BLAIR ATHOLL NO 2 The par-5 tenth hole is 586 metres from the championship tee at this Gauteng estate. BELOW: ELEMENTS NO 13 Three greens, Nos 8, 9 & 18 can be seen from the clubhouse at this Limpopo estate.
ing countryside in an idyllic rural and equestrian setting. The general presen- tation is one which defines the natural features of the land, exposing geologi- cal features and wetlands, allowing veld grasses to flourish in rugged out- of-play areas, while being manicured like a Fancourt or Augusta National. Blair Atholl is often associated with Augusta, partly due to Gary Player’s three green jackets, and his love and ad- miration for the National. The club also has a reciprocal connection with Cham- pions Retreat, a 27-hole facility close to Augusta National in Georgia. Thanks Ronald Fream & David Dale, Pezula Colonel SV Hotchkin, Humewood Algy Kietzmann, Olivewood Hugh Baiocchi, Champagne Sports Martin Hawtree, CCJ Rocklands ONE OF A KIND Among present and past Top 100 Courses, 11 were by designers who never did a second course in South Africa. Robert Trent Jones, Killarney Robert Trent Jones Junior, Wild Coast Greg Norman, Eye of Africa Tom Weiskopf, Zimbali Annika Sorenstam, Euphoria Nick Price, Vaal de Grace
to No 9 in 2022, No 6 in 2023, and No 4 in 2024. Originally Blair Atholl entered the rankings to great fanfare at No 6 in 2011 on Gary Player’s old farm property. But the course went through a tortur- ous period between 2015 and 2020 due to internal strife at this upmarket Gauteng residential estate. Its condi- tioning was extremely poor by its high standards. Today it is rated as having the Best Greens of any course in SA and is in the Top 5 in Overall Conditioning and Presentation. This is the most spacious looking course we have, roaming the gently roll-
the course but have also resulted in al- ternative tees being built to reduce the danger of stray balls heading in their direction. This is still an exceedingly attractive course at which to play, and several holes remain undisturbed, but the Aes- thetics mark did drop to 12.8 last year and is now down to 12.5. It’s no longer among the Top 10 in this category. BLAIR ATHOLL HAS BEEN THE BIG- GEST MOVER upwards in recent years, reaching its best position. In the last five years it has gone from No 15 in 2021
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MAY 2025
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