos are not rare."

NO. 4 | Par 4 | 439 yards | 401 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "Presented here is a spectacular drive across a wilderness of local, low-height indigenous plants that hide wayward tee shots. Yet the modern players have little trouble carrying all that to the safety of a broad fairway. Too much oomph can send a shot into the rough beyond. From there the second shot is to a deceptively higher level of green made up of another steep slope that has baffled the greats over the years. In previous eras, three- and even four-putts were common. However, technology has assisted to make things easier. Nevertheless, it's a very dangerous hole indeed."

NO. 5 | Par 3 | 148 yards | 135 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "Another par 3 comes next, shorter but with a tiny green as a target, elevated above tee level, an aspect that could deceive those who calculate strictly in distances. Added to that, wind from the southwest blows at the green but not from the sheltered tee hardly by design, but nature at its most devilish. This is a hole that often produces a decision one way or another. Recovery from the surrounding deep bunkers is never an automatic 'down-in-two' î"

NO. 6 | Par 4 | 312 yards | 285 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "Now comes a succession of eight par-4 holes of varying length and direction, which is the power of the course -- the make-or-break stretch that most other courses lack. In the times of the course's opening, several of these holes were rated as Standard Scratch fours. Balls didn't fly as far then, but now each and every one is vulnerable to a modern golfing gladiator. They are therefore ideal holes for matchplay and The Presidents Cup. This 6th hole is the shortest of them and tempting to strong men who think all-out attack is the best tactic. They forget that this green is a tiny target even for a wedge shot, sited as it is among indigenous vegetation and a great sandblow of a bunker, to carry from the tee, and there's a precipitous dropoff behind. There is seldom a reward to anyone taking on the impossible."

NO. 7 | Par 4 | 455 yards | 416 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "This hole is a contrast to the previous one, No.6. It's big -- 416 meters -- first descending gently before a stretched rise to an unusual man-made ridge green. The most enjoyable aspect of the Royal Melbourne courses (East and West) is that most of the greens are open at the front, with the sentinel bunkers off to the sides. This might be seen as a 'Members' indulgence, but it is classic golf at its very best. This 7th green of The Presidents Cup course is a perfect example. It can be approached with a running shot with a straight-faced iron club, a golf shot that is fast disappearing. Putting rounds it out. The whole green is sloping forward -- nowhere is entirely flat. It's altogether a dangerous, slippery green."

NO. 8 | Par 4 | 476 yards | 435 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "Here is another powerful hole designated a par 4. Originally, the green was in place to the right of where it's now situated, which softens the demands, but in the 1940s the opportunity to stretch the hole was apparently irresistible, and the green went West. The second shot must be played across an extensive patch of indigenous plants of heathland-like penalty -- probably not much to ask of these Presidents Cup teams. Bunkering from the tee can be easily avoided, allowing the hole to be attacked."

NO. 9 | Par 4 | 439 yards | 401 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "In many ways, this 9th hole epitomizes Royal Melbourne. Length, generous width and a large green open at the front, it doglegs gently to the left as it abuts the 7th hole. The tee shot is inhibited by two nasty deep bunkers at the left bend in the fairway, and another crater edging the green. One of Claude Crockford's islands in the sea of sand, combating wind erosion, this device adds to the hole's charm and also to its difficulty. To get snarled on the island is costly."

NO. 10 | Par 4 | 433 yards | 396 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "To bring us back to the Clubhouse, in members' play, the 18th West, a superb dogleg turning right, this hole allows players at this level to shorten their tee shots lest they run out of territory. After that, anything down to a wedge will reach the green pitched left down to right, without much to bring on any trembles. Birdies are thus invited, but never guaranteed."

NO. 11 | Par 4 | 332 yards | 304 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "The 11th is the quintessence of Alex Russell's effort with the East Course, which came soon after the opening of the West. Crammed into a short space between Clubhouse and the south boundary, No.11 for The Presidents Cup is a masterpiece of land use. It's drivable by the young titans of today, but while the invitation to try is worth the gamble, the reward is mostly not worth the candle. Too much happens at the green end where the green itself sits on a steep level on the last rise before the land runs out. It might have been beautiful had there been 50 meters more to be had. Yet, as it is, it survives the onslaught of the modern ball with the aid and companionship of three greenside bunkers, which bring into the equation a powerful defense. The green is on two levels, robbing it of more cup spots than two, but this enlivens the putting. This hole I could watch all day. It intrigues."

