Based in the plush, affluent Johannesburg suburb of Lower Houghton, Killarney Golf Club was laid out by Robert Grimsdell, a South African professional golfer, and one of the era’s prolific golf course architects in this region.

A parkland course, Killarney has one of the finest layouts in South Africa. It has played host to various Sunshine and Winter Tour events over the years and could have hosted many more. Understandably, the club members would rather have the venue to themselves! This will come as no surprise to anyone who is fortunate enough to play this fine championship golf course.

Accuracy and shape of shot are vital on the twelve outstanding par fours which present themselves to the golfer on this fine layout. Generously wide fairways, framed by majestic trees and bands of kikuyu semi and fescue rough, will reward straight hitting with the opportunity of playing medium to short irons into well guarded targets. Once there, the large, quick and undulating USGA Spec Bentgrass greens require excellent reading skills, judgment of pace, and a smooth, steady putting stroke. With water coming into play on the two par fives at Killarney, a combination of solid striking, sound course management and decision making can result in the chance of a birdie or an easy par, but this is golf, and if none of the aforementioned have been achieved, there is plenty of trouble around to snag any errant shots and high numbers are a possibility! Four stunning par threes complete this golfing masterpiece and your short game and bunker play will come under close scrutiny if you miss the ”dance floor”.

Ponds and irrigation lakes surrounded by beautiful weeping willows are gathering places for a huge and abundant variety of colourful bird life. Indigenous trees, shrubs, exotic plantlife and a diversity of wild flowers make your walk around this fantastic layout an extremely relaxed and pleasing visual experience. This course is a jewel in the crown of South African golf.

Also home to the Transvaal Automobile Club, Killarney’s palatial clubhouse offers full bar, restaurant and conference facilities and is serviced by highly skilled, friendly staff who like to see their guests have fun on the golf course and enjoy a challenging nineteenth hole afterwards!

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf

Based in the western suburb of Rant-en-daal, - loosely translated from Afrikaans as ”Hills and Valleys” - Krugersdorp Golf Club is one of the oldest clubs on the West Rand. You are very much out in the country when playing this fine golf course, and the huge variety of colourful bird life, indigenous trees, shrubbery, wild, exotic flowering plants and gardens which inhabit the area make the players stroll against this picturesque African backdrop an extremely pleasant and gratifying visual experience.

Significant investment in recent years led to the installation of USGA Spec Bentgrass greens and this, along with the building of new tees and strategic fairway bunkering, has stretched the course and helped it keep pace with the modern game.

At a length of 6426 metres from the club tees, Krugersdorp’s stunning par 72 championship layout is a tough but fair test of golf, and this fine piece of course architecture and design requires intelligent, accurate play from tee to green and a good touch when you find them! Depending on the individuals’ prowess, the four outstanding par fives are reachable in two powerful blows but, more often than not, the cautious three-shot route to the green will result in a safe par or possible single-putt birdie. The ten par fours which nestle perfectly into Krugersdorp’s gently rolling and undulating landscape never look out of place and demand accuracy and shape of shot from the tee in order to leave a choice of long, medium and short iron approaches into well protected, fast, undulating greens. Hit the target on four par threes of matchless beauty and a birdie or safe par could be your reward, but danger awaits any misshits or loose play in the form of heavy rough, water and substantial bunkering, thereby placing the golfers short game skills under close scrutiny.

The comfortable clubhouse with its large, thatched African ”Lapa” (gazebo) is the perfect place to wind down after a pleasant round of golf with a long, cold drink in hand, viewing yet another stunning African sunset! Serviced by a highly efficient, friendly staff, Krugersdorp has full bar, restaurant and conference facilities and its affable members will be only too glad to join visiting groups of fellow golfers and help them navigate their way through what can be a long and difficult nineteenth hole!

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf

An absolute gem of a course, Kyalami Country Club is situated just north of Johannesburg near Kyalami Race Track, once home to the South African Formula One Grand Prix. The surrounding area is inhabited by smallholdings, horse riding schools, country inns, restaurants and shops displaying all kinds of South African goods such as traditional furnishings, fabrics, curios and art.

At a length of 6633 metres, Kyalami offers a strong but fair challenge to golfers of all levels. The four par fives are reachable in two solid blows, but the safer three shot route can still provide a birdie or a safe par. Accuracy and shape of shot are vital from the tee on the par fours and straight hitting will be rewarded by leaving medium to short iron approach shots into the greens on this scenic, meandering layout. Miss the target on any of the picturesque par threes and your short game and bunker play will be thoroughly examined! The USGA Spec Bentgrass greens are well guarded, quick and undulating with intelligent reading skills and a smooth putting stroke being required on these perfectly manicured surfaces.

Ponds, dams and irrigation lakes surrounded by willow, indigenous trees, flowering shrubs and a huge, abundant variety of colourful birdlife complete the prettiest of pictures and make your walk around this fine golf course an extremely pleasing visual experience against a stunning African backdrop.

The cosy, amiable clubhouse atmosphere created by the friendly staff and members make Kyalami the ideal venue for a great days’ golf with its outstanding bar, restaurant and conference facilities offering exceptional quality and value.

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf

Nestling snugly in a valley between the plush, elegant suburbs of Cyrildene and Observatory in uptown Johannesburg lies Observatory Golf Club. Established in 1914, this fine golf course with no known individual designer or architect, is largely the result of evolution and a succession of visionary greenkeepers and greens committees over the years and decades.

Avenues of narrow, tree-lined fairways make accuracy from the tee the golfers’ prime consideration when playing this pretty and picturesque layout. Though not overly long at lengths of 6428 metres from the championship tees and 6131 metres from the club tees, hit the fairways on Observatory’s ten beautifully shaped and sculpted par fours and you will be rewarded with the opportunity to hit medium to short irons from closely mown kikuyu turf into small, well guarded greens. Miss the target on the four lovely par threes and your short game will be severely tested and any score is a distinct possibility. The four par fives on this little gem can be reached in two solid blows but, as with all the other great holes on this fine golf course, straight hitting is of paramount importance. Its highly skilled and motivated greenkeeping staff maintain Observatory to the highest standards of excellence and the small, fast and undulating USGA Spec Bentgrass greens will reward good reading skills and a sound putting stroke with the sound of dropping putts.

The late, great Bobby Locke was honorary professional at the club for many years and played in what was known as the Thursday Club every week. He loved the venue dearly and regularly regaled members and visitors alike with stories of his many past triumphs, tribulations and travels around the globe with an uncanny recall.

The small, functional clubhouse, with its friendly members and efficient staff is the ideal place to enjoy fine food and refreshments after your round and, if you think the course was a tough test, the Nineteenth Hole at Observatory is renowned for its length and difficulty!

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf