A Black and White Loop Around Royal Melbourne

During a recent trip to Australia, I had my second opportunity to play the West Course at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, and this time I decided to bring along my Leica M11 Monochrom. This unique camera, dedicated solely to black and white photography, proved to be the perfect companion for capturing the timeless beauty of one of the world's most renowned golf courses.

The West Course, designed by the legendary Dr. Alister MacKenzie in 1926, is a masterpiece of golf architecture. Its dramatic undulations, natural rugged appearance, and bold bunkering have earned it a consistent place among the top 10 golf courses globally. MacKenzie's genius is evident in the course's large, beautifully contoured greens and the striking bunkering that frames each hole, creating a harmonious blend with the expansive sandbelt landscape.

Capturing Royal Melbourne's West Course in black and white allowed me to reveal its essence in a way that color simply cannot match. The monochromatic images emphasize the course's bold features and subtle nuances, highlighting the interplay of light and shadow. From the dramatic silhouettes of the deep bunkers to the textures of the native grasses and the undulating greens, each photograph showcases the timeless artistry of MacKenzie's design. This gallery invites you to experience the West Course through a lens that strips away color, leaving only the pure forms and contrasts that make this course a true icon of golf.