15th Club

31/03/2026

https://theafricanmirror.africa/sport/liv-golf-in-sa-phumlani-malukas-integrity-shot/

AMERICAN sensation Bryson DeChambeau may have collected a cool US$4 million when the inaugural LIV Golf South Africa ended at the rain soaked yet packed to the rafters two Sundays ago, but he was not the only winner. The long-hitting DeChambeau, with his wire-to-wire lead, will be surprised to learn...

27/02/2026

Yesterday, today and tomorrow of South Africa's golf in one picture. Veteran and legend Ernie Else shakes hands with amateur Judd Sundelsonn while defending champ Dylan Naidoo walks past them. Unfortunately all three missed the cut and won't play this weekend, but in my view, this was one of the pairings of tournament so far.

26/02/2026

Ernie Els: Caught earlier today on the ruthless Par 4 Number 18. When you have it, you have it.

25/02/2026

https://sundayworld.co.za/sports/more-sports/the-beauty-and-the-beast-come-together-at-sa-open/

At 7am on Thursday February 26 the 115th Investec SA Open will get off the mark at the revamped and elongated Stellenbosch Golf Club.

31/12/2024

Today, I went back to this track. And here I showcase the Stroke 3, Par 5 Number 18. One of the most difficult, yet picturesque finishing holes you will ever play.

28/12/2024

I don't care how bad the round is, there are fewer tee boxes I look forward to like the legendary Par 4 Number 17 here.

Video cred: Nhlanhla Ngubane

09/08/2024

A MIGHTY ROYAL CHALLENGE

IT is not everyday that you get to play the second longest, most difficult and arguably most beautiful hole of a course all at the same time.

While the jury is out as to whether the Par 4 Number 11 at Royal East is the signature hole - I argue it is - there is no debating that it is the most difficult hole and the second longest Par 4 on the course, only 27m shorter than Number 10.

From tee to green, it is not everyday that you will play a more demanding and yet aesthetically gratifying hole.

Off the box the fairway looks inviting and easy to make. In reality it demands lots accuracy and where you leave the ball, will define how you deal with your approach shot. If you go far left, uiur almost certainly have no chance to approach the green in regulation. A far right miss brings the trees into play.

Not that making the fairway makes finding the green in two a forgone conclusion. Far from it. Winter or summer, big hitter or not, you are likely to be left with a middle to long iron in, which is made even trickier by the fact that the green in front and to the right.

In fact, most players' troubles start here. Many are overcome by ego and despite the bleak prospects they insist on going for two when laying up could yield better results.

Although there is a bunker there, the best miss is left of the green. It leaves you with a better chance to go up and down for a par or a bogey depending on whether or not you laid up.

The vast green adds to the challenge. Landing in regulation doesn't mean a par is guaranteed. Whatever the outcome and whatever number you end up carding, this remains one of the most memorable and challenging holes of golf.

GREEN FEES: FROM R640
SERVICE: 🥇
PMG: ❎️
HALFWAY:🎖
CLUBHOUSE: 🏆
VALUE FOR MONEY: 🎯

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16/07/2024

WHERE COWARDS NEVER CRY

AS you drive into this club, the first thing you see is the tee box of the Par 4 Number 9 to your left. This is the only time most players will drive it well, from their cars.

On the course, this hole is a monster. A sadist. A killer. A graveyard. The good thing is that it is not pretentious. It does not give you an impression of being easy and there for the taking.

Lying easily on the lowest part of the course, which itself is on a valley in the suburb of Moreleta Park, this hole is hard to play, hard to score and very treacherous.

It plays uphill from the box which means, even though it is not long - at around 358m - it plays longer than that, more so if the wind is against, which seems to be what the green keeper orders in regulation.

Finding the fairway is not too difficult, but many miss it trying too hard to stay left, avoiding going out of bounds on the right.

And being on the fairway is not half the story. Many Sunday golfers will stand over their ball and all they see is trouble ahead, which is true. If they have enough club, they will deliberately lay up to the right of the elevated green. Anything to avoid the dam guarding the green. Cowardly? Never. If anything, clever and rational.

But once the water is cleared, whether on the first or third attempt, a beautiful green just below the finishing 18th and with a view of the clubhouse, awaits one to take their score - good or mostly, not so good.

A true golfer's hole either to leave you feeling so good about yourself, or yearning to come back to try again.

And as you drive out of Wingate and you look at that hole again, you may just remember the epitaph it engraved on your scorecard: here lies a round that was promising, until this moment.

GREEN FEES: R350 - R1000
SERVICE: 🥇
PMG: ✅
HALFWAY:🎖
CLUBHOUSE: 🏆
VALUE FOR MONEY: 🎭

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04/07/2024

GRASS NOT GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE

FACT: CMR doesn't come up in the list of top 10 golf courses in South Africa. Actually, I doubt it is in the top 100.

Another fact: CMR has one of the most enjoyable holes to play - the Par 4 Number 16.

If you asked those who've played it you are likely to hear one thing and one thing only. It is short. In fact, at just about 300m from box, it has been known to be driven by big hitters, mostly in the winter.

As a matter of fact, at the time of reviewing this hole, we were in the middle of Joburg winter. At CMR, the only green parts are, er, the greens themselves.

Which brings me to the most amazing feature of this hole, the green. In fact, this green is the secret weapon of Number 16.

Guarded by three bunkers, it is shaped like a bowl, which means there is no favourable flag placement here. Okay maybe one or two.

If the flag is in front, most parts are coming down a vicious hill with the hole lying below the 17th tee above, the first green to the left and the 2nd tee to the right.

If the flag is in the centre, you best pray it is not to the right just below the hill. Nothing stops the ball from there.

If by luck the flag is at the back, just hope you didn't leave your approach very short. Because reading lines here can be very tricky with everything sinking from all sides.

So, enjoy your drive. Hell, drive for show and reach drive the green if you will. Mind your approach and where you leave your ball on that. But for crying out loud, just know putting is hardly ever for dough here.

GREEN FEES: R250 - R380
SERVICE: 🏆
PMG: ✅
COURSE CONDITION:🌡
HALFWAY: ✔
CLUBHOUSE: 🥉
VALUE FOR MONEY 🎯

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19/06/2024

MADE HARD AND PLAYS HARDER

IT is no exaggeration that Observatory is one of the trickiest courses to play. Other than the most common description of it being narrow, this track is also very hilly. I can count only a few holes not going up or down a hill.

And even though the club has gone through hard times lately, it still offers amazing challenges and experiences.

Situated on the far end of the course is one of the most precious holes to play here: Par 4 Number 6. With a 90-degree dog-leg right fairway, the tee shot here is everything. Well almost everything.

Whatever decision you take can make or break you.

1. You can play straight down the fairway. But don't be long. At the end of the fair is a hazard, and chances are the ball will be lost.

2. You can execute a cut (or a draw if you are a lefty). To do that, accuracy is non-negotiable. If the turn is too soon, danger.

3. The brave may even choose the Tiger-line: fly over the tree on the right and make the hole shorter. Warning: if trajectory is not your friend, refrain.

As stated earlier, the fairway is not everything. Once or if you find it, then you have to negotiate easily the second biggest uphill approach to the green (after Number 3). The green is guarded by a creek before. It is dry, but that's no relief at all. Completely narrow and sometimes rocky, playing from inside there could be suicidal to you and homicidal to your club.

And then the elevated green: wide, deep and deadly. But wherever you land, please, please, don't leave yourself a downhill putt here. Many have picked up bogeys and worse just from the green. And if you do too, don't feel bad, just learn.

Whatever happens, if you find yourself on this track (again) open your eyes. You will not find more exciting, demanding and well-designed holes with vistas to die for.

GREEN FEES: R150 - R250
SERVICE: 👏🏿
PMG: ✅
HALFWAY:🏆
CLUBHOUSE: 🏅
VALUE FOR MONEY:🎯

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02/06/2024

TIME TO RETHINK PMG?

LIKE most golfers, I have had enough bad rounds to can even remember. I have had days where nothing goes right. And others where everything went right, right of my target, I mean.

There have been days when I couldn't leave the tee box and some when none of my putts, until the third or fourth, found the hole.

I also have days when every ball found the water, or the thick rough, or the neighborhood house.

But none of those days come close to a recent Sunday where, having booked through the Playmoregolf platform, I was paired with two of the worst golfers I have ever encountered. (I choose not to mention the club because it is not about them.)

These louts did everything wrong one can find in the book. Noisy. Walked while others were playing.  Drank. And chatted while all of us waited for them to play. Slow, very slow. In fact, having teed off at 12.30, we finished just before 6pm in the winter dark.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a golf snob. And I have patience with beginners. We all were once there. I am also a fan of PMG, whatever the politics between it and some clubs, PMG has made the game possible for many who otherwise would be left out.

But all of us have to play according to the rules and be courteous to other players.

I think we need new ways. Maybe stricter marshalling by clubs. Maybe new rules that enforce maximum shots over par for beginners. Maybe only be allowed at the back of the field.

Whatever it is, let us not spoil the experience for everyone.

It is "play more rounds" of golf, not "more shots".

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