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Name: Durban Country Club
Type of Club: Country Club
Golf Digest Ranking: 4
Sport & Safaris Rating: Gold
Location: KwaZulu-Natal
Region: Durban
Sub Region: Central Durban
The Course:
Type of Course: Parkland (Links elements)
Designers: George Waterman and Laurie Waters
No of Holes: 18
Clubhouse and other Facilities:
Durban Country Club is situated just north of the city centre, in what is often regarded as the city’s sporting precinct, being close to the swimming stadium, athletics stadium, the new football stadium and the world famous rugby stadium- Absa Stadium formerly known as Kingspark. Durban Country Club is regarded as the most prestigious club in the province and the elegant Cape Dutch club reflects this grandeur. It has all the facilities that one would except from a club of this stature and the forward thinking committee has made the club a very welcoming place to visit.
Course:
Country Club as it affectionately known was once regarded head and shoulders above any other course in South Africa, a point highlighted by the fact that it has hosted 16 South African Opens. It has been taken over in the last decade or so by more modern courses, however it is still regarded as one of the country’s premier ‘tracks’ and in 2009 was ranked fourth in South Africa by Golf Digest and it is notably the highest non resort or estate course. Built on land that seemed as if it was purposefully put on this earth to be used for golf, the course is undulating throughout ranging from the subtle to severe, where one often is faced with the obstacle of not being able to see one’s target due to a large mound! The course also makes full use of the indigenous bush that line most fairways and it punishes wayward shots. Most golfers enjoy being eased into a round, where the first few holes are gentle and let one get their ‘eye in’ before stiffer challenges present themselves. Country Club unfortunately doesn’t allow one this pleasure as the first five holes are often described as the hardest opening holes in South African golf. It is probably not a coincidence that these holes are the closest to the beach and are therefore more susceptible to the wind. The 2nd is a par three and the longest on the course. From an elevated tee box you play to a large green that is perched on a hill that drops off severely in the front and left, there are four bunkers surrounding the green that is also protected by thick vegetation. The 3rd is often mentioned as one of the greatest third holes in the world and it definitely lives up to that billing, from an elevated box, thick vegetation line both sides of the fairway and for most golfers the large left hand fairway bunker should be the target, for the longer hitter they can take the bunker on, however going for the green in two has its own obstacles with the thin long green with subtle slopes being a hard target to hit. The par four 5th is probably the toughest hole in KwaZulu-Natal and precision is what is required. From an elevated tee you face a daunting tee shot, out of bounds tight on the right, thick bush on left. If you find the fairway, you will most probably face an uneven lie with a long second to a small green that is well guarded. A good option is to swallow some pride and play the hole as a par 5. Although the course is regarded as a tough test of golf by most that play it, the course by modern standards is generally short and most holes offer a ‘bail out’ option which should encourage golfers of all ability to play at a course that is embedded with so much of South Africa’s golfing history.
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