SCORING AVERAGE
PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTIST GRANT LEVERSHA This portrait of Leopard Creek’s seventh hole is by Grant Leversha, internationally esteemed photographer of our leading courses for the past 30 years. A contributor to Golf Digest South Africa during that time. His understanding of light, and passion for his subject, structuring the elements of golf course architecture, define his wide portfolio. The best examples of his images are included in his award-winning book, Within An African Eden, published in 2013. More than a “Coffee Table” book, rather a limited-edition masterpiece of book design, binding, and craftsmanship. Six gold awards for art-book publishing came its way in the United States and Canada. The book is a heavy one and can be found in protected glass casings at several of South Africa’s premier clubs. Jack Nicklaus displays his personal copy at Muirfield Village GC in Ohio. Leversha began his career as the official photographer for the Springbok rugby team from 1995 to 2004.
(72-hole tournaments) TOUGHEST COURSES 73.57 St Francis Links, PGA 72.38 Leopard Creek, Dunhill 72.07 Glendower, Fortress 71.98 Royal Cape, CT Open 71.72 Zebula, SDC Open 71.47 Durban CC, SA Open* 69.50 Pecanwood, MyGolfLife 69.82 Heron Banks, Mediclinic 70.08 Houghton, Joburg Open 70.90 Blair Atholl, Tour Champs 70.97 Serengeti Playoffs 71.08 Oubaai, VOG Final HARDEST HOLES ON TOUR PAR 3S 1 Leopard Creek No 7 (3.51) 2 Glendower No 3 (3.32) 3 Leopard Creek No 16 (3.29) *Shortened to 54 holes EASIEST COURSES 4 Montagu No 12 (3.25) 5 Oubaai No 14 (3.22) 6 Zebula No 17 (3.22) PAR 4S 1 Heron Banks No 7 (4.49) 2 Houghton No 15 (4.43) 3 Durban CC No 5 (4.41) 4 St Francis Links No 9 (4.40) 5 St Francis Links No 18 (4.38) 6 Houghton No 3 (4.34) 7 Glendower No 5 (4.34) 8 Durban CC No 11 (4.30) PAR 5S 1 Zebula No 18 (4.97) 2 Serengeti No 3 (4.96) 3 St Francis Links No 16 (4.95) 4 Serengeti No 16 (4.95) 5 Blair Atholl No 10 (4.93) 6 St Francis Links No 13 (4.93) 7 Leopard Creek No 18 (4.92)
St Francis Links again had the highest scoring average (73.57) of the 12 courses which hosted 72-hole tournaments in South Africa, more than a full shot more difficult than Leopard Creek. Pecanwood was the easiest, four shots easier than St Francis Links even though it played 500 metres longer.
par 4 faced all year, the 455-metre seventh at Heron Banks . There were just 27 birdies here in the Mediclinic Invitational, and 39 double bogeys and worse. The longest driver on tour, Gerhard Pepler, played it 5-3-5-7. Houghton’s par-5 15th, shortened to a 4, was third hardest.
440 rounds. There were 66 scores of 5 or worse, including a 9. Casey Jarvis took 7 there in the final round (in the first round he had played holes 5 to 7 in 2-2-2), and he finished four behind winner Shaun Norris, who had a double bogey himself at 7 on Sunday. Second hardest was the toughest
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 115
MAY 2025
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