DURBAN COUNTRY CLUB
in Durban Beachfront,
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Situated within minutes from the Durban city centre the Club provides an
exclusive retreat for members from the city life – easily accessible for
business man, holidaymakers and locals who benefit from the excellent facilities
providing for conferences, functions and events and the brilliant restaurants
offering fine and casual dining accompanied by a renowned wine list, an intimate
cocktail bar, a traditional bar and a sparkling pool with poolside bar and
marquee especially popular in the warmer months.
The Durban Country Club clubhouse is an impressive, stately, white gabled
building in Cape Dutch style constructed in 1924 by architects Wallace Paton and
WG (Billy) Moffat, surrounded by meticulously groomed lawns, a sparkling pool,
club amenities and a magnificent and renowned golf course, the Club has become a
landmark along Durban’s ‘golden mile’ beachfront and a vital player in the
desirable Kings Park Sporting Precinct.
HOLE 1
Distance: 354 m
Par: 4
Str: 5 A challenging opening hole with out of bounds along the right and dense
bush along the left. The fairway slopes right to left and the approach is played
slightly uphill to a plateau green which slopes off severely left and right.
HOLE 2
Distance: 172 m
Par: 3
Str: 13 An elevated tee shot with good views of the Indian Ocean on the right.
The green is surrounded by bunkers and the tee shot needs to carry onto the
green. Anything short will fall away down the slope.
HOLE 3
Distance: 468
Par: 5
Str: 9 Regarded as one of the best par 5’s in golf. An elevated tee shot is
required to a very narrow fairway with bush along the entire length on both
sides. Some longer hitters may go for the green in two but a strategically
placed second shot will leave a short iron to a long narrow green with very
subtle slopes. A truly great hole in all conditions.
HOLE 4
Distance: 165 m
Par: 3
Str: 17 Another elevated tee shot to a green well-protected by trees and
bunkers. Golfers are often caught out by wind direction here, as the green is
very well sheltered. Club selection is all-important.
HOLE 5
Distance: 420 m
Par: 4
Str: 1 The toughest par 4 on the course. An extremely demanding tee shot with
bush and out of bounds to distract the golfer. The fairway is undulating and an
uneven stance is common. The approach will need a fairway wood or long iron to a
well-guarded green. If you have a shot here, it could be wise to play this one
as a par 5.
HOLE 6
Distance: 322 m
Par: 4
Str: 11 A shortish par 4. If played wisely with a fairway wood or long iron tee
shot, only a short iron is left to set up a birdie chance.
HOLE 7
Distance: 340 m
Par: 4
Str: 7 The fairway narrows quite considerably at about 250 metres from the tee,
so a three wood is a good play. The approach is slightly blind to a green
bunkered on both sides.
HOLE 8
Distance: 458 m
Par: 5
Str: 15 A beautiful par 5 which, in most conditions, will need three good, well
planned shots to reach. The hole doglegs to the left, and a decision has to be
made whether to lay up short of the big bunker or try to carry it with the
second shot. The green is unbunkered but trouble is still close on both sides. A
par is a good score.
HOLE 9
Distance: 397 m
Par: 4
Str: 3 An elevated tee shot to a wide fairway doglegging to the right. A long or
medium iron will be needed for your approach to a long green bunkered right to
back left.
HOLE 10
Distance: 512 m
Par: 5
Str: 8 You can open your shoulders on this par 5, although the green is out of
reach in two to all except the longest hitters. Care needs to be taken with the
second shot, as dense bush is very close on both sides of the green. The green
is unbunkered and very big, so club selection is very important with the
approach.
HOLE 11
Distance: 439 m
Par: 4
Str: 2 A long, difficult par 4 that will need your two best shots to get home.
The fairway is generous but the green is well protected. The prudent play is to
be long with the approach rather than short. You will be very happy with par
here.
HOLE 12
Distance: 143 m
Par: 3
Str: 12 This par 3 is a real classic. Not a long hole, but it will get your
attention. The green has steep banks on both sides so anything left or right
will leave a very difficult chip shot. Club selection is paramount and very high
scores are not unusual.
HOLE 13
Distance: 310 m
Par: 4
Str: 14 A straightforward tee shot from an elevated tee. The fairway is generous
and a medium to short iron should set up a birdie opportunity.
HOLE 14
Distance: 482 m
Par: 5
Str: 10 This hole presents an easy birdie opportunity for most players. You
should have very little trouble off the tee, although the fairway narrows
towards the green. The green is big and protected by two front bunkers on the
right.
HOLE 15
Distance: 177 m
Par: 3
Str: 16 This hole always plays a little longer as the distance is deceptive. The
green is protected by sand bunkers but is a fairly large target.
HOLE 16
Distance: 381 m
Par: 4
Str: 4 Another one of the really good par 4’s. A tee shot shaped left to right,
away from the fairway bunkers, should leave a long to medium iron onto a large
green. The approach plays slightly uphill so allow for extra club.
HOLE 17
Distance: 367 m
Par: 4
Str: 6 This is a friendly hole, with the ground sloping towards the fairway from
both sides. The green is plateaued at the end of a very undulating fairway. A
deep bunker protects the left side of the green.
HOLE 18
Distance: 250 m
Par: 4
Str: 18 A great finishing hole to a championship course, where anything can
happen and eagles and double drops are not uncommon. The left side is favoured
with a tee shot as the fairway slopes to the right. A very simple but exciting
hole.
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