SOUTH AFRICA S TOP100 COURSES 9 NEW ENTRIES GRACE OUR 2016 RANKING OF SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 COURSES. 36 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA PHOTOS BY NAME
HIGHEST NEW ENTRY Highland Gate, the Ernie Els design in the magnificent Drakensberg range of Mpumalanga, comes in at No 21. GRANT LEVERSHA GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / MARCH 2016 / 37
BIG MOVER GLENDOWER ROCKETS UP TO NO 4 IN OUR RANKINGS. THAT S JUST THE START OF THE CHANGES. By Stuart McLean Photography by Grant Leversha & Jamie Thom t has stayed in the shadows of its rivals for far too long, but a celebrated golf course finally gets its just reward in Golf Digest s biennial survey of South Africa s 100 Greatest Golf Courses. That course is Glendower, which not only returns to the top 10 of the rankings, but leaps right in at No 4. In our previous ranking, in 2014, this old Johannesburg golf club, almost an octogenarian, was only considered the third best course in Gauteng, but three consecutive years hosting the SA Open at this classic championship layout from late 2013 to early 2016 has turned the minds of many of the raters who contributed to our latest survey. It is now sitting right behind the Big 3 of South African golf Fancourt Links, Leopard Creek and the Gary Player Country Club. Glendower, a Charles Alison design from the late 1930s, has long had a reputation as one of the more challenging parkland tests in the country, and one that visually intimidates the golfer on virtually every hole. However, its virtues of late always seemed to be second best to that of a relatively close neighbour, the esteemed East course at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington. Now, though, Glendower sits six places above the East course, annual host to the Joburg Open on the European Tour, which took the final spot in the top 10. Our 2016 rankings are full of other surprises too. Durban Country Club returns to the top 5 for the first time since 2009, while there are as many as nine newcomers; fresh faces are always welcome. Among those nine are two new courses Highland Gate in Mpumalanga and Wedgewood in the Eastern Cape which means that some familiar names of old return to the top 100 after absences of some length. Another course making its very first appearance, after 38 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA
SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 SA OPEN VENUE The par-4 11th hole at Glendower, which has hosted the last three SA Opens. years of trying, is Eagle Canyon, which has struggled for recognition for various reasons since being opened in 2005. If you are wondering what has happened to Steyn City, the expansive new high-profile Nicklaus Design in Gauteng, the answer is that it is not yet eligible. A course must be open for play for at least three years before it can be considered for inclusion. For the first time, the Fancourt Links retains its title as the country s No 1 course, albeit by a narrow margin. The Links and Leopard Creek have been dueling closely for the title the past five years. Leopard Creek was No 1 in 2010 and 2012, while the Links was rated best in 2011 and 2014. Being two very different golf courses, created just four years apart, it has always been difficult for Golf Digest s course evaluation raters to separate them. Their exclusivity as private clubs adds to the aura of playing the courses, but that does not distinguish one from the other. For many golfers it comes down to personal preference in choosing between opposites. Leopard Creek is about the warmth of the African bushveld, a truly unique South African golfing adventure; GRANT LEVERSHA GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / MARCH 2016 / 39
NUMBER ONE Fancourt Links retains its No 1 status. The par-4 15th hole is one reason why the course ranks highly in Aesthetics and Memorability. PRESTIGE AWARD FOR FANCOURT Fancourt Links, which prides itself on its commitment to the protection of the environment and preservation of golf s heritage, has again been certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. It remains the only course in Africa, and one of only 890 in the world, which can boast being part of this exclusive club. 40 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA PHOTOS BY NAME
SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 GRANT PHOTOS LEVERSHA BY NAME GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / MARCH 2016 / 41
HIGH CLIMBER George Golf Club returns to the top 20, not surprising with views like this from the green of the par-5 second hole. The Links reminds us of the game s origins in Scotland, being challenged by the elements and the vagaries of the landscape. Its adherence to walking and having a caddie for each player is a refreshing policy at a time when cart golf, common for instance at Leopard Creek, is ubiquitous. It s remarkable that Gary Player designed both courses. One thing they have in common, though, and the reason why they have solidified the top two places on our list, is that they are masterpieces of modern design in breathtakingly aesthetic surroundings. The Links cannot rest on its laurels though. Leopard Creek owner Johann Rupert is constantly taking his property to grander levels; a new practice facility built last year is said by some to be even better than the one at Augusta National. That shouldn t strictly have a bearing on our course rankings, but in such a close vote the overall experience can sway those on the fence. FAREWELLS The rankings say farewell for the last time to King David, the Cape Town course having closed at the end of 2015. This unique Bob Grimsdell layout will be missed, not only for its retro looks and stand-out holes, but by Western Cape golfers who now have fewer courses on which to get a 42 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA GRANT LEVERSHA
SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 RIP KING DAVID Between an early morning photo shoot at KD for a story which appeared in the November issue of Golf Digest, and a visit on December 30, I managed three final rounds on a layout many considered the finest in Cape Town. The affection for King David was evident on social media after I posted a photo of the sun rising above the first fairway, announcing the pending closure. The comments on Facebook ran deep with golfers around the country reminiscing about their KD experiences, particularly while growing up, as the club was most accommodating to juniors. The SA Golf Foundation ran tournaments at King David every school holiday. The future of King David had been in doubt for years because of its location within an industrial area adjoining Cape Town airport and increasing costs of maintaining the course. The land will eventually be sold. King David members joined Mowbray on January 1 as the two clubs merged. King David was one of the first clubs in Cape Town to welcome all races and always offered reasonable green fees to visitors. I remember being dropped off early in the morning by my parents in the school holidays and collected in the evening after a full day of playing and practising. It was a terrific (and exacting) place to learn the game, boasting the finest collection of par 3s in the Western Cape. I ll remember my final round for two reasons; an emotional walk up the 18th fairway with two good friends, played on a day that saw the mercury rise to 43C in the city centre, the hottest day in over 100 years. Barry Havenga game. Many of the affordable member courses in the Cape were already doing a high number of rounds in 2015. The King David members have moved to Mowbray, and weekend tee times are subsequently at a premium at the new King David Mowbray. Another fine layout to have left the Top 100, a course which was in the top 30 just eight years ago, is Hans Merensky, bordering the Kruger National Park at Phalaborwa. It has sadly been neglected so badly by its current owners that it is hardly worth playing without feeling a sense of regret. Also a Grimsdell design, and one that was the first in South Africa to capture the GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / MARCH 2016 / 43
SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 RIVER VIEWS The Jack Nicklaus design of Simola, at Knysna, offers golfers sensational views, including this one on the par-3 sixth hole. golf and wildlife experience together. Its road to ruin began when a housing estate among the holes was first allowed to blight what should always have been looked upon as a walk in a nature reserve. The courses which have departed the top 100 this time around will probably be talked about even more than those who have taken their places. Another high flier from earlier days no longer considered good enough is Selborne Park, on the KZN South Coast, which in 2002 was ranked at No 28. Selborne was the first estate course in the late 1980s, and such was the rarity of new courses in that era that it was greeted with oohs and aahs at the time. The course is on a beautiful estate, but no longer do we look at it through rose-tinted glasses. Losing the pristine quality that was the hallmark of the reign of former owner Denis Barker, its aging, sagging features are all too apparent to the critical modern eye. What were once quirky design features are now seen as flaws, including one of Selborne s weakest holes, the short par-4 18th. Too many approach shots are played to elevated greens. That s the nature of the hilly South Coast terrain Umdoni Park next door has many similar up-anddown holes. But at Umdoni, which remains in the Top 100, the natural beauty of the holes among indigenous forest makes them somehow more acceptable. Any number of good golf courses have also been opened for play since Selborne s early years, and about 50 of them now grace the Top 100. So it s easy to see why our favourites of yesteryear have been superseded. Interestingly, 32 of the current Top 100 courses didn t exist in 1997, when Golf Digest first began the rankings. Traditional old courses have regained favour among the Golf Digest rating panel, who this year sat down in discussion groups to discuss the merits of each course in the Top 100, using the Golf Digest rating criteria as a guideline. Back in favour are Bloemfontein Golf Club and Port Elizabeth Golf Club, both with plenty of championship history, plus State Mines, Reading, ERPM and Riviera in Gauteng. Among those ousted are estate courses where the overpowering proximity of housing has reduced the appeal of playing them for golfers who like to escape to more natural surroundings. Selborne is one, and others are Blue Valley, Centurion and Langebaan. Two of South Africa s four Royal clubs are no longer in the Top 100, Durban and Port Alfred falling by the wayside for the first time since the Top 100 was inaugurated. GLENDOWER When Golf Digest started ranking courses in 1997, Glendower was considered the premier course in Gauteng, at No 6 in the country. It had hosted a highly successful SA Open that year, the first one to be part of the European Tour. The East course at Royal Johannesburg (this was before the club s merger with Kensington) was only the fourth best course in Gauteng, also trailing the River Club and the old Houghton layout. Glendower remained a top 10 course, and stayed ahead of Royal East, right up until 2008, when it was given a major upgrade by Golf Data, a company which has been so successful in this area of course construction. That upgrade included an entirely new fifth hole, and this par 4, while no pushover in terms of challenge or length at 460 metres from the tips it was the hardest hole in terms of scoring average at the recent SA Open still hasn t found universal favour with our rating panel. Glendower has so many terrific holes, and this one does not quite have the same distinction. It will grow on us. The new look Glendower also suffered from bad timing in terms of the rankings. Elements and St Francis Links burst into the top 10 at that time (2009-10), and Glendower unexpectedly found itself on the outside looking in at No 12. In many ways the upgrade at Glendower mirrored the even more substantial one, in both magnitude and cost, to the Montagu course at Fancourt by David McLay Kidd in 2004. The old Gary Playerdesigned Montagu hit No 1 on the rankings at the turn of the millennium, but following the much hyped makeover by McLay Kidd it had fallen to No 10 by 2008. Today it has recovered to No 6, and it is definitely a better course than the original. The respective merits of Glendower and Royal East came under closer observation the last three years when they both began hosting European Tour events. Similar in their parkland cloaks, they nevertheless have different design attributes which clearly distinguish them. Glendower more 46 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA JAMIE THOM
PRINCE OF WALES The challenging and treacherous par-3 12th at Durban Country Club. 48 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA PHOTOS BY NAME
SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 often punishes wayward or careless shots, and in the SA Open has shown itself to be almost a shot tougher than the East when you compare the weekend scoring average of the tour professionals. Glendower also trumps the East when it comes to the consistency of its conditioning. Course superintendent Mike Burnard not only gets the course in great shape for the Open, but maintains that quality most of the year. The East course, meanwhile, often seems to be inferior in conditioning to its sibling, the West course. And the West has accordingly gone up in the rankings, while the East has fallen. DURBAN CC Several South African courses have featured prominently in recent world top 100 rankings, and many golfing purists will be pleased to see that Durban Country Club, highly respected by international raters who are frequent visitors, is back in our top five at No 5. The curious thing is that South Africans don t seem to love Country Club as much as those visitors to our shores. Why are we so dismissive of our older courses? Just three courses built before the Second World War grace our top 10, and DCC is the oldest of them. It is not far off its centenary, and we should applaud its continued eminence in the greater golfing world. Durban CC was ranked as high as No 4 in 2009, but then fell from there to 6 to 9 to 11, before recovering to No 10 in our 2014 ranking. The course struggled for several years with the erratic conditioning and slowness of its paspalum greens, before in 2010 the decision was made to replace them with another warm season grass, mini verde, never previously tried in South Africa. This was done in the months preceding the club s hosting of the 100th SA Open, and Golf Data took the opportunity at the same time to renovate the greens complexes. The mini verde greens took longer than expected to settle, but a decision to involve local turf expert Mark Wallington at the GRANT PHOTOS LEVERSHA BY NAME GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / MARCH 2016 / 49
