ROYAL CAPE GOLF CLUB
Designed by: Charles Murray
Type: Combination of Links and Parklands
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Length: Championship 6121m
Ladies 5392m
Royal Cape Golf Course, Wynberg, Cape Town. Founded in 1885, the Royal Cape Golf Club is South Africa’s oldest and most exclusive club featuring a course with narrow fairways lined by trees. The Royal Cape Golf Club is in the southern suburbs of Cape Town, a 15 minute drive from the city centre and from the Cape Town International Airport.
A true championship course, having hosted the South African Open eleven times and the South African Amateur Championships eight times, it has recently undertaken a reconstruction programme of all eighteen greens strictly to the specifications of the United States Golf Association.
The course today is a fine test of golf especially when the south-easter is blowing. Essentially it is a flat parkland course, well maintained and a pleasure to play with lovely views of the Table Mountain range. The fairways are narrow and tree-lined.
Wayward shots are penalised by trees and the greens are well bunkered. There is also plenty of water on the course, particularly at the corner of the 3rd and 4th and 5th holes and also at the 14th, 15th and 16th holes. The most difficult holes are the par 4 third, at 435m the longest two-shotter on the course, and the par 4 14th played into the teeth of the prevailing south-easter with water guarding the right of the green. The greens are well bunkered and there is plenty of water on the course.
Course Regulations: Appropriate golf attire required. The Golf Course is reserved for members on Saturdays, closed Good Friday and Christmas Day. Handicap certificate compulsory. Soft spikes are required on the golf course.
METROPOLITAN GOLF CLUB
Type: Parklands
Holes: 2 x 9 holes
Par: 72
Length: Championship/Seniors/Club/Ladies 5852m
Metropolitan Golf Course: Mouille Point, Cape Town. At Metropolitan Golf Club you enjoy your game in the most centrally situated green belt of Cape Town. Adjacent to the V&A Waterfront (5 minute walk) with magnificent views of Table Mountain and Signal Hill. Metropolitan Golf Club is officially a 9 hole course but a variety of greens and tee’s resulting in a different challenge for the second round.
The Metropolitan Golf Club is not among the most attractive courses of the Cape. Its great advantage, however, is its position close to the city centre. Any one living in Sea Point, Green Point or at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, can actually walk there. The view of Table Mountain is beautiful. The terrain is quite even, bunkers and water hazards are well placed.
Times: Open all year; Tuesday afternoons ladies only ; Thursday afternoons reserved for competitions; Saturdays members only; Sundays often crowded; previous appointment recommended. Visitors are always welcome.
RONDEBOSCH GOLF CLUB
Designed by: Bob Grimsdale
Type: Parklands Golf Course
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Length: Championship 6200m
Senior 5448m
Ladies 5197m
Club 5775m
Rondebosch Golf Course: Klipfontein Road, Rondebosch East, Cape Town, South Africa. Ten minutes from the city centre, and situated with magnificent views of Devil’s Peak and Table Mountain from most holes, the Rondebosch Golf Club is a popular choice for locals and foreign visitors. The river which winds through the course provides challenges to the players and is home to a variety of bird life.
This course is essentially a return to the original concept of golf, being very much a parkland-type of golf course from which the game evolved. Some tight driving holes, compounded by undulating fairways and the ever-present threat of strong winds provide some interesting play. The course has been changed recently and some new features have been added making the course a good test of golf for all levels.
Signature hole: Giant pine trees flank the right side of the long par-4 eighth hole, played into the prevailing wind towards the clubhouse. It has a large, sloping green.
Facilities: Visitors are most welcome. Rondabosh Golf Club comprises pro golf shops, restaurant, bar and function facilities. It is open daily from 07h30am till late. Closed Easter Friday and Christmas Day.
MILNERTON GOLF CLUB
Designed by: Gold Data
Type: Links Golf Course
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Length: Championship 3116m
Senior 3116m
Ladies 3116m
Club 3116m
Milnerton Golf Course: Milnerton, Cape Town. A regular host to PGA events including the South African Open, the course boasts picture postcard views of Table Mountain across the bay from almost every hole.
Golf Course: Milnerton Golf Course is an 18-hole, par 72 seaside course situated in a leafy suburb just 10 minutes north of the city of Cape Town. Surrounded by natural beauty, the course is a pleasure to the senses and a challenge to even the most experienced golfer - especially when the prevailing South Easter, affectionately known as the “Cape Doctor” - makes her house calls in the summer months!
Nestled between the Atlantic ocean and the RietVlei river, this lush links-type course is relatively flat with few trees. But with the sea and the lagoon bordering most holes, and the 7 beautiful water holes waiting to claim the wayward shot, it offers a truly unique golfing experience! Typical of many links-type courses, you will play the first 9 holes out, enjoy a light meal at the halfway house, and then return back to the clubhouse via the second 9.
