I have been meaning to post something about Gary Player CC in Sun City, South Africa but never got around to do it. Since, the course is hosting a tournament this week I thought I might post a few pictures with some commentary as I remember the course. I played it in 2012 just prior to the Nedbank event.
Gary Player CC is not a course many will love. It does not have the charm of say a Shoreacres. It is a course like Medinah #3 or Baltusrol in that it is a long tournament tough course that lacks a lot of strategy for the club player. I think it requires more thought for the world class player.
Sun City is not anything like Sun City in Phoenix. This place is more like Las Vegas.
It has another course, Lost City GC. It is a pretty forgettable course except for the Crocodile hole.
They used kikuyu grass all aaround so hitting off the fairway is a dream but hitting out of the rough is a nightmare. In a few places I just dropped my ball back into the fairway. Wedging out gets old and I wasn’t playing for score. I just wanted to see how it plays into the greens.
The course is measured in meters so add 10% .
Number one is about 400 meters with a narrow fairway to a well bunkered green. Evidently I don’t have a picture.
Number two is 515 meters. There is a lake to the right of where the second shot would land and is a pretty good hole.
This picture is from where a tee shot would land.
The third shot
The third hole is 375 meters. There is a bunker on the right side of the fairway in play off the tee. It is better t be on the right side of the fairway for the second shot.
From the tee
Shot into the green
The fourth hole is pretty nice one shotter at 194 meters
Looking back toward the tee.
Five is a beast at 440 meters. 376 meters for humans. Just a straight forward hole with the obligatory fairway bunker and two bunkers fronting the green.
Second shot
Six is 388 meters.
From the teee
Second shot from the left side of the fairway.
The terrain around the green.
Seven is a well bunkered 200 meter par three wit an angled green from right to left.
Eight is 424 meters. It is pretty nice hole. The tee shot is blind for players my size. It helps to be tall. There is a creek that crosses the fairway.
Second shot just short of the creek.
The bunkers can be deep on the course.
Looking back from the green.
Nine is 520 meter with an island green. A pretty neat hole actually.
Tee shot.
Shot into the green. Actually this is back from where a third shot would be.
This is the third shot.
The back nine begins with a nice par five of about 500 meters.
Tee shot.
Bunkers are indeed in play off the tee.
Shot into the green
Eleven is a 422 meter par four.
The tee shot is to an angled fairway and dares you to bite off as much as you dare.
Second shot. Many of the shots into the green feel similar to others with bunkers left and right. The greens, however, are different so the shots really aren’t a similar as it appears from the pictures.
I do like how the bunkers are presented.
Twelve is another 200ish par three. The green really makes this hole.
Thirteen is a 393 meter par four.
The tee shot is demanding with bunkers left and right.
From the left fairway bunker.
Shot into the green.
There had a fire recently.
Fourteen is a long 550 meter.
Tee shot.
Second shot is tricky. In essence there are cross bunkers that can catch a poor shot.
The green is an island green surrounded by sandy waste area.
You get to the hallway house a couple of times.
Routing is tricky.
I really like the sand in the bunkers. It looks very natural and fits into the surroundings.
Fifteen is a 430 yard par four.
Shot into the green. Again it is very similar to other shots around the course.
Finally a par three that is a different length. 164 meters.
I think it is the best par three on the course. It certainly is the most attractive.
Looking back from Sixteen green.
Trees are not really in play anywhere but are pretty cool looking, at least for this east coast boy.
Seventeen is a 430 meter par four with a large lake to the left. It is a very nice hole. The tee shot is pretty daunting but there is a lot of room to the right of the lake, but there is also a bunker should you bail out too much.
From the fairway looking toward the tee.
Second shot from the right side of the fairway.
Another look.
Eighteen is a strong finisher at 440 meters.
Tee shot is pretty benign but hitting the fairway is a must and there is a fairway bunker to the right . To have a better second shot you should risk the lake to the left. In person you can see both the lake and the bunker.
Second shot
I enjoyed my round but would not like a steady diet of the course. I think it could get a little boring.
Sun City itself is a bustling La Vegas style resort town. I was surprised that there were only two golf courses.
Outlandish is a good word to use.
A short distance is the Pilanesburg Game Preserve which is worth a full day. Found this guy who ran towards me. I backed up as much as I could til I backed into a ditch.