club paid dividends. With his knowledge and input the grass has developed into a superb putting surface, additionally bringing the much needed extra pace to the greens which they had promised. Country Club also embarked on a long-term plan to open up as many of the holes as possible. By removing as much of the invasive tropical vegetation and trees as they could, they have opened up new vistas and started to replicate the more links-like look of the course from years gone by. You only have to stand on the tee of the par-5 third, one of DCC s signature holes, to appreciate the clean lines of definition all the way to the green, particularly around the second fairway bunker nearer the green. Another old classic, Humewood, which is also revered by international visitors, didn t quite make the top 10 this time, but its renaissance continues. It has risen to No 11 in the rankings, having been No 20 in 2011. The 2009 upgrade to the greens by Golf Data s Sean Quinn has done wonders to our one and only natural links course. Humewood so impressed Australian Darius Oliver, an authoritative voice in golf course design who spent five years studying NATURAL LINKS The 1st hole at Humewood. 1 200 courses in 45 countries, that he included it at No 94 in his Planet Golf ranking of the world s top 100 courses. It is the only South African course on his current list. HIGHLAND GATE Ernie Els has a passion for golf course design, and his new entry into the Top 100, Highland Gate, at No 21, is a course that is thrilling those golfers who have visited this remote gem in the mountainous region of Mpumalanga. Els now has three courses in the best 50 the others being Oubaai and Copperleaf. Of modern designers, Peter Matkovich has nine entries in the best 50, Gary Player eight, and Jack Nicklaus five. Highland Gate, near the getaway destination of Dullstroom, was originally a Matkovich project in the boom days of golf estates earlier in the millennium. It s regarded as the premier flyfishing area in the country, and a golf estate seemed a natural fit. (Highland Gate is referred to as a golf and trout estate.) However, it went through financial setbacks before being revived with Els as the course designer. He first visited the site in 2005. Even when the course was completed almost five years ago, it couldn t be opened to the public for play until Century Property Developments had performed a rescue act in terms of investment, which included tarring the access road. Highland Gate, with its bracing mountain air and scenic countryside, is a magical place for golf. It s an expansive and creative design, with continuous changes in elevation, providing a rich variety of holes to enjoy. The topography means it is difficult to walk, and a golf cart is the sensible option, but that does not detract from the experience. Els and his design team always keep the average golfer in mind, and Highland Gate offers generous width and playability, with one exception, the par-5 14th hole, situated in a river valley. This is hopefully still a work in progress, as it is a jarring note in an otherwise superb layout. Golf Data have transformed the fortunes of many a golf course in South Africa since Robbie Marshall s company first started out some 25 years ago doing minor upgrades. By giving a modern facelift to plain old greens and outmoded bunkers, Marshall and designer Mark Muller specialised in turning hitherto dowdy layouts into beauty contestants. They progressed from lesser tracks to famous ones, and building courses in South Africa for Nicklaus and Els. Two of our biggest golf clubs, Country Club Johannesburg and Randpark, have entrusted Golf Data with the complete renovation of their 36-hole facilities. The Firethorn course at Randpark, completed a year ago, was perhaps the ultimate in their LARGEST DEDICATED GOLF CAR DEALER IN SA New and used golf cars available in 7 colours PHOTO CREDIT Tel: 011 397 6671 Fax: 086 615 8280 email: dean@yamahagolf.co.za website: www.golfcarassociates.co.za AUGUST 2011 golfdigest.co.za 65
SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 renovation work. Marshall s current designer, Sean Quinn, who took over from Muller, turned the routing around in places and built seven new holes. A big improvement on the old layout. Golf Data have not just confined themselves to remodelling work, but also designed and built their own courses from scratch. One of the first, by Muller, was Atlantic Beach in the Cape. In 2014 Quinn s Katberg design entered the Top 100, and this year it is the turn of another new Eastern Cape layout he did, Wedgewood, at No 88. Wedgewood is the reincarnation of a Bob Grimsdell course that previously existed outside the Port Elizabeth city limits, built on pretty much the same interesting site. It has been an enormous success with local golfers, because it offers pay-andplay golf on a fun and shortish course at a very reasonable price. That s a good formula to employ in this day and age if you want to grow rounds. Golf Data own the course, which is part of a golf estate that is in the early stages of development. Wedgewood also possesses greens which must rank among the finest in golf. A combination of A1/A4 bent grass, they are so pure, and of a perfect firm texture, that good putters start salivating at the prospect of playing there. A NEW RESPECT FOR HUMEWOOD AND EBOTSE ormer tennis star and Wimbledon finalist Kevin Curren is today an outstanding amateur golfer who has represented the KZN senior team at the Interprovincial. He is a member of the Golf Digest rating team, and these were his views on three of our leading courses. HUMEWOOD Last October I had the opportunity to play Humewood on five consecutive days at the SA Senior Amateur, and I developed a tremendous respect for the course layout and design. I never appreciated what a gem this course is, especially with the new greens. Playing in vastly different wind conditions each day, and the pressure of tournament play, I gathered a new perspective of this magnificent layout. What a great test of golf it provides, testing every club in the bag, yet offering multiple options off the tee, approaches and up-anddown shots. Having had such a thorough opportunity to evaluate the course, I would rate it significantly higher than I did a few years ago, and it should