Leopard Creek retains its No 1 ranking from The Links at Fancourt in another close con- CLOSE CONTEST FOR NO 1 CROWN who previously had taken The River Club in Sandton to remarkable heights of conditioning, did not take long to make his presence felt in the vastly dif- ferent terrain and climate of the Mpum- alanga bushveld.
cluding Champion G-12, an ultra dwarf Bermuda, on the greens. Leopard Creek had extreme heat while hosting the R&A’s African Ama- teur Championship in February, and the cynodon handled the conditions exceptionally well. Leopard Creek has now been No 1 on nine separate occasions. It was No 1 for six consecutive years from 2005 to 2010 (when the rankings were announced annually), and again in 2012. The Links at Fancourt is a six-time No 1 and has been three times a runner-up to Leop- ard Creek.
test where half a point separated them. The Links was No 1 from 2014 to 2022. What has possibly swayed the issue in Leopard Creek’s favour the last two years was their annual hosting of the Alfred Dunhill Championship. The course has shone like a beacon on the global TV broadcast, presented magnifi- cently and in impressive condition. Leopard Creek owner Johann Rupert appointed Frikkie Potgieter as course superintendent in 2022, and Potgieter,
Being No 1 again justifies Rupert’s decision to close Leopard Creek in 2017 and upgrade the course with new turf planted from tee to green to replace the kikuyu fairways and bent grass greens which had long battled in the heat and humidity of the region. They were re- placed by more sustainable cynodon grasses which require less water, in-
HOW THE TOP 3 COURSES MATCHED UP Criteria Leopard The Links St Francis Aesthetics 13.8 13.4 12.8 Playability 15.4 14.4 15.0 Design Variety 12.4 13.3 13.2 Memorability 12.6 12.4 12.6 Shot Values 12.3 12.1 12.4 Conditioning 16.3 16.7 15.7 Total 82.8 82.3 81.7
The 13th hole at Leopard Creek.
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 67
MAY 2024
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