Chris,
Thanks for the support - Royal Melbourne West from my view point is hard to top - although in fairness I haven't played Pine Valley (I'm just surprised no-one mentioned Augusta...ha,ha).
Two doesn't seem to get much support but whilst the fairway trap is all but irrelavent for the decent player it provides a fantastic visual hazard and the approach to this par 4 1/2 is also first class.
Then, as you say 3 through seven are spectacular.
Another great stretch that these xenophobes might be interested in is Woodlands 2-7...maybe that's being generous 3 - 7, probably not competitive on a world scale but a wonderfully strategic set of holes on pretty unimpressive land. Superb Morcom bunkering and most of all this front nine is a lot of fun to play.
The 3rd and 4th are two of the better short par four's on the sand belt, the latter devoid of bunkers - somewhat of a rarity in Melbourne - whilst the 5th is a fantastic medium length hole, 6 a nice par 5 and 7 a top class 360 yard par 4, with one of the best bunkered most interesting greens in Australia; featuring a number of extremely challenging yet different pin positions.
I'd be interested to hear your opinion.
Oh, by the way Chris, Metro(politan)? Sorry to be harsh but 17 has got to be one of the worst par 4's in Melbourne, the tee shot feels like you want to drive it either into a school or a set of unattractiive and man-made mounds covered with foot long rough, then if you manage to hit the fairway you have to negotiate that ridiculous row of trees.
Sorry to be so scathing but you touched a nerve.