The Milnerton golf course is situated on the Cape Peninsula just 10 minutes north of Cape Town. Stretching along the Atlantic coastline, just 10 minutes north of Cape Town, Milnerton is a true out-and-back links of championship proportions. A regular host to PGA events including the South African Open, the course boasts picture postcard views of Table Mountain across the bay from almost every hole. The magnificent view across Table Bay, as seen from the third tee at Milnerton, is truly unforgettable especially when the awe-inspiring “tablecloth” of cloud sweeps over Cape Town’s famous mountain. The scenic setting, excellent condition and challenging layout make this an ideal venue for holiday golf. The 18-hole, 6139 meter long course, provides the discerning player with the ultimate challenge.
The course is a classic “links” layout with nine holes outbound along the coast and nine back towards the clubhouse. Together with the ever changing weather conditions, each hole presents the golfer with a test of skill equalled only by international championship courses such as The Royal and Golf Club of St Andrews.
Club regulations: Appropriate golf attire is required. No handicap required unless you are entering a competition.
BELLVILLE GOLF COURSE
Designed by: Bob Grimsdell (1979), Mark Muller (1994)
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Length: Championship 6008m
Club 5836m
Bellville Golf Course is situated in the magnificent Welgemoed Valley, this beautiful course is hardly affected by local prevailing winds. The course is fairly challenging with a few water hazards and well-placed bunkers. Always green and lush, never dry. This is a beautiful course definitely worth a visit. Centrally situated in the Peninsula, within easy reach from all major access routes, this course is a must for all golfers. The 18 hole golf course, situated in the affluent suburb of Welgemoed, is set in a sheltered valley of rolling hills with panoramic views of the Hottentots Holland mountains in the distance.
Course Details: The 72 Par, 6000 meter course, offers the golfer the ideal opportunity of a challenging round of golf. When upgrading the course approximately three years ago, the course architects made every effort to incorporate the natural contours and features of the course. This resulted in a course that caters for golfers of all levels of expertise.
Layout: The course is well bunkered, well watered and has 5 water holes. The greens are American Creeping Bent and the lush Kikuyu fairways allow good lies. The practice putting and chipping greens are situated near the Clubhouse. The dams and water canals are abound with birds and wild fowl. The manicured fairways and greens are lined with a variety of trees and specially created floral features, which all add to the tranquil and pleasing setting.
Signature Hole: The attractive par-3 12th requires a testing tee shot played across a large dam to a well-bunkered green.
Facilities: The modern clubhouse is in a prime location, with panoramic views of the course and mountains in the distance. A secured parking area is located just in front.
The club has a privately managed restaurant called “Fairways” which serves up
the best food in town (ideal after that good round).
The club has a beautiful practice facility with a large putting green. Motorised carts, as well as professional caddies and clubs are available for hire from the Pro Shop. Block bookings and large groups are welcome. Competitions every Wednesday afternoon, and all day on Saturdays.
MOWBRAY GOLF CLUB
Designed by: S V Hotchkin (1929) Bob Grimsdell (1954)
Type: Combination of Links and Parklands
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Length: Championship 6070m
Senior 6094m
Ladies 6094m
Club 5705m
Mowbray Golf Course: Raapenberg Road, Mowbray, Cape Town. Situated approximately 10 minutes from Cape Town city centre, the Mowbray Golf Club was established in 1910. The club is recognised as being one of the best in the country with all major amateur championships having been played here. Mowbray has hosted the SA Open seven times and the Bells Cup three times.
The Course: Set in a very central area - about 15 minutes from the Waterfront and Cape Town’s Airport - Mowbray is a parkland course, which provides an excellent test of golf. The terrain is flat, but plenty of trees and water features make for an interesting experience, with the beauty of the mountain and abundant wild life dominating the scenery. A significant feature of any coastal course is, of course, the wind. This is where Mowbray is unique, in that the holes have been so laid out that you will seldom find yourself with the wind directly in your face or right at your back. Also, believe it or not, the wind in Pinelands is seldom as severe as in other parts of the peninsula.
Members generally appreciate the wind, as the “windy season” coincides with the summer, keeping the heat at bay. The rainy season is in the winter - in the months of June through August but strangely enough, most wives of members have come to believe that it never rains on the golf course! Certainly, golf is very much a year round activity here and it is seldom that the course has to be closed due to wet conditions.
Both fairways and greens remain soft throughout the year. The fairways consist predominantly of kikuyu grass while the greens are a mixture of fine grasses which provide an excellent putting surface. Experiments with pure bent grass have not been successful, so the indigenous grasses are now being “managed”, with more than satisfactory results.
While the course is not particularly long, the golfer will find Mowbray a real challenge. It is generally accepted that the S A Golf Union ratings of 71 from the back tees and 69 from the front make it about 2 or 3 strokes more difficult than average. Don’t let this put you off, however. If you hit the ball straight, you’ll do well and even if you go off line here and there, the rough is very forgiving and is kept well trimmed.
Signature Hole: With the imposing Devils Peak as your aiming point off the tee, the 15th is a tough par-4 with a narrow fairway lined by pine trees.
