outstanding, with a couple of doglegs, are hidden away on the right. A stream runs through the middle of the course. There’s a camp site at the clubhouse, which has good facilities. 15 FYNBOS Eerste Rivier, Eastern Cape UP 1 • SCORE 43/60 Clubhouse 9 / Aesthetics 7.5 / Conditioning 6.5 / Design Variety 6.5 / Innovation 6 / Challenge 7.5 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. Very few trees so it has a links- like appearance, particularly the dogleg left sixth. An attractive clubhouse has accommodation and a restaurant. 16 ZWARTKOP Centurion, Gauteng North DOWN 2 • SCORE 42.8/60 Clubhouse 9 / Aesthetics 5.8 / Conditioning 7.5 / Design Variety 8 / Innovation 5 / Challenge 7.5 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 front nine closure. 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. 17 BANKENVELD Witbank, Mpumalanga UP 1 • SCORE 42.5/60 Clubhouse 7 / Aesthetics 7 / Conditioning 7 / Design Variety 7 / Innovation 6.5 / Challenge 8 Modern Douw van der Merwe design alongside Witbank Dam from early years of the millennium. Originally planned as an 18-hole layout and might still develop into one. 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’s edge. Strong, challenging layout with outstanding greens complexes. Magnificent bent grass putting surfaces.
round. On the first tee there is a large marker stone, with the hole numbers attached, and there’s one on every hole. Another attractive feature of a course that looks lovingly cared for. 13 KRUGER PARK LODGE Hazyview, Mpumalanga Lowveld DOWN 5 • SCORE 43.5/60 Clubhouse 5.5 / Aesthetics 7.5 / Conditioning 6 / Design Variety 8.5 / Innovation 7.5 / Challenge 8.5 Gary Player Design layout from early 1990s has several memorable and challenging holes on undulating terrain at this holiday resort. Big greens, water hazards, creatively shaped bunkers are all evidence of a proper professional design by Phil Jacobs. There’s a large hippo pool right of the second hole. No 8/17 is a fabulous downhill par 5 of nearly 500 metres. 14 MALELANE Malelane, Mpumalanga Lowveld DOWN 2 • SCORE 43.2/60 Clubhouse 7.5 / Aesthetics 7.5 / Conditioning 6 / Design Variety 8 / Innovation 6 / Challenge 8.2 Malelane is a bushveld beauty of 6 102 metres, its fairways lined with magnificent mature trees of varied species. Some tricky greens, notably the par-3 second. The road to the Malelane Gate and Leopard Creek bisects the course. On the left are three holes and the clubhouse; the other six holes, each
NO 14: Malelane
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 115
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
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