be in the top 10, possibly as high as number 6. I rate it a better links layout than Fancourt Links, yet the overall aesthetics and condition of Fancourt is superior and thus scores high. EBOTSE Having played five days there in the Senior IPT last year, I also have a new appreciation for this course. It has grown in extremely well. It was an ideal course for match play and the mark of a great course is never tiring of playing it every day of the week. It is a superb layout. Some holes could be deemed a little harsh with tight fairways and deep rough, yet the variety and risk-reward offerings are enticing. I also found it pleasing to the eye quite a feat given that designer Peter Matkovich started with a quarry. Possibly too tough for a 15-handicap, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and believe it should be in the top 20. DURBAN CC The course has improved significantly under the management of Wallington Turf the past 12 months. The greens are developing deep roots and thus a more consistent and pure putting surface. The general presentation of the course is constantly improving with the continual cut-back of vegetation and alien trees, which brings to the fore many of the long hidden outstanding features of the course. The new eighth tee box has been a revelation and the hole is vastly improved, both visually and playability wise. There is still work to be done in getting the bunkers up to standard (proper drainage and consistency of sand). However, the layout and design are superior to Leopard Creek, Sun City and The Links, and I would have no hesitation in restoring it as the No 1 course in South Africa. Most cases of back pain and lack of flexibility are due to the health of the discs that separate the vertebrae Relieve back pain & help discs regenerate Improve posture, flexibility & range of motion Strengthen ligaments & joints IMPROVE YOUR GOLF SWING in 3 minutes a day! Tel: 021.794.7963 www.backswing.co.za US quality-approved
SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 COURSES NEED TO FOCUS ON TEES AND GREENS As the weak economy and fewer rounds put increasing pressure on the golf industry I believe a number of courses are missing tricks in terms of course maintenance and improvements. In a summer of major drought those courses that persist in trying to produce a pristine course are doing themselves and golfers a disservice. We do not need good looking rough, and we do not need perfect fairways. The focus should be on tees and greens. Fairway size should be reduced outside the normal landing areas. We could have more waste bunkers, and the rough should grow wild. Plant indigenous trees and shrubs that need little maintenance. Build cart paths, which are needed for revenue, and again low maintenance. The big hitters with the most cash should produce the gems, and other courses shouldn t worry about competing with them. Whenever I ask a fellow player how he or she enjoyed the course, the first response is invariably great greens or poor greens. Smaller clubs should focus on this at the outset. It s not rocket science. You just need a half decent agronomist. Arne Cedervall BLUFF NATIONAL PARK BACK FROM NEAR-CLOSURE Notable courses to have closed in 2015 included King David, Crown Mines and Blyvooruitzicht, all Top 100 courses at one stage or other over the last 18 years. King David was No 75 in the 2014 rankings. One KwaZulu-Natal course which looked in imminent danger of closing was Bluff National Park (above) in Durban, which was No 82 back in 2003. KZN rater Trevor King says the course has been transformed back to its former glory thanks to a generous cash injection from a group of businessmen led by the current captain. A new greenkeeper has made a difference. The complaint was always that Bluff was too long and difficult. New tees have shortened the course, bunkers have been filled in, and it s now more playable for the average golfer. The back tees have still been retained and so it can still be set up for championships. It hosted the KZN qualifier for the SA Strokeplay. Trevor King NORTH WEST BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL Golf clubs in the North West Province are having a tough time in terms of survival, coupled with the recession and one of the worst droughts in decades. It s possible that many smaller courses will close. Even one of the premier courses, Rustenburg, is feeling the pinch. It s a sign of the times in the North West that we are having our 72-hole North West Open at Sun City in April, the first time ever it has gone there. I presume that Sun City also need the rounds. Leon Bevan Note: Dave Horak had a pleasant surprise in January when he visited Goldfields West, the former mine course near Carletonville which used to be the permanent host of the Western Transvaal Open in years gone by. They have had good rains, and the greens staff have done an amazing job. The greens are the best I have seen them for the last 10 years. The fairways have good definition and bunkers a major improvement. The lady in the pro shop confirmed that no one was sponsoring the course, the club still has to pay the mine for water and electricity. A pleasant way to spend Sunday morning, with a halfway house breakfast of steak, eggs and chips for R40 and well prepared by Frans who has been the chef there for 32 years. 52 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA TREVOR KING JAMIE THOM
TO ENJOY LEGEND, YOU MUST TAKE IN THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE Legend is one of the more remote courses in the Top 100, about two hours north of Pretoria in the Waterberg region of Limpopo. To truly appreciate this resort, you need to make a proper outing of it. It s not just a case of going there, playing the course, and coming home. First of all, any golfing visitor to Legend must play the Tribute Par 3 course, a unique 10-hole design by David Riddle which is a tribute to some of the most famous short holes in golf, including those from Augusta National and the Old Course. These are excellent replicas, and provide incredible fun and excitement. The round tests most of the clubs in your bag, and it ends with the famous island green 17th hole from TPC Sawgrass. Legend now has a proper clubhouse, instead of a temporary one, and the facilities are superb. The fairways on the main course at Legend are extremely dry after a hot summer, but certainly playable, despite being ravaged by hungry animals. The course staff has put a lot of effort into ensuring the greens, tees and bunkers are well maintained. The greens were excellent, among the best in the country. The rating team which visited Legend were unanimous in saying that the condition was better than acceptable. The greens accepted shots better than most courses we have recently played. The other plus factor from a golfing experience is the Extreme 19th Hole from the top of Hanglip mountain which towers over the resort. A helicopter ride to the tee just rounds off a fantastic weekend. Dave Horak & Sandor Kovacs PRINCE S GRANT NATIONAL AMATEUR INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT Prince s Grant Golf Club has established a proud tradition by hosting the Prince s Grant National Amateur Invitational Tournament since 1995. This event celebrates South Africa s Amateur Golfers and Prince s Grant Coastal Golf Estate is proud to announce the ongoing of this successful event. Over the years, the tournament has become a firm favourite with many of South Africa s leading amateur players who have gone on to carve out successful worldwide careers in the professional ranks. Winners of the National Amateur Invitational Tournament since 1995. 