NO. 12 | Par 4 | 440 yards | 402 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "We are in sequence by now, passing through the five holes that the East Course contributes to the Composite. The second of the East makes the 12th of our Presidents Cup journey. This is a worrying hole for aggressive players -- tight fairway between unplayable rough country. Again, we see a dogleg right that starts downward until, at the turning point, it changes direction and climbs the full slope to a well-guarded green. The second shot is therefore a longer one than pure 'yardage' suggests. But too much boldness will send a ball into oblivion as everything falls away beyond. This is a powerful par 4 in anyone's language."

NO. 13 | Par 4 | 383 yards | 350 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "This is a most clever hole! It follows the natural slope, sliding away to the downhill right until it fills the space in that corner of the property. The slope is a clever complication that gives the hole its character. Allowance must be made for the run-off of the tee shot without leaving it stuck behind an overhanging gum tree. There is a small 'gateway' to the last 50 meters of the fairway. A flat apron to the green lends comfort to a victim of the slope. The green has a pronounced ridge that divides it in two and a sharp drop-off at the rear. On this hole there is much to be done!"

NO. 14 | Par 3 | 186 yards | 170 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "This tidy little par 3 is a newcomer to the Composite, sacrificing the previous mighty 4th East because of the 'tightness' of space in the immediate area. Spectators will race ahead for a close look at this new hole, which fits into the east Course as No.16. An attractive hole of a reasonably flat and sizeable green in a sea of sand, it should see plenty of twos and no fives from these world-class players. Modern tournament bunkers are always raked to ensure wayward shots fall back to the flat of the sand, making escape a relatively easy proposition. There should be a multitude of 'down-in-twos' on this hole. No excuses!"

NO. 15 | Par 5 | 569 yards | 520 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "Hole 15 At 520 meters, the 15th is the longest hole this Composite course offers, but it should be no great slog to get the second shots home on the green or thereabouts. In fact, it will be a delightful vision to watch them do it. It is not plain sailing as there are some cross-bunkers in the approach to the green. The green has enough deceptive slope to give putting a twist but, in general, par 5s of whatever length offer a free lunch to players of this caliber. Still, it should bring out the best in them."

NO. 16 | Par 4 | 448 yards | 410 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "This is the famous ending hole. In its usual function, this is a magnificent par 4 with all the attributes and complexities a final hole should display. But in matches of this standard, such as The Presidents Cup, most statistically finish on the 16th hole on any course. Being such a spectacular arena of action, it would go unused were it slotted later than 16. A score of four is an achievement no matter what the day serves up as weather. It's normally played into a strong southwesterly wind, so that it's almost the length of a par 5, even for these power men. It's worth watching on any occasion."

NO. 17 | Par 4 | 429 yards | 392 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "This hole is normally the Club No.1. West, and a good opening hole it is, too, with a fairway of enormous width and a length of 392 meters. These Presidents Cup soldiers don't play the course in match play. They play each other, and this hole, coming as a 17th, is at the mercy of these troops. The hole has a plain green, nearly flat and virtually unguarded, as the one bunker on the right edge of the green would seem to be asleep on the job. Look for birdies here."

NO. 18 | Par 4 | 458 yards | 419 meters | Watch a flyover | More on the hole
THOMSON: "To finish the battle, there's a very short par 5, of high claim to be a par 4. The players would set their own standards as a two-shotter and therefore a par 4, wind or no wind. The Sahara-like bunker immediately ahead is of minimum concern, so that the tee shots fly over it as far as the striker wishes. It then sets the scene for a long iron approach, so, another steeply sloped green calling for care and attention. Thus it ends, and if the 16th hole didn't settle the matter, this 18th will. Altogether, a unique course, one of wide variety creating a magnificent stage for an exciting contest."