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Escape the chill
Text by Brendan Barratt.
Source: This article was taken from the June 2011 issue of Compleat Golfer
Winter golf in South Africa presents its fair share of challenges, but for those on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, it’s the perfect time to hit the fairways and get to work on those handicaps while the rest of the country freezes.
A passionate bunch at the best of times, die-hard golfers in Joburg have been known to