1995 Hennie Walters 1997 Ryan Reid 1999 Rikus Oosthuizen 2000 Robert Wiederkehr 2001 Dean Lambert 2002 Charl Schwartzel 2003 Mark Cox 2004 Christiaan Basson 2005 Jbe Kruger 2006 Charl Coetzee 2007 Giles Hedley 2008 Johan DU Buisson 2009 Leon Knoll 2010 Aaron Russel 2011 Brendon Stone 2012 Brendon Stone 2013 Haydn Porteous 2014 Nicholas J. Arnoldi (NJ) 2015 Andrew van der Knaap Previous National Amateur Invitational Tournament Winners Achievements Brandon Stone Winner of BMW SA Open in 2016 (Hosted by City of Ekurhuleni) Haydn Porteous Winner of Joburg Open 2016 Charl Schwartzel 2011 US Masters Tournament Champion. (Charl also has 11 International Victories) Christiaan Basson Winner of Lombard Insurance Classic 2014, Winner of Investec Royal Swazi Open 2012, Winner of Coca Cola Championship 2009 Jbe Kruger Winner of Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open 2014, Winner of Avantha Masters 2012 (European Tours) Winner of Africom Zimbabwe Open 2010, Winner of Zambia Open 2009, (Jbe also has 1 International Victory) 1 Babu Bodasing Avenue, New Guelderland, KwaDukuza, 4480, South Africa +27 32 482 0041 www.princesgrant.co.za
NO 18 SISHEN 1-10 11-20 RANK (2014 RANK IN PARENTHESES) METRES PAR GREEN FEE RANK (2014 RANK IN PARENTHESES) METRES PAR GREEN FEE 1 (1) FANCOURT LINKS 6 930 73 R1 900 George, Southern Cape. 044 804 0183 Gary Player (2000) 2 (2) LEOPARD CREEK 6 665 72 R2 750 Malelane, Mpumalanga 013 791 2000 Gary Player (1996) 3 (3) GARY PLAYER CC 7 162 72 R700 Sun City, North West 014 557 1245 Gary Player (2000) 4 (12) GLENDOWER 6 914 72 R560 Johannesburg, Gauteng 011 453 1013 Charles Alison (1937) 5 (10) DURBAN COUNTRY CLUB 6 157 72 R565 Durban, KwaZulu-Natal 031 313 1777 Laurie Waters (1922) 6 (6) FANCOURT (MONTAGU) 6 714 72 R600 George, Southern Cape. 044 804 0183 Gary Player (1992) & David McLay Kidd (2004) 7 (8) ST FRANCIS LINKS 6 828 72 R595 St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape 042 200 4500 Jack Nicklaus (2006) 8 (7) PEARL VALLEY 6 719 72 R890 Near Paarl, Western Cape 021 867 8000 Jack Nicklaus (2003) 9 (5) ARABELLA 6 381 72 R780 Near Hermanus, Western Cape 028 284 8000 Peter Matkovich (1999) 10 (9) ROYAL J&K (EAST) 7 001 72 R600 Johannesburg, Gauteng 011 640 3021 Bob Grimsdell (1935) 11 (15) HUMEWOOD 6 390 72 R280 Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape 041 583 2137 Col S V Hotchkin (1931) 12 (13) EAST LONDON 6 199 73 R335 East London, Eastern Cape 043 735 1356 George Peck (1923) / S V Hotchkin (1929) 13 (11) WILD COAST 5 807 70 R320 Near Port Edward, KZN South Coast 039 305 9111 Robert Trent Jones Junior (1983) 14 (4) BLAIR ATHOLL 7 523 72 R800 Lanseria, Gauteng 011 996 6300 Gary Player (2007) 15 (24) GEORGE 6 162 72 R395 George, Southern Cape 044 873 6116 Charles Molteno Murray (1931) 16 (17) FANCOURT (OUTENIQUA) 6 312 72 R600 George, Southern Cape 044 804 0183 Gary Player (1997) 17 (14) SIMOLA 6 401 72 R810 Knysna, Southern Cape 044 302 9677 Jack Nicklaus (2005) 18 (20) SISHEN 6 450 72 R140 Kathu, Northern Cape 053 723 1501 Bob Grimsdell (1979) 19 (16) PEZULA 6 355 72 R810 Knysna, Southern Cape 044 302 5300 Ronald Fream (2000) 20 (25) CCJ (WOODMEAD) 6 900 72 R395/R480 Sandton, Gauteng 011 202 1620 Fred Hawtree (1970) 54 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA GRANT LEVERSHA (2)
NO 24 SERENGETI 21-30 31-40 RANK (2014 RANK IN PARENTHESES) METRES PAR GREEN FEE RANK (2014 RANK IN PARENTHESES) METRES PAR GREEN FEE 21 (NEW) HIGHLAND GATE 6 764 72 R450/R500 Near Dullstroom, Mpumalanga 087 808 6078 Ernie Els (2011) 22 (26) ZIMBALI 6 524 72 R550/R590 Ballito, KZN North Coast 032 538 1041 Tom Weiskopf (1998) 23 (18) PINNACLE POINT 6 465 72 R825 Mossel Bay, Southern Cape 044 606 5300 Peter Matkovich (2006) 24 (21) SERENGETI 7 096 72 R635 Near Kempton Park, Gauteng 011 552 7200 Jack Nicklaus (2009) 25 (23) ERINVALE 6 506 72 R795 Somerset West, Western Cape 021 847 1906 Gary Player (1995) 26 (19) ELEMENTS 6 933 72 R385/R460 Near Bela Bela, Limpopo 014 736 6910 Peter Matkovich (2005) 27 (36) KYALAMI 6 771 72 R285/R350 Midrand, Gauteng 010 594 0034 A Tomsett, K de Beer (1955) 28 (22) LOST CITY 6 983 72 R700 Sun City, North West 014 557 3722 Gary Player (1993) 29 (33) ROYAL J&K (WEST) 6 516 72 R600 Johannesburg, Gauteng 011 640 3021 Laurie Waters (1920) 30 (39) RANDPARK (FIRETHORN) 6 766 72 R350/R425 Randburg, Gauteng 011 215 8600 S Brews & K de Beer (1971); Golf Data 2014 31 (28) OUBAAI 6 516 72 R800 Herold s Bay, Southern Cape 044 851 1234 Ernie Els (2005) 32 (38) EBOTSE LINKS 6 879 72 R380/R480 Benoni, Gauteng 011 749 1638 Peter Matkovich (2007) 33 (34) DCC (BEACHWOOD) 6 016 72 R275/R375 Durban, KwaZulu-Natal 031 564 4257 S Brews (1930); G Player (1996) 34 (30) PECANWOOD 7 020 72 R390/R490 Hartbeespoort Dam, North West 012 244 8080 Jack Nicklaus (1998) 35 (35) CHAMPAGNE SPORTS 6 694 72 R440 Central Drakensberg, KZN 036 468 8000 Hugh Baiocchi (1997) 36 (27) ELS CLUB COPPERLEAF 7 360 72 R400/R530 Midrand, Gauteng 012 668 8900 Ernie Els (2007) 37 (29) DE ZALZE 6 369 72 R376 Midrand, Gauteng 021 880 7300 Peter Matkovich (2000) 38 (45) MACCAUVLEI 6 820 72 R200/R265 Vereeniging, Gauteng 016 421 3196 G Peck (1926), S V Hotchkin (1929) 39 (40) EYE OF AFRICA 6 934 72 R400/R500 Midvaal, Gauteng 010 500 0300 Greg Norman (2010) 40 (37) PRINCE S GRANT 6 196 72 R315 Near Stanger, KZN North Coast 032 482 0041 Peter Matkovich (1994) GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / MARCH 2016 / 55
NO 42 PARKVIEW 41-50 51-60 RANK (2014 RANK IN PARENTHESES) METRES PAR GREEN FEE RANK (2014 RANK IN PARENTHESES) METRES PAR GREEN FEE 41 (43) HERMANUS (EAST) 6 235 72 R370 Hermanus, Western Cape 028 312 1954 Peter Matkovich (2006) 42 (48) PARKVIEW 6 587 72 R360/R390 Johannesburg, Gauteng 011 646 5400 Laurie Waters (1916) 43 (42) COTSWOLD DOWNS 6 690 72 R330/R450 Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal 031 762 3660 Peter Matkovich (2006) 44 (44) BRYANSTON 6 693 72 R400/R440 Sandton, Gauteng 011 706 1361 Charles Alison (1948) 45 (46) PRETORIA CC 6 459 72 R395 Pretoria, Gauteng 012 460 6241 L Waters (1910); B Grimsdell (1951) 46 (41) LEGEND 7 787 72 R650 Waterberg, Limpopo 015 453 9263 DDV Design/European Design (2008) 47 (59) VICTORIA 6 156 72 R310 Maritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal 033 347 1394 B Grimsdell (1933); Golf Data (2006) 48 (50) ROYAL CAPE 6 131 72 R500 Cape Town, Western Cape 021 761 6551 Charles Molteno Murray (1928) 49 (49) GOWRIE FARM 6 177 72 R250 Nottingham Road, KZN Midlands 033 266 6348 Guy Smith (2007) 50 (31) STEENBERG 6 296 72 R745 Cape Town, Western Cape 021 715 0227 Peter Matkovich (1996) 51 (61) IRENE 6 479 72 