DESTINATIONS / KWAZULU-NATAL MIDLANDS
The green of a strong hole at Noodsberg, No 5/14 which plays as both par 5 and par 4.
★ ★ ★ ★ NOODSBERG CC
tour groups. The Noodsberg Classic is a 2-day event in November. My reference to Magnolia Lane wasn’t far off the mark. Noodsberg is a heavily tree-lined course which reminded me in places of Augusta National. Positioning is important off the tee on the opening two par 4s. It also had firm, fast greens with subtle slopes. Royal Blue cynodon in exceptional condition. I was playing the day before the weekend club championships.
had taken me so long to visit Noods- berg. No one in my travels had told me this was up there in terms of qual- ity with the best 9-hole courses in South Africa. Yet it isn’t well known outside the area, which says a lot about the reluctance of many golfers in this country to venture out to play 9-holers. More golfers should be ex- ploring Noodsberg, Greytown and St Cathryn’s, because they make up a 3-day destination with a difference for
Special layout reminiscent in places of Augusta National, excellent condition, comfortable clubhouse with superb lunch menu. Accommodation at Christa’s nearby on the road to Wartburg, or the Overstone Farm & Cottages website. www.noodsbergcountryclub.co.za The stroke 1 wouldn’t be out of place at Augusta either. What a beau- tiful, challenging hole, played firstly (No 5) as a 455-metre par 5, then (No 14) a 385-metre par 4. There’s a stream to be crossed, after which the fairway threads between the pine trees and climbs to an elevated green. The following hole is a par 3 (6 & 15) which plays back down into the valley, simi- lar to Nos 4 and 6 at Augusta. The other par 3 (3 & 12) comprises two separate holes, alongside each other (110 & 153). Another innovative alternative occurs at 7 & 16. It’s firstly a long dogleg right 5 around a dam, then a brilliant 360m par 4 where you tee up on the dam wall and drive across the water to the fairway.
The tee shot over the dam facing golfers on Noodsberg’s par-4 16th.
96 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JUNE 2024
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator