MIND / TOP 100 COURSES M
Cape Town needs its golf courses King David Mowbray’s future threatened by city council
By Mike Flax
M ID-SUMMER IN CAPE Town is a golfer's paradise with its sunny days and late sunsets. The city boasts a variety of outstanding courses, each offering a unique challenge and breathtaking views that are drawcards for golfers from around the world. There has been a boost in golf tourism since the Covid pandemic. The international golf tourism market is expected to grow significantly from $24.6 billion to $41 billion by 2030. And South Africa is positioning itself to capitalise on this growth. The SA Tourism Services Association (Satsa) recently launched a golf tourism chapter within its structures. Last year Wesgro published a survey and analysis on golf tourism in the Western Cape, highlighting the province’s popularity among visitors from Germany, the United Kingdom, United States, and Switzerland. Factors that tourists highlighted as motivation for coming here were the scenic courses, proximity of courses to other tourist destinations, and "unique cultural experiences." In a country in dire need of jobs, tourism offers a true economic boost. The industry creates many service opportunities, but also has a significant multiplier effect, meaning initial spending by visitors generates additional economic activity and job creation in other sectors. In this context it is noteworthy that the demand for golfing facilities in Cape Town currently exceeds supply. No new course has been built in the city for 25 years, other than a Par 3 Course at Hazendal wine estate. The last course to be opened was Atlantic Beach in 2000. And in that time the city lost King David Golf Club with its 18 holes. Considering this, the last thing Cape
as significant economic drivers. The economic value of a club like KDM is considerable. At least 25 000 rounds are played on its greens each year by visitors. This is apart from the services it offers to 1500 members, who come from all corners of the city. As a destination the club is uniquely placed within the geography of Cape Town. Its central location is close to many tourist attractions. There is easy access from the N2 highway and it is 10 minutes from the city centre. And few courses offer such a glorious backdrop of mountain views, large ponds, indigenous greenery and wind- sculpted tree canopies. Apart from these unique characteris- tics, the course is an asset as one option of an impressive city and provincial Golf clubs are too often overlooked as significant economic drivers.
Town should do is further reduce its golf offering. This would compromise the expanding income stream and job creation that comes from golf tourism. As the realities of urban growth be- come pressing, cities often look to golf club properties as a source of land for development. Large developments of all types in and around Cape Town are certainly important. However, they should not be pursued if the loss out- weighs what they might gain. Expand- ing the local economy and combating unemployment is as important as cre- ating housing opportunities. This issue is once again a point of intense discussion, as the City of Cape Town have announced they are consid- ering demolishing King David Mowbray Golf Club and raising a large mixed-use development on its green space. The situation surrounding King David Mowbray shows why it is necessary to think carefully about the city's varied assets. And not only because there are spaces more fitting for mixed-use developments. The truth is golf clubs are too often overlooked
20 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025
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