R270/R345 Irene, Gauteng 012 667 1081 L Waters (1910); B Grimsdell (1930); Phil Jacobs (2007) 52 (54) PLETTENBERG BAY 5 926 72 R320 Plettenberg Bay, Southern Cape 044 533 2132 Fred Hawtree (1976); Rob O Friel (2000) 53 (55) CLOVELLY 5 890 72 R490/R700 Fish Hoek, Western Cape 021 784 2100 C Murray (1934); B Grimsdell (1952) 54 (51) CCJ (ROCKLANDS) 7 009 72 R395/R480 Sandton, Gauteng 011 202 1620 Martin Hawtree (1976); Sean Quinn (2009) 55 (32) FISH RIVER 6 298 72 R160/R195 Near Port Alfred, Eastern Cape 040 676 1002 Gary Player (1990) 56 (60) MODDERFONTEIN 6 651 72 R150/R280 Johannesburg, Gauteng 011 608 2033 A Tomsett (1937); H Baiocchi (1992) 57 (56) RUIMSIG 6 682 72 R350/R390 Roodepoort, Gauteng 011 958 1204 Gary Player (1985) 58 (47) VAAL DE GRACE 6 711 72 R230/R300 Parys, Free State 056 811 2013 Nick Price (2008) 59 (53) SILVER LAKES 6 640 72 R220/R455 Pretoria, Gauteng 012 809 2110 Peter Matkovich (1993) 60 (57) ZEBULA 6 829 72 R380/R420 Near Bela Bela, Limpopo 014 734 7700 Peter Matkovich (2004) 56 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA JAMIE THOM
NO 80 BLOEMFONTEIN 61-70 71-80 RANK (2014 RANK IN PARENTHESES) METRES PAR GREEN FEE RANK (2014 RANK IN PARENTHESES) METRES PAR GREEN FEE 61 (64) RANDPARK (BUSHWILLOW) 6 540 72 R350/R425 Randburg, Gauteng 011 215 8600 B Grimsdell (1948); S Quinn (2012) 62 (58) WANDERERS 6 548 72 R200/R480 Johannesburg, Gauteng 011 447 3311 B Grimsdell (1939); R O Friel (1999) 63 (62) HOUGHTON 6 679 72 R308/R395 Johannesburg, Gauteng 011 728 7337 Jack Nicklaus (2010) 64 (69) DAINFERN 6 637 72 R250-R370 Sandton, Gauteng 011 469 0040 Gary Player (1991) 65 (52) EUPHORIA 7 040 72 R460 Near Naboomspruit, Limpopo 014 743 5000 Annika Sorenstam (2008) 66 (66) KRUGERSDORP 6 426 72 R250 Krugersdorp, Gauteng 011 660 4365 Bob Grimsdell (1938) 67 (73) WINGATE PARK 6 514 72 R220/R375 Pretoria, Gauteng 012 997 1547 Charles Alison (1951) 68 (67) MT EDGECOMBE (ONE) 6 423 72 R350/R395 Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal 031 502 1010 S Brews (1935); H Baiocchi (1992) 69 (65) SAN LAMEER 6 104 72 R340 Near Port Edward, KZN South Coast 039 313 5141 Peter Matkovich (1992) 70 (74) WOODHILL 6 752 72 R220/R360 Pretoria, Gauteng 012 998 0021 Peter Matkovich (1999) 71 (72) NELSPRUIT 6 082 72 R330 Nelspruit, Mpumalanga 013 744 0952 B Grimsdell (1939-1968); P Matkovich (1998) 72 (71) KILLARNEY 6 401 70 R260/R425 Johannesburg, Gauteng 011 442 3880 Robert Trent Jones (1970) 73 (68) STELLENBOSCH 6 284 72 R375 Stellenbosch, Western Cape 021 880 0244 B Grimsdell (1953) 74 (63) KINGSWOOD 6 286 72 R430 George, Southern Cape 0861 72 71 70 Danie Obermeyer (2007) 75 (79) UMHLALI 5 917 71 R281/R367 Ballito, KZN North Coast 032 947 1181 Peter Matkovich (1980) 76 (78) PARYS 6 860 72 R215/R310 Parys, Free State 056 818 1567 DDV Design & Cobie Legrange (2007) 77 (70) MOSSEL BAY 5 940 72 R185/R375 Mossel Bay, Southern Cape 044 691 2379 B Grimsdell (1961); D Obermeyer (1999) 78 (81) WESTLAKE 5 950 72 R375 Cape Town, Western Cape 021 788 2020 Charles Murray (late 1930s) 79 (83) ATLANTIC BEACH 6 303 72 R395 Melkbosstrand, Western Cape 021 553 2223 Mark Muller & Golf Data (2000) 80 (NEW) BLOEMFONTEIN 6 648 72 R290 Bloemfontein, Free State 051 447 0571 B Grimsdell (1953); P Matkovich (1994) HENCO MYBURG GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / MARCH 2016 / 57
GOLF DIGEST / TOP 100 COURSES / 2016 NO 88 WEDGEWOOD 81-90 91-100 RANK (2014 RANK IN PARENTHESES) METRES PAR GREEN FEE RANK (2014 RANK IN PARENTHESES) METRES PAR GREEN FEE 81 (89) BENONI CC 6 659 72 R190/R315 Benoni, Gauteng 011 849 8821 Unknown (1905), C Robinson (1998) 82 (86) PAARL (OLD) 6 289 72 R360 Paarl, Western Cape 021 863 1140 K Elkin (1955); D Obermeyer (2004) 83 (85) SOUTHBROOM 5 584 72 R255/R295 Southbroom, KZN South Coast 039 316 6051 A L Mandy (1948) 84 (88) MILNERTON 6 101 72 R330 Cape Town, Western Cape 021 552 3108 A Tosh (1925); Golf Data (1997) 85 (82) RUSTENBURG 6 348 72 R160/R245 Rustenburg, North West 014 597 1814 Unknown; Golf Data (1996) 86 (91) UMDONI PARK 5 572 72 R375 Pennington, KZN South Coast 039 975 1320 Sid Brews (1930) 87 (NEW) STATE MINES 6 494 72 R125/R215 Brakpan, Gauteng 011 740 9962 Unknown, R O Friel (1992) 88 (NEW) WEDGEWOOD 5 866 72 R210 Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape 041 450 9595 Sean Quinn (2013) 89 (90) GLENVISTA 6 529 72 R250/R280 Johannesburg, Gauteng 011 432 3150 Sid Brews (1973) 90 (84) GOOSE VALLEY 5 906 72 R420 Plettenberg Bay, Southern Cape 044 533 5082 Gary Player (1996) 91 (93) RONDEBOSCH 6 223 72 R300/R350 Cape Town, Western Cape 021 689 4176 Bob Grimsdell (1935) 92 (95) KING DAVID MOWBRAY 6 030 72 R285 Cape Town, Western Cape 021 685 3018 Col S V Hotchkin (1929) 93 (NEW) READING 6 552 72 R250 Alberton, Gauteng 011 907 3666 S Brews; Golf Data (1996) 94 (NEW) ERPM 6 436 72 R100/R280 Benoni, Gauteng 011 826 2467/8 Unknown (1914); Golf Data (1992) 95 (NEW) PE GOLF CLUB 6 117 72 R180/R260 Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape 041 374 3140 B Grimsdell (1952); Golfscape (2001) 96 (99) ST FRANCIS BAY 5 882 72 R290 St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape 042 294 0467 Golfscape (1999) 97 (92) GOLDFIELDS WEST 6 330 72 R80/R190 Carletonville, North West 018 781 1118 Bob Grimsdell (1947) 98 (100) KATBERG 5 661 72 R230 Near Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape 083 604 8228 Sean Quinn (2008) 99 (NEW) RIVIERA 6 484 72 R115/R210 Vereeniging, Gauteng 016 420 1347 Unknown; Christian Robinson (1999) 100 (NEW) EAGLE CANYON 6 924 72 R240/R380 Randburg, Gauteng 011 801 6600 DDV Design (2005) 58 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA SEAN PIENAAR JAMIE THOM
NO 100 EAGLE CANYON THE NEXT 50 101-110 111-120 121-130 131-140 141-150 Blue Valley Durbanville Jackal Creek Koro Creek Mt Edgecombe Two Robertson Royal Durban Royal Port Alfred Selborne Worcester Centurion Kameeldoring Kimberley Knysna Langebaan Leopard Park Mogol Orkney Port Shepstone Simbithi CMR Germiston Graceland Harrismith Huddle Park Kloof CC Oppenheimer Park Polokwane Randfontein Zwartkop Bellville Benoni Lake Bluff National Park Devonvale Kloof Margate Observatory Pretoria GC Schoeman Park Umkomaas Akasia Clarens Kempton Park Maritzburg Pollak Park Sabi River Scottburgh Strand Tzaneen Witbank PHOTOS BY NAME GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / MARCH 2016 / 59
SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 LONG PAR 3 The uphill 11th at Blair Atholl. BLAIR ATHOLL ON THE MEND Player course recovering its condition after court rules in favour of home owners. lair Atholl has gone through trying times since the Gary Player design, on the site of his original Gauteng home near Lanseria Airport, was ranked No 4 in the 2014 Top 100. As a result this magnificent course, on a low-density golf estate with 250 000 trees, has slipped to No 14. Over the last two years there has been a protracted legal dispute between the Blair Atholl Home-Owners Association and estate developer Robbie Wray. The home-owners went to Arbitration to successfully reclaim the golf course from Wray, who according to the HOA had unlawfully transferred the golf course property from the HOA into his personal company. The developer had attempted to wrestle control and ownership of the course, the clubhouse and the common property away from the members without their knowledge. Three former Supreme Court judges ruled in favour of the home-owners, and ordered the Wray-appointed board to be dissolved and the assets returned. Wray no longer has a say over the management of the estate, run by a residentelected board and committees, including golf. During a lengthy and arduous period of uncertainty before the court case was settled, club captain Alan Rahme said that the condition of the course had been neglected by Wray. It had taken a serious turn for the worse due to limited maintenance. The rough grasses flanking the fairways became long and unkempt, and the bent grass greens suffered without regular hollow-tining and verti-cutting. Their health was in peril until Southern Turf Management applied some intensive treatment last year after being given the contract to manage the course. The greens are now nearly back to their best, and the cynodon fairways are recovering. Blair Atholl is a private golf club, and their previous policy towards visitors was only to welcome the guests of members, not to have visitor times. However, Rahme confirmed that a limited number of visitors would be welcome on certain days of the week. The R800 green fee includes the halfway house, probably the most special halfway house in the country, outdoors on the banks of the Crocodile River. Visitors need to email proshop@blairatholl.co.za to request a tee time. PGA professional Paul Marks, formerly at Woodhill, has been appointed as the new director of golf, and he will be setting up a golf academy and fitment centre. 62 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA GRANT LEVERSHA
SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 FIVE COURSES ON THE UP Durbanville, Pecanwood, Riviera, Bloemfontein and Atlantic Beach. eeping a course in top condition is becoming increasingly expensive, and rising maintenance budgets mean only the wealthier clubs can afford to sustain their courses at peak condition all year. Nevertheless, several courses have shown markedly improved conditioning, as greenkeepers and course superintendents continue to show passion and commitment to their labours of love. Among those which have come to our attention are: DURBANVILLE: One of many courses nationwide which have outsourced their maintenance to Southern Turf Management, which has become the biggest course maintenance contractor in South Africa. However, it s usually the individual greenkeeper at the course who makes the difference, and at Durbanville in the northern suburbs of Cape Town it is Chris Kitson who has helped take the course to another level. Durbanville is a course pushing for Top 100 status, backed by a proactive committee and general manager, and it s now just on the outside looking in. PECANWOOD: The Jack Nicklaus design at Hartbeespoort Dam was always one of the top 10 conditioned courses in South Africa, yet standards started to slip some five years back as budgets were reduced, and the steady deterioration saw its ranking plummet. It has now fallen out of the top 30 for the first time, yet Golf Digest s raters generally confirm an improvement in the general conditioning, especially the bunkering. It was a major setback for the course when a hailstorm damaged the greens in January just when it was coming back to its best. RIVIERA: This course returns to the Top 100 for the first time since 2002, not just because of high levels of conditioning on a tight budget in a depressed golfing market in the Vaal Triangle, but for a MOUNTAIN BACKDROP The Magaliesberg range tower over the Jack Nicklaus design at Pecanwood. This is the par-3 third hole. 64 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA
SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 multitude of reasons, starting with excellent value for money. It s a well-run club where a strong team headed by manager Leon Kruger, who also looks after the greens, makes sure its members and clients have a great experience. And club pro Marthinus van Staden has one of the best on-course pro shops in Gauteng. Riviera is a challenging layout in an attractive setting on the Vaal River where you need to drive solidly off the tee to score well. It has great finishing holes on both nines. However, Riviera could have done a better job with the new par-3 14th. The green on this spectacular hole is just too extreme. BLOEMFONTEIN: Showcasing the quality of their Peter Matkovich designed greens has brought Bloemfontein GC back into the Top 100 at No 80. Greenkeeper Rob Stewardson has done a superb job presenting firm and fast greens for his members, and even had them running at 11 on the Stimpmeter at the Sunshine Tour Q School in December. The greens are a feature of what is a flat course. Bloemfontein is a club on the up, thanks to hard-working committees led by Hoski Linde in recent years. Nearly two years ago they made the bold decision to appoint PGA pro Dewald Smit as general manager at the age of 26. After a brief spell on the Sunshine Tour, he joined the staff in the pro shop, and quickly ascended the ladder at the club. Membership and rounds are growing at the club, thanks to the consistency of our greens, said Smit. It has been a team effort where everyone pulled together. ATLANTIC BEACH: One simple change helped define a more attractive golf experience and change a golfer s perception of the course at this successful golf estate on the west coast outside Cape Town: the nines were switched around. Golf clubs don t often think of that. The opening hole is now a terrific par 4 over a sand dune with magnificent views of Table Mountain in front of you for the next hour or so; the previous first had been a bland par 5 without any view whatsoever. Co-owner Allen Usher, with Bill Taylor, has been the driving force behind significant improvements at Atlantic Beach, which has resulted in a better golfing experience, and a positive increase in rounds and membership. It s growing in popularity with tourists because the green fee is fairly priced, and the clubhouse offers 5-star quality. And that quality is being matched on the golf course, where STM have dramatically improved the conditioning. Thanks to a successful interseeding programme with bent grass the greens are the best they have ever been on a sandy, linksy course where strong winds and salty sea air are tough on greenkeeping. STM even came up with lowtrajectory nozzles so that more water irrigates the grass and isn t blown away. LINKS FEEL The 15th hole at Atlantic Beach. 66 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA JAMIE THOM
SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 THE MET SCORES HIGH IN CONDITIONING CAPE TOWN GEM Signal Hill is a backdrop to the par-3 18th at Metropolitan. he country s most popular 9-hole course, Metropolitan Golf Club, has been judged the second best conditioned course in the Western Cape. For the last few years Cape Town golfers have been effusive in their praise of the bent grass greens, which retain a remarkable high level of consistency throughout the year. The Met, which is protected from most of the Cape Peninsula s strong winds due to its position near the Waterfront, produces slick and true putting surfaces for members and visitors on a daily basis. Servest Landscaping and Turf has the maintenance contract. The Met, a 9-holer with 14 separate greens, is a new course designed by Mark Muller, the original layout having had to make way for the construction of Cape Town s World Cup stadium. Golf Digest ranks 9-hole courses separately from 18- hole courses, so Metropolitan was not considered for the Top 100, even though it scores particularly high in two of the seven rating criteria, Aesthetics and Conditioning. In terms of popularity it had 26 000 rounds in 2015. As a result, we felt it would be remiss to exclude it from our rankings of the Best Conditioned Courses. The same rule applies to the 9-hole Bosch Hoek course in the KZN Midlands which was upgraded and visibly enhanced by Golf Data two years ago. Bosch Hoek, like the Met, is a superb golfing experience, and it is also ranked highly in terms of conditioning among KZN courses. However, the enduring charm of both Bosch Hoek and Metropolitan is that they are in fact 9-hole courses. That s what makes them stand out as fabulous places to play. It s great to play them a second time, using different tees for the back nine, or different greens in the case of the Met. They fit small parcels of land, and so there is no room for future expansion. The one 9-holer which does make the Top 100, and has done since 2012, is Gowrie Farm, a neighbour of Bosch Hoek in the KZN Midlands, placed at No 49. Developer and designer Guy Smith could have possibly squeezed 18 holes into the property at Nottingham Road, but he chose instead to produce a clever hybrid design which includes five unique par 3s, none of which you play more than once, has 12 separate greens, and a multitude of tees which change angles to holes. The outcome is a spacious and interesting course which avoids the repetitive feel of many 9-holers. BEST CONDITIONED COURSES IN GAUTENG 1 Glendower 7.80 2 Parkview 7.45 3 Royal J&K West 7.40 4 Woodhill 7.30 5 RP Firethorn 7.25 6 CCJ Woodmead 7.20 7 Kyalami 7.05 8 Serengeti 7.00 9 Ebotse 6.95 10 Houghton 6.90 11 Royal J&K East 6.85 12 Pretoria CC 6.70 13 Maccauvlei 6.70 14 Dainfern 6.70 15 Copperleaf 6.65 16 CCJ Rocklands 6.60 17 Bryanston 6.60 19 Wanderers 6.55 19 RP Bushwillow 6.55 20 Eye of Africa 6.50 IN WESTERN CAPE 1 Pearl Valley 7.35 2 Metropolitan 7.20 3 Erinvale 7.10 4 Royal Cape 6.85 5 Arabella 6.81 6 Clovelly 6.75 7 Hermanus 6.70 8 Durbanville 6.60 9 Westlake 6.50 10 Atlantic Beach 6.45 IN KZN 1 Zimbali 7.20 2 Cotswold Downs 7.15 3 Wild Coast 7.08 4 Durban CC 6.95 5 Victoria 6.72 6 Beachwood 6.68 7 San Lameer 6.55 8 Gowrie Farm 6.52 9 Bosch Hoek 6.50 10 Umhlali 6.45 IN GARDEN ROUTE 1 Fancourt Links 8.05 2 Fancourt Montagu 8.00 3 George 7.50 4 Fancourt Outeniqua 7.35 5 Pezula 7.15 6 Plettenberg Bay 7.12 7 Simola 7.10 8 Pinnacle Point 6.90 9 Oubaai 6.85 10 Atlantic Beach 6.70 IN EASTERN CAPE 1 St Francis Links 7.60 2 Humewood 7.05 3 East London 6.80 4 Wedgewood 6.75 5 Port Elizabeth 6.55 6 Katberg 6.50 7 St Francis Bay 6.45 8 Fish River 6.40 68 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA BARRY HAVENGA
SOUTH AFRICA S TOP 100 WALKER BAY BEAUTY Hermanus was superbly remodelled by Peter Matkovich. The par-3 13th overlooks Walker Bay. ROUNDS ARE UP IN THE CAPE If course rankings were judged on the popularity of courses, then Hermanus Golf Club in the Western Cape would be near the top of the list. Golf is certainly not in decline when you hear that the 27 holes at Hermanus did 7 000 rounds in December, and again in January! We are incredibly proud of our unbelievable round count for the past calendar year, which topped 55 000 18-hole rounds, said club manager Sharon Sleigh. Our visitors have also been delighted by the recent introduction of 9 Springbok to the course. And two fawns have already been born! Louis van der Walt of Peter Matkovich Design made several improvements to the course, which moves up to No 41, including raising the 17th fairway to prevent flooding in winter, an upgrade to the bunkers, and enlarging the ninth tee. Cape Town and its surrounding regions, the Winelands and Overberg, is booming in terms of golf tourism and the demand from local golfers. Hermanus was certainly not the busiest course in the Cape in 2015, even with 27 holes. The honour of having the most rounds goes to the perennial winner, Westlake Golf Club in Cape Town, which did 58 361 rounds. It was followed in terms of 18-hole courses by nearby Clovelly CC, in Fish Hoek, with 54 672 rounds, while Durbanville (50 536) and Milnerton (47 000) were also busy. The Eye of Africa, which hosted its first Sunshine Tour event, the PGA Championship, in February, has a new practice facility adjacent to the existing 300-metre long range. There are four target greens for pitching from various distances and from any lie, plus deep and shallow bunkers, and a chipping green. A fairway bunker allows golfers to practice long distance bunker shots. And the tee box has been extended to offer practice off uphill and downhill lies. HOW WE RANK THE COURSES Our rankings are based on course evaluations by more than 100 volunteer panel members from throughout South Africa. They score courses on seven criteria. Shot Values are worth 20 points and the other six categories are each worth 10. SHOT VALUES How well does the course pose risks and rewards and equally test length, accuracy and finesse? PLAYABILITY How well does the course challenge low-handicaps while providing enjoyable options for high-handicaps? RESISTANCE TO SCORING How difficult, while still being fair, is the course for a scratch player from the back tees? AESTHETICS How well do the scenic values of the course (including landscaping, vegetation, water features and backdrops) add to the pleasure of a round? DESIGN VARIETY How varied are the golf course s holes in differing lengths, configurations, hazards placements, green shapes and green contours? MEMORABILITY How well do the design features (tees, fairways, greens, hazards, vegetation and terrain) provide individuality to each hole, yet a collective continuity to the entire 18? CONDITIONING How would you rate the quality of tees, fairways and greens? A course needs a minimum 20 evaluations over the past three years to be eligible for the Top 100. Virtually all the popular courses receive between 40 and 70 evaluations in this period. To arrive at a course s final score, out of 100, we discard outlier evaluations. These are low and high marks which deviate markedly from a course s mean score. This is to prevent panel members marking up or down courses in any meaningful way. We then total the scores in each category, and divide by the number of panel members who have submitted rating for that course. Clubhouses and their facilities are not considered for rating purposes. It is all about the golf course and not service levels. 70 / MARCH 2016 / GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA JAMIE THOM