21 HIGHLAND GATE 77.3 POINTS Dullstroom, Mpumalanga 6710 metres Ernie Els Signature Down 2 places from No 19 COURSES 21-30
31 DE ZALZE 75.0 POINTS Stellenbosch, Western Cape 6324 metres Peter Matkovich Down 2 places from No 29 32 CCJ ROCKLANDS 74.6 POINTS Sandton, Central Gauteng 6831 metres Martin Hawtree / Golf Data Down 5 places from No 27 33 PARKVIEW 74.4 POINTS Johannesburg, Central Gauteng 6603 metres Laurie Waters Up 3 places from No 36 34 PECANWOOD 74.0 POINTS Hartbeespoort Dam, North West Province 7040 metres Jack Nicklaus Signature Down 3 places from No 31 35 KYALAMI 73.7 POINTS Sandton, Central Gauteng 6631 metres Arthur Tomsett & Koos de Beer Down 3 places from No 32 36 HERMANUS (EAST) 73.5 POINTS Hermanus, Western Cape 6440 metres Peter Matkovich Up 4 places from No 40 37 VICTORIA 73.3 POINTS Maritzburg, KZN Midlands 6156 metres Bob Grimsdell / Golf Data Down 2 places from No 35 38 BRYANSTON 73.1 POINTS Sandton, Central Gauteng 6560 metres Charles Alison Down 4 places from No 34 39 EBOTSE LINKS 73.0 POINTS Benoni, Ekurhuleni 6879 metres Peter Matkovich Up 2 places from No 41 40 EYE OF AFRICA 72.8 POINTS Johannesburg, Gauteng South 7210 metres Greg Norman Down 2 places from No 38 COURSES 31-40
22 SIMOLA 77.0 POINTS Knysna, Southern Cape 6401 metres Jack Nicklaus Signature Down 1 place from No 21 23 FANCOURT OUTENIQUA 76.8 POINTS George, Southern Cape 6301 metres Gary Player Design Up 2 places from No 25 24 PRETORIA COUNTRY CLUB 76.5 POINTS Pretoria, Gauteng North 6398 metres Clarrie Moore / Bob Grimsdell No change from 2024 25 ERINVALE 76.2 POINTS Somerset West, Western Cape 6440 metres Gary Player Design Up 1 place from No 26 26 CCJ WOODMEAD 76.1 POINTS Sandton, Central Gauteng 6803 metres Fred Hawtree / Golf Data Down 4 places from No 22 27 ROYAL JOHANNESBURG WEST 75.8 POINTS Johannesburg, Central Gauteng 6586 metres Laurie Waters / Col SV Hotchkin / Bob Grimsdell Up 1 place from No 28 28 GEORGE 75.7 POINTS George, Southern Cape 6166 metres Charles Molteno Murray Down 6 places from No 22 29 HOUGHTON 75.5 POINTS Johannesburg, Central Gauteng
to Gary’s design influence, there are at least three holes at Blair Atholl reminis- cent of those at Augusta. The par-3 third captures the Augusta look and feel with its arena of stately pines and is one of our most beautiful short holes. There are even azaleas left of the green. The following hole was modelled on Augusta’s 13th, the Croco- dile River substituting for Rae’s Creek. However, it’s a dogleg left par 4 rather than a 5, with its small green perched above the river. The danger is left of the green, rather than right. And I see simi- larities between the 18th holes at Blair Atholl and Augusta. Blair Atholl has a par 5 closer and the hole bends right to left off the tee rather than left to right. But the approach shot on both is uphill to a raised green. Having watched two SA Opens at Blair Atholl, the best golfers essentially play this hole as a long 4, even at 500 metres, which is what the 18th at Au- gusta used to be before modern tech- nology undermined it. It was thrilling to see the professionals going for the green with fairway metals or long irons, knowing the risk involved in clear- ing the rocky stream which fronts the green. And there is a significant slope on the left half of the green from back to front which can be used as a backboard
6656 metres Jack Nicklaus Up 1 place from No 30 30 PRINCE’S GRANT 75.2 POINTS KZN North Coast 6158 metres Peter Matkovich Up 3 places from No 33
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 63
MAY 2025
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