East London Outdoor City: Sports Clubs
We continue with our series of articles on Everything Outdoor and focus on Sports Clubs, associations where you can go to play one or more sports. And in East London we have plenty!
GOLF
The game of Golf was first played in South Africa way back in 1885, in Cape Town, and has since spread far and wide across the country. With our nation’s excellent climate and professionally designed courses, it comes as no surprise that the country is regarded as something that comes close to a golfer’s paradise.
Here in East London, Golf is an extremely popular pastime and golfers are spoilt for choice with our selection of clubs. Not only is the East London Golf Club (043 735 1357) one of the oldest golf clubs in South Africa but it is also consistenly rated among the country’s Top 10 golf courses. The Club and course has played host to the SA Open six times and is a regular home for National and Regional Championships, Seniors and Nomads Tournaments.
Other golf clubs include Gonubie Golf Club (043 740 5645), a club which has a beautiful parkland country layout course; West Bank Golf Club (043 731 1523) which has a lovely view over the Indian Ocean and is a must visit for the competitive golfer; the Fish River Sun Hotel (040 676 1002) which boasts an 18-hole Gary Player designed masterpiece of a course and Alexander Golf Club (043 736 3646).
The Olivewood Golf Club (087 350 4310) sits upon a 1000 hectare Private Estate on the East Coast road to Chintsa, and is an 18-hole championship golf course in the height of African bush veld luxury. The holes flow from the beautiful clubhouse down to the river and back and enthusiasts get to share this beautiful environment with the local wildlife who have taken up residence on the fairways.
TENNIS
The South African Tennis Association is the governing body for this sport and accolades for South Africa include Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan winning 57 career double titles, including three Wimbledon crowns.
The Abbotsford Tennis Club (084 261 2987) was officially started in 1976 and has gone from strength to strength. The Club now has five tennis courts (two with floodlights) and an ever growing membership. The public are welcome to play at the club on Wednesday nights from 7pm and on Saturdays from 2pm.
The Old Selbornian Tennis Club (043 721 0388) boasts the largest membership in the Border region and has been a strong force in local tennis for many years. There are 6 courts at the club and all levels of players are catered for, from first to third league teams. Social tennis is played on Saturdays with Mens, Ladies and Mixed leagues also held during the year. If Tennis is not your preferred sport, however, you can also get involved in Rugby, Bowls, Cricket, Hockey, Road Running and Squash.
RUGBY
The history of Rugby dates back to the 19th century, when the first ever game was played in Cape Town in 1862. Cape Town’s Hamilton’s Sea Point Club, founded in 1875, is the oldest Rugby Club in South Africa. The following year the Villager Club was established and clubs began springing up nationwide after that.
Rugby is a very popular sport in East London and our schools have produced many fine Rugby players in the past including Andre Vos, Keith and Mark Andrews, Christiaan Scholtz, Brent Russell, Rory Kockott, Akona Ndungane and Odwa Ndungane.
Most national games are played at Buffalo City Stadium, a venue which hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
As well as Rugby being a big part of the Old Selbornian Club, as mentioned above, you can also find plenty of activity at Buffs Club (043 743 0814), the third oldest Rugby Club in South Africa. In addition to Rugby, you can get involved in other sports at Buffs Club including Cricket, Hockey, Road Running, Snooker, Squash and Triathlon. Cambridge Sports Club (043 726 6339) is another venue where Rugby is at the forefront of activities.
SQUASH
Squash was introduced in South Africa in the early 20th century through the influence of the British military forces and the first courts were built at the Johannesburg Country Club and the Pretoria Squash Club.
In East London, we have numerous venues that house Squash courts including Beacon Bay Country Club (043 748 3566), Buffs Club, Cambridge Sports Club, Gonubie Sports Club (083 453 8072), the Hamilton Club and the Old Selbornian Club.
BADMINTON
South African Badminton Championships started in 1937 and there have been many great players, Alan Parsons considered by many to be one of the greatest.
If you love Badminton, you can play at Nutting Hall, a great venue in Stirling which has played host to official South African Badminton Tournaments.
BOWLS
Bowls began in South African in 1882 with the first green being laid and club founded at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth. The sport quickly spread through the country and today, Bowls South Africa has over 30,000 registered members and almost 600 clubs!
It is certainly a popular pastime in East London and if you are looking for a venue to play, you have plenty to choose from. Beacon Bay Bowling Club (084 658 1944), Bonza Bay Bowling Club, Cambridge Bowling Club, Comrades Bowling Club (083 284 3668), Nahoon Mouth Bowling Club (043 735 1642), Typos Bowling Club (043 743 1992), Bowling East London in Arcadia, Gonubie Bowling Club (076 571 8730) and Chintsa East Country Club.
CRICKET
Cricket arrived in South Africa under British colonisation. The first definite reference to the game was a match in Cape Town in 1808, offering a prize of 1,000 rix-dollars!
Cricket is extremely popular in East London with the main ground being Buffalo Park, home turf of the Warrior cricket squad. With a seating capacity of 20,000, it is a regular venue for One Day Internationals and previously hosted a Test Match in 2002. In the early 80’s, Mini Cricket was introduced at Buffalo Park, to encourage the growth and development of crickets amongst boys under 9 and girls under 13 years of age. Former Proteas wicketkeeper Mark Boucher hails from East London and our fair city is also home to cricket great Makhaya Ntini.
Another sports ground is the United Cricket Club Ground (formerly Schoeman Sports Ground) in Buffalo Flats. Buffs Club and Old Selbornian Club both offer Cricket opportunities.
MOTORSPORTS
The infamous East London Grand Prix Circuit (formerly the Prince George Race Circuit) is run and managed by the Border Motorsport Club (043 736 4023). East London has taken the lead in motor racing in the country and has staged one of the most successful sporting events South Africa has ever known – the South African Grand Prix in December 1934. In addition, the circuit is home to the Motorcycle South African Tourist Trophy and has a high-speed ‘long circuit’ that currently hosts Regional, National and invitational International Motor and Motorcycle Road Racing in all categories including Karting, Super Moto, Drifting and Drag Racing.
BOXING
Boxing traces its roots back to the second half of the 19th century and South African boxers have been remarkably successful in the ring, winning 49 world titles between 1927 and 2001. Our very own Nelson Mandela was a very keen boxer too.
East London and Mdantsane have produced numerous talented fighters and it is generally believed that the reason behind this is that boxing presents the only way out of poverty for many young men and women. And boxers who previously left Mdantsane and Duncan Village for better opportunities in Johannesburg and Cape Town, have returned to our fair city.
Not surprisingly, Boxing Clubs are numerous in East London and the surrounding areas. Downtown Boxing Club in the CBD, Duncan Village Village Boxing Academy and Durants, Xaba Boxing Club , Eyethu Boxing Club, Luvuyo Boxing Club, All Winners Boxing Club and Sisonke Boxing Club, all situated in Mdantsane. Professional Boxing matches are regularly held at East London’s Orient Theatre and Mdantsane’s Indoor Sport Centre.
SWIMMING
Natalie du Toit, who lost her left leg in an accident, made South African history in 2002 at the Commonwealth Games and our country has produced some first-classes swimmers.
A popular sport in East London, the Joan Harrison Complex (043 726 7066) houses a wonderful 10-lane heated pool and is facility for many activities including Waterpolo and Underwater Hockey events as well as swimming galas. Another option for swimming is, of course, our beautiful ocean 😉
All sports club in East London and the surrounding areas play a crucial role in the events that take place, be it local, national or international. It is also the reason why our city is considered one of the best when it comes to sports and fitness in general. So, take your Sports pick and know that there’s an outlet for your passion!