Royal Melbourne Golf Club — Melbourne, Australia

Royal Melbourne Golf Club represents Alister MacKenzie's finest work outside of Augusta, with contoured greens and firm fairways that reward shotmaking over power. The composite course used for the Presidents Cup measures 7,000 yards at par-71, yet its bunker placement and undulating surfaces yield a course rating of 77.2, 1.5 strokes higher than the average championship layout. This strategic nuance is cheaper than #1 Augusta National's annual membership costs by over $1,000 per round, as public access is available for around A$300. The Melbourne Sandbelt's fast conditions outperform #2 St Andrews Old Course in firmness, with green speeds averaging 11.5 on the Stimpmeter, 1.0 faster than the links' typical 10.5, ensuring every putt remains a calculated risk.