NUMBER 16 Fynbos, Tsitsikamma Coast.
14 ZWARTKOP Centurion, Gauteng North UP 2 • SCORE 41.8/60 Clubhouse 9 / Aesthetics 5.5 / Conditioning 6.5 / Design Variety 8 / Innovation 5 / Challenge 7.8 A famous club, owned by the Hayes family, which hosted the 1955 SA Open among many other tournaments and exhibitions. It was an 18-hole Bob Grimsdell layout until 2023 when regular flooding of the Hennops River running through the course prompted the closure of the front nine. Mature parkland layout with tree-lined fairways which places an emphasis on accuracy. Just four par 4s survive, along with three par 3s. There is a TopTrack range powered by Trackman. 15 VOLKSRUST Volksrust, Mpumalanga Highveld DOWN 4 • SCORE 41.5/60 Clubhouse 5.5 / Aesthetics 7.5 / Conditioning 6 / Design Variety 8 / Innovation 7 / Challenge 7.5 One of the longer 9-holers at 6 399 metres, Volkrust features well-designed holes on gently undulating and tree-lined terrain. It was the home course of Sunshine Tour star Nico van Rensburg. The club and course originated in the early 1900s, and an ancient giant tree which resembles a redwood is a striking feature in the middle of the fairway on the downhill par-4 second hole. From the back tee, golfers must either fly their drives over the top of the tree or find a way around it.
16 FYNBOS Eerste Rivier, Eastern Cape UP 8 • SCORE 41.3/60 Clubhouse 8.8 / Aesthetics 7.5 / Conditioning 6 / Design Variety 6 / Innovation 6 / Challenge 7 Built on high ground on the Tsitsikamma coastline overlooking the Indian Ocean and Eerste Rivier resort, this is a stunning setting for golf. The holes don’t quite live up to the Aesthetics, yet there are a few good ones closest to the sea, notably Nos 6, 7 and 8, which is a fine par 3 with two pins on the green. Improvements are ongoing. Very few trees so it has a links-like appearance, particularly the dogleg left sixth. An attractive clubhouse has accommodation and a restaurant. 17 ESTCOURT Estcourt, KZN Midlands NEW ENTRY • SCORE 41/60 Clubhouse 7 / Aesthetics 7.5 / Conditioning 7 / Design Variety 7 / Innovation 5.5 / Challenge 7 The entrance road through an industrial estate doesn’t look promising, yet a surprise awaits when you see this attractive layout in beautiful unspoiled rolling countryside. An interesting test of golf in good condition. A stream runs through the property and comes into play on the opening hole. For more than 60 years it has hosted the 36-hole Estcourt Open and the club even changes the pins for the second round played the same day. Last hole is played from an elevated tee, with an uphill approach to the green.
18 BANKENVELD Witbank, Mpumalanga NEW ENTRY • SCORE 40.7/60 Clubhouse 7 / Aesthetics 6 / Conditioning 6.5 / Design Variety 7 / Innovation 6.5 / Challenge 7.7 Modern Douw van der Merwe design alongside Witbank Dam from the early years of the millennium that was originally planned as an 18-hole layout and might still develop into one in the future. The opening three holes climb over undulating terrain before the course drops abruptly down to the dam where there are a few special holes alongside the water. Strong, challenging layout with outstanding greens complexes. Magnificent bent grass putting surfaces. 19 SPRINGBOK Springbok, Namaqualand, Northern Cape NEW ENTRY • SCORE 40.3/60 Clubhouse 6 / Aesthetics 8.5 / Design Variety 7.3 / Conditioning 6 / Innovation 5.5 / Challenge 7 Standing on the par-3 sixth tee you are greeted by breathtaking Karoo scenery. The landscape opens into a kaleidoscope of rugged empty countryside and low mountains. The clubhouse should effectively have been built on this site, but it’s further back, and doesn’t have the same uninterrupted view. The design is interesting and excellent, and the green of the fairways contrasts with the arid out-of- play areas. The routing is unusual. There are two starting tees on either side of the clubhouse, and what appears to be the first is No 5 (they are not well sign-posted). From
66 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025
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