town, overlooked by the Langeberg mountain range. There are westward views over the surrounding Overberg countryside from this lofty position. There’s a natural rugged look to the tree-lined layout, which undulates softly towards a valley, its holes framed by a variety of mature trees and native grasses which form penalty areas. 26 MOOI RIVER Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands DOWN 8 • SCORE 39/60 Clubhouse 7 / Aesthetics 7.3 / Conditioning 5.3 / Design Variety 6.5 / Innovation 6.7 / Challenge 6.2 Unusual setting on top of a hill, adjoining Treverton College, so prepare yourself for an undulating ride on the course and beautiful panoramic views. The final hole climbs steeply back up the hill to the clubhouse. Some interesting design innovations are a feature, notably with alternate greens at the opening hole – both a par 4 (1) and par 3 (10) – and again at the downhill 8 & 17. 27 KILBARCHAN Near Newcastle, Northern KwaZulu-Natal DOWN 18 • SCORE 38.8/60 Clubhouse 6.5 / Aesthetics 7.5 / Conditioning 3.5 / Design Variety 8 / Innovation 6.3 / Challenge 7 Relatively unknown layout 13 kilometres south of Newcastle off the N11, close to an old colliery. A former mine manager commissioned a design by Bob Grimsdell and Brian Wilkes. It opened in 1979 and is lengthy at 6 375 metres. Hilly with a mix of challenging and interesting holes, including an excellent closing par 5 with a large dam in play on the second shot right of the fairway. The seventh is an outstanding short 4 from an elevated tee to a green guarded by a stream. Poor conditioning and definition a weakness.
No 1 you play a loop of four holes back to the clubhouse, then venture off on another 5-hole loop. On a hot day it does enable golfers to have an early drinks break. 20 KLEINMOND Kleinmond, Western Cape Overberg DOWN 7 • SCORE 40.2/60 Clubhouse 7.2 / Aesthetics 7 / Conditioning 6 / Design Variety 6 / Innovation 6.5 / Challenge 7.5 A busy club close to Arabella resort with a 10-hole course set against the mountainside and having ocean views. That extra hole is the opening par 3 which is only played once. Established in 1991-92, and a distinguished fourball at the opening comprised Ernie Els, John Bland and FW de Klerk. No 8 and 9 are unusual finishing holes, a dangerous par 5/4 and the second a sharp dogleg left short par 4 where long hitters can aim directly at the green. 21 GROBLERSDAL Groblersdal, Limpopo NEW ENTRY • SCORE 40/60 Clubhouse 7 / Aesthetics 6 / Conditioning 7 / Design Variety 7 / Innovation 6 / Challenge 7 Unusual layout built on the lower slopes of a hillside, with the holes running up and down the slopes in rows, each separated by bushveld trees. A strong layout of 6 338 metres with solid par 4s and attractive greens. The third/12th is an uphill par 5 (485) with a tree in the middle of the fairway, and No 7/16 is a wonderful downhill 5 (504) with big trees guarding the green. No 8/17 is a par 3 with water next to the green, and the final hole is a shortish 4 running at right angles to all the other holes on the flat at the bottom of the hill. 22 GRAAFF-REINET Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape DOWN 10 • SCORE 39.8/60 Clubhouse 5.8 / Aesthetics 7 / Conditioning 6.5 / Design Variety 7.5 / Innovation 5.5 / Challenge 7.5 One of South Africa’s oldest clubs, established in 1897. A founding member was Douglas Proudfoot, who was a prolific SA Amateur champion in the 1890s. The club has hosted the three-day Proudfoot Trophy every March-April since 1997. The current course is the third in the town, built in the early 1990s, and is a beautiful Karoo bushveld layout situated on a bend of the Sundays River, overlooked by Spandauskop. A dry area of the country but the course is well grassed. 23 LIME ACRES Lime Acres, Northern Cape DOWN 9 • SCORE 39.6/60 Clubhouse 5.5 / Aesthetics 6.8 / Conditioning 6.3 / Design Variety 7 /
Innovation 5.5 / Challenge 8.5
Sir Harry Oppenheimer opened the course in 1968 (Anglo-American developed the Finsch diamond mine here), and it’s rumoured that Gary Player flew in earlier that year with Sir Harry to suggest a basic layout. It’s highly likely, as Lime Acres is the longest 9-holer in South Africa at 6 506 metres. It’s one of our remotest courses too, quiet, and unknown outside the Northern Cape, a two-hour drive from Kimberley. Lime Acres is a mining village. The mine is now owned by Petra Diamonds. It is a testing layout, well-grassed and having good putting surfaces. 24 SKUKUZA Skukuza Rest Camp, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga Lowveld DOWN 9 • SCORE 39.5/60 Clubhouse 8 / Aesthetics 7.5 / Conditioning 4.5 / Design Variety 7 / Innovation 5 / Challenge 7.5 The most talked-about 9-holer in SA, the only one within the Kruger Park, due to the wildlife sightings on fairways and greens. Hippos are submerged close to the first tee in Lake Panic. The greens were upgraded at the end of 2022, and a new clubhouse built with a restaurant that attracts daily visitors. The course was established in the early 1970s, exclusively for park staff, and only opened to the public in 1999. Large bushveld trees are a feature, and it ends with a par 3 closer over Lake Panic. 25 SWELLENDAM Swellendam, Western Cape Overberg DOWN 8 • SCORE 39.3/60 Clubhouse 7.5 / Aesthetics 8 / Conditioning 6 / Design Variety 6.5 / Innovation 5.3 / Challenge 6 This pleasant course occupies a beautiful and tranquil site on a hill above the historic
NUMBER 9 Marble Hall, Limpopo.
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 67
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025
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