18 STANDERTON Standerton, Mpumalanga Highveld NEW ENTRY • SCORE 42.5/60 Clubhouse 6.5 / Aesthetics 8 / Conditioning 6.5 / Design Variety 7.5 / Innovation 6.5 / Challenge 7.5 Vaal River flows past this picturesque rural course. You look down on it from a height at the par-3 second, and elevated tee of No 3, a 461-metre par 4 which many will assume is a par 5. You carry a water feature for the second shot. This is followed by two longer holes (473 & 536) which are proper 5s. Sunshine Tour pro J C Ritchie played here as a junior, and his father Neville is the club pro. There are two shortish 4s at 6 & 7, with alternate greens on each of them for the second nine. The round ends with a long 3 and a challenging uphill 397m par-4 where the tiger line for the tee shot is a tall tree on a koppie. There’s a new clubhouse on a ridge with views over the course, the old one having been destroyed by fire in 2019. 19 KLEINMOND Kleinmond, Western Cape Overberg UP 1 • SCORE 42.3/60 Clubhouse 7 / Aesthetics 7.5 / Conditioning 6.2 / Design Variety 7 / Innovation 7 / Challenge 7.5 Busy seaside club close to Arabella resort with an interesting, short (5696m) and picturesque 10-hole course set against a mountainside and having ocean views. The extra hole is the opening uphill blind par 3 which is only played once. Established in 1991-92, 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 at the green.
NO 18: Standerton
20 SWELLENDAM Swellendam, Western Cape Overberg UP 5 • SCORE 42/60 Clubhouse 7.5 / Aesthetics 8 / Conditioning 6.5 / Design Variety 7 / Innovation 6.5 / Challenge 6.5
This pleasant upland course has undergone positive design improvements in the past year, enhancing the playability and
challenge. It occupies a beautiful and tranquil site on a hill above the historic town, overlooked by the Langeberg 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.
NO 19: Kleinmond
116 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
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