WESTLAKE GOLF CLUB
Established: 1932
Type: Parklands Golf Course
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Length: Club 5700m
Westlake Golf Course: Against the amethyst slopes of the Silvermine mountains lies one of Cape Town’s Premier Courses - Westlake. This easy to walk, 18 hole Par 72 golf course is characterised by the towering trees, which line many of its fairways. Westlake has a very interesting, yet user-friendly design and quite a few doglegs. If you manage to stay out of the trees, you will achieve a good score. From the first to the eighteenth hole, every step affords panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
Established in 1932, Westlake Golf Club welcomes visitors with its special blend of old world charm and modern amenities in an atmosphere of conviviality and camaraderie. Whether you’re a tourist enjoying a Cape holiday, or a local golfer, visit Westlake and see for yourself why Westlake is the Cape’s most popular course.
The Course: A main characteristic of this course is the openness of its layout. The fairways are fairly wide and short and this, provided you stay out of trouble, makes for a potentially low scoring round. This user friendly design is a course that anyone can enjoy whatever their handicap. Accuracy off the tee will always be rewarded by a clear shot to the greens. The kikuyu fairways are boarded by shrubs and a variety of trees including the massive Port Jackson that towers over golfers and fairways alike.
Signature hole: Watch out for the signature par-four 12th. The fairways are lined with pine trees with a dogleg left that almost jumps out at the player. The green is small and well guarded on the right by a tree side bunker.
Club regulations: Appropriate golf attire is required. Handicap required.
CLOVELLY GOLF CLUB
Designed by: Dr Charles Molteno Murray, 1934
Type: Parklands Golf Course
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Length: Championship 5871m
Senior 5861m
Ladies 5861m
Club 5745m
Clovelly Country Club: Nestled in the pristine and tranquil Silvermine Valley close to Fish Hoek in Cape Town lies Clovelly Country Club. This relatively short layout, built among sand dunes, rewards accuracy off the tee and provides players with scenic views of the False Bay coastline. Known for its superb greens.
With its lawn bowling greens, tennis courts and one of the finest golf courses in South Africa, Clovelly offers its members and visitors a memorable experience. Clovelly - like fine Cape wines - improves steadily with age, and its vintage and quality is well established throughout South Africa, and indeed, beyond our shores. This reputation is founded on the warmth of Clovelly’s “family” character and its outstanding facilities.
Course Details: Clovelly ranks as one of the finest courses in the Cape Peninsula. Clovelly was designed by Dr Charles Molteno Murray, one of the best known golf architects of his day and advocate Bobby Lewin was responsible for much of the magnificent landscaping. Together they produced one of Southern Africa’s most picturesque and challenging courses.
Famous for its rolling, computer-irrigated fairways and undulating holes, Clovelly complements its rich coastal environment. Natural sand dunes abut the course, which is blessed with water features and a wide variety of indigenous fauna - especially birdlife such as guinea fowl, pheasant, peacock and steppe buzzard - and flora, notably the variety of trees which line the fairways. Unlike some other local courses, there is no noise intrusion from roads or railways, and both course and club house enjoy privacy and security. Clovelly’s championship-quality greens (bent grass/poa annua mix) are among the finest in South Africa.
Signature Hole: There are quite a few tight holes, but one of the best is the par-4 fourth, with out-of-bounds and a stream on the left, and a green guarded by a water hazard.
Dress Code: Appropriate attire on the golf course and smart/casual dress in the club house areas is expected at all times. Members and visitors are encouraged to adhere to the dress code norms applicable to a premier Club. (Only soft-spike shoes are allowed at Clovelly).
ATLANTIC BEACH GOLF ESTATE
Type: Links Golf Course
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Length: Championship 6344m
Club 5855m
Atlantic Beach Golf Estate: Situated in Birkenhead Drive in Melkbosstrand, Blaauwberg, Cape. Enjoy this Championship Links Golf Course with its traditional style and ocean breeze off the ocean. On calm days you can play your normal loft shot or on windy days you can use firm turf to play low running shots beneath the wind. Either way it is a challenge we are sure you will enjoy.
Atlantic Beach Golf Links has been built with a serious commitment to the preservation of the indigenous fauna and flora. You are requested to respect this effort by helping to protect the native plants, birds and animals. The Club requests that you observe the post and rail fencing demarcating the environmentally sensitive areas. The combination of good golf in unsurpassed natural surroundings makes Atlantic Beach Golf Links a unique golfing experience.
Situated along the shore of Table Bay, Atlantic Beach is an easy twenty minute drive along the coast to the heart of South Africa’s premier city. Set against the backdrop of Table Mountain, Cape Town is renowned both for it’s natural beauty and continental charm. From the glitter of the Waterfront and the bustle of its thriving business centre to the tranquil beauty of the botanical gardens and historic wine farms, Cape Town has something for everyone.
Club Rules: Appropriate golf attire is required. No Handicap is required unless entering a competition. Soft spikes required on the golf course.
Atlantic Beach Golf Club was 1 of 10 clubs who won the 5 Star Golfing Experience Award out of 400 + Clubs Nationwide.