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

Situated on the East Rand in the suburb of Alberante, lies Reading Country Club, one of Johannesburg’s oldest and most popular championship golf courses.

At a length of 6552 metres, Reading boasts three excellent par fives which can be reached in two solid, accurate strikes with the safer three-shot route being an option for the shorter hitter. Avenues of tree-lined fairways with bands of kikuyu semi and fescue rough require accuracy from the tee in order to avoid strategic fairway bunkering on the ten stunning par fours which present themselves to the golfer fortunate enough to play at this exceptional venue. Good striking and pinpoint approaches into well guarded, medium-sized, fast and undulating USGA Spec Bentgrass greens are necessary otherwise shots will be dropped! Once there, excellent reading skills and a smooth putting stroke will be rewarded by the sound of dropping putts on these perfectly manicured surfaces. With water coming into play on all four of the pretty but dangerous par threes at this fine golf course, hitting the green is the golfers prime consideration when standing on the tee or their short games and bunker play will be closely examined.Â

Ponds, dams and irrigation lakes surrounded by various indigenous trees, shrubs, wild flowers, and exotic plantlife create a micro climate for the abundant and colourful birdlife that are a feature of this picturesque golf course. A family of Meerkats have inhabited parts of the layout for many years and these comical characters can often be seen during the course of a round.Â

The large, comfortable clubhouse is serviced by highly skilled, friendly staff with two full-size snooker tables just off the main bar area offering alternative entertainment. As with most South African country clubs, Reading can cater for large fields and has full bar, restaurant and conference facilities.Â

This wonderful example of golf course architecture and design offers a tough but fair challenge to players of all levels and is an absolute must for any golfer coming to South Africa.

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf

Situated west of Johannesburg in the delightful suburb of Ruimsig - loosely translated as ‘’spacious views” in Afrikaans - Roodepoort Country Club is a Gary Player design of exceptional quality.

Opened in 1986, it once hosted the now defunct Nissan Skins Matches where Gary Player and three other invited professionals fought battle over two days for big money. The event was played in a carnival atmosphere with huge hospitality marquees and beer tents situated at various locations around the course. The Winston Aerobatic Team provided spectators and players alike with a stunning display of high speed, precision aeronautical manoeuvres before the action began in earnest on the first tee. One year long-hitting American John Daly and South Africa’s Wayne Westner were given the chance to win a Ferrari for eagling the short par four 13th. Westner missed the green pin high left and Daly drove the green only to leave his putt an agonising half inch short of the hole for the eagle which would have given him the keys to the flaming red sports car! This deceivingly open layout requires accuracy from the tee in order to avoid well placed fairway bunkering, with bands of kikuyu semi and fescue rough awaiting any wayward shots. The well guarded medium-sized USGA Spec Bentgrass greens are super quick with some severe undulations demanding excellent reading skills and a silky smooth putting stroke. Touted as a future South African Open venue, this typical Player design offers a tough but fair challenge to golfers of all levels.

The stunning variety of birdlife which inhabit the course, use ponds and irrigation lakes as gathering places with colourful indigenous trees, shrubs, wild flowers and exotic plantlife creating the perfect backdrop for a pleasant round of golf.

This fine venue has full bar, restaurant and conference facilities and is serviced by a highly efficient, friendly staff. Panoramic vistas of the course and surrounding areas are on view from the large clubhouse verandah making a possibly long and difficult Nineteenth Hole perhaps not such a hardship!

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf

Situated just off Corlett Drive in the beautiful northern Johannesburg suburb of Illovo, lies one of the finest parkland golf courses in the Southern Hemisphere. Established in 1937 and opened in 1939, it wasn’t until 1942 that the eighteen holes that make Wanderers Golf Club the fantastic test of golf it is today were finally completed. Yet another stunning Robert Grimsdell design, construction was assigned to one of the clubs’ early members, Felix Oliver, a fine golfer who at that time played his golf across town at Royal Johannesburg.

At a length of 6548 metres from the championship tees, Wanderers offers a tough but fair challenge to golfers of all levels. The more user friendly 6194 metres off the club tees gives players the chance to hit medium to short irons into well guarded greens on the ten wonderful par fours on display at this fine venue. The four pretty par threes require good striking and accuracy to avoid the heavy bunkering which surround fairly small targets. Depending on the golfers’ ability, the three par fives can be reached with two solid strikes, but a safer three-shot route can still offer up the chance of a single putt birdie or (hopefully) a simple par. The world famous Wanderers cricket ground lies adjacent to the par five tenth hole, but it would have to be the greatest Test Match ever played to take the golfers’ mind off this beautiful and impressive tree-lined golf course! The medium to large USGA Spec Bentgrass greens are fast and undulating and require excellent reading skills and a smooth putting stroke.

A huge and abundant variety of birdlife inhabit the course during the seasons and these, along with a profusion of indigenous trees, shrubs, exotic plantlife and all kinds of wild flowers, create a myriad of colours which will make your trip around this most wonderful of layouts an extremely pleasing and memorable experience.

Once home to South African PGA Championship, Wanderers very rarely threw up a surprise winner, as a quick glance at some of the past title holders will verify - Gary Player, Ernie Els, Dale Hayes and Tienie Britz (the only player to successfully defend the title) - to name but a few! Some stars from overseas also got their names inscribed on the trophy, with Tom Weiskopf, Hale Irwin and Corey Pavin being the most notable.

The large, comfortable clubhouse has full bar, restaurant and conference facilities and is serviced by a skilled, highly efficient staff who create a friendly, welcoming atmosphere for a relaxed and enjoyable nineteenth hole, overlooking the stunning vista provided by the opening and closing holes of Wanderers Golf Club!

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf