Thanks, Mark. Wow, from the tee it looks really pinched in the middle.
Oh, one day Royal Melbourne.... (Sigh) 
Jonathan
remember that the greens are incredibly firm, so you need a lot of green to hit and stay on a green. So, effectively, it is pinched in the middle.
Carl Rogers
the local sand packs really well, enabling the edges you see whilst still providing playable bunkers. The sand goes down a long way at RM, so drainage is generally not a problem, especially with the mild Melbourne climate.
James B