There are not many links courses outside the UK/Ireland, and this is certainly one the most authentic and best. Built by Major SV Hotchkin in 1931, it is the purest and best example of links golf in South Africa and possibly the country's finest course behind Durban Country Club. Bobby Locke said this was the course where the Open should be held if it ever left British shores.
The course is not as well known as it should be - in part because Port Elizabeth is not a very glamorous part of the country, partly because South African golfers are generally pretty ignorant about the virtues of classic golf courses, and it is off the tourist trail where the newer more hyped courses are to be found.
I really enjoyed my visit and would highly recommend the course. It does not have as many memorable holes as Durban CC, but then nor does it have any holes which are quite so weak as on the flat part of Durban. The strength of the course are probably the one-shotters which include the famous 6th, the excellent 14th, the tough 3rd....There are also some very muscular two-shotters (especially 4, 8, 10 and 13), some clever shorter par fours, such as 16, and the strong par 5 11th.
As the pictures make clear, this is proper links-land - a course routed over dunes, no trees, undulating fairways, blind shots, strong wind. The heat and local conditions mean that the course will never play quite the same as in more traditional settings. In particular, the club wrestles with kikuyu grass which is not the friend of "firm and fast" conditions. But there is no doubting that this is in essence a links experience.
I played the course in a two-shot east wind which is the opposite of the prevailing wind. The locals were anxious I should understand that this was a mere gentle zephyr compared to what often blows. If that sounds daunting, one consolation is that the course has a sensible set-up with most of the longer holes having pretty generous fairways.
Here are some of the holes:
The opening first - a shortish two-shotter played towards the sea. No bunkers around the green, but still no pushover.
The first of the one-shotters - the downhill 3rd, but at 198m into the wind, it required just about your best shot to get there. A good green-site, protected by a mound on the left.
The 5th green - a bunker about 20 yards short and right makes distance judgement difficult.
The short 6th which locals like to describe as South Africa's shortest par 5. At 130m it is not too far, but the wind is normally strong across a narrow, elevated green, with heavy bunkers...It is reputed to belong to Retief Goosen's eclectic 18.
Only the best bunker shot will hold the 6th green.
View of 6th green from the other side...
The triangle shaped 7th green
The approach to the stroke one 8th hole - no bunkers required to add to the challenge of this hole.
This side shot of the 8th green shows some of the slope....
Bunkering on the right side of the 9th hole....
second nine to follow.....