Golf in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

[Scott Warren]

I will be spending a few weeks in South Africa next month, in and around Durban (mostly Umhlale, but also Pietermaritzburg, Greytown) visiting my wife's family.

On my radar are Durban CC (obviously), Umhlale, one or both courses at Mt Edgecombe and Southbroom.

Is there anything else that's worth seeking out in that neck of the woods?

Princes Grant? Royal Durban? Champagne Sports if we go to Drakensburg?

[Padraig Dooley]

Scott

If you're heading south to play Southbroom the trip to the Wild Coast Sun isn't much further and is well worth the 30 minutes extra driving.

San Lameer and Selborne are other options south. Zimbali and Eshowe Hills to the north might be worth a look. Didn't get a chance to play any of these four but reports are good.

[Paul Jansen]

Scott,

Other than Durban Country Club try its sister course Durban Country Club (Beachwood Course). As I understood it Durban Country Club is sat on lease hold land and as surity they purchased Beachwood just a little way down the road and got Gary Player to come in and give it some interest. Very tight golf course but some interesting holes through magrove swamp and coastal dune. Royal Durban is worth a visit only because it is one of the better golf courses in the region but certainly not the wow factor of Durban CC. Also positioned inside the Greyville racetrack so this gives it interest and remarkably long and spread out for the land it occupies. Maybe try Umdoni golf course (down the south coast) for a bit of a Hidden Gem. Of the new golf courses (have not seen the ones built in the last 10 - 15 years) I would probably only recommend The Wild Coast given some of the specatacular land it is routed through. I believe the Victoria Golf Club in Pietermaritzburg is a nice round of golf although cant vouch for this having not played it myself - it does look to be sat on some severe land.  Hope this helps you.

[Philip Gawith]

Scott, Durban CC is definitely the best there. I would not bother with Royal Durban - flat and not much spoken of. Zimbali is a  Weiskopf course and worth playing and I also enjoyed  Princes Grant which has some good holes and interesting land. Umhlali is older course, Mt Edgecombe newer and more aspirational type course on a housing estate. I suspect you would prefer Umhlali but i don't really know either well.

South of Durban I would play Southbroom (quaint, characterful - very well known and respect pro in Derek James), Wild Coast - some good holes. Selborne is not bad. In the Midlands there are two nine hole layouts you could try - Boschoek at Balgowan (extremely scenic if not high tariff GCA) and a newer course called Gowrie at Nottingham Road which i believe is attempted links course by same guy who developed Princes Grant. Not sure about the Drakensberg courses - i played one which may be the one you reference.

In Pietermaritzburg i think Victoria is the best of two - it used to be the Country Club and i think was then revamped and renamed. Lots of undulation and sidehill lies in its old incarnation.

I think you will find some of the older coastal layouts quite characterful, DCC has some really memorable holes and great history....but overall you should realise that South Africa is much better at producing quality golfers than quality courses! And GCA understanding in my experience is very rudimentary, especially compared to Australia which has a raft of marquee courses and clearly a critical mass of very informed pundits. All that said, there is a lot to be said for uncomplicated, unpretentious golf, and that you will certainly get in KZN.

Philip

[Scott Warren]

Thanks guys for the feedback. I really appreciate it.

The golf on this trip will be with my father-in-law, brother-in-law and other in-laws who are not as fanatical about the game as I, so value, views etc are as important a consideration as architecture.

But I am trying to find a way to see some interesting courses that they will also enjoy (and it seems Southbroom especially ticks this box while we are spending a couple of days at Hibberdene).

I have reciprocals at Durban CC, so that is an easy set-up and the second course seems like it might be worth a look as well. Given the other options, perhaps playing Durban CC as many times as possible is the best play.

Bosch Hoek looks like a fun and scenic nine-holer, Philip, thanks for pointing it out. Not too far from Pietermartizburg, either. Victoria also seems a good option.

Up where we will be staying the most time with family, Zimbali and Umhlali both seem to have something to offer.

Again, I really appreciate you all chiming in.