have been modified. There is talk that holes 6 and 7 might be lost for a future housing phase. Strong closing par 4 with a stream to be carried with the tee shot. The estate came with a big modern clubhouse. Next to it is an old railway station from which steam trains still operate. 37 KILBARCHAN Near Newcastle, Northern KwaZulu-Natal DOWN 10 • SCORE 38.5/60 Clubhouse 6.5 / Aesthetics 7.5 / Conditioning 3.5 / Design Variety 8 / Innovation 6 / Challenge 7 Relatively unknown layout 13 kilometres south of Newcastle just 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 long 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. A good design is let down by mediocre conditioning. 38 JAN KEMP Jan Kempdorp, Northern Cape NEW ENTRY • SCORE 38.5/60 Clubhouse 5 / Aesthetics 6.5 / Conditioning 6 / Design Variety 7.5 / Innovation 6 / Challenge 7.5
through town, with an interesting design. Large greens, plain in shape. An old clubhouse detracts from the quality of the course. One of SA’s longest 9-holers at 6 455 metres from white tees. Even the blue tees are 6 151. A strong finish to each nine. The seventh is a straight 4 (426 & 402) yet with kameeldoring trees on either side of the fairway from 160 metres in. No 8 (390 & 366) is a terrific dogleg left through tall bluegum trees, and No 9 is a par 5 (502 & 481) curving left around similar trees. 39 RIVERSDALE Riversdale, Southern Cape DOWN 9 • SCORE 38/60 Clubhouse 5 / Aesthetics 6 / Conditioning 6 / Design Variety 7.5 / Innovation 6 / Challenge 7.5 One of the oldest clubs (1911) in the Southern Cape, set in a quiet valley away from the town. Flat, compact, and challenging 1950s course with 11 greens. Two holes, including the long seventh, border the Goukou River flowing past. Remnants of an old stone bridge from an earlier era have been converted into a tee for the par-3 eighth. 40 BREDASDORP Bredasdorp, Western Cape Overberg DOWN 7 • SCORE 37.8/60 Clubhouse 7.3 / Aesthetics 5.5 / Conditioning 7 / Design Variety 6 / Innovation 5 / Challenge 7 This was Africa’s southernmost golf club, until losing that title to Gansbaai. Masters champion Trevor Immelman
Flat layout alongside main road
NO 35: Hartswater
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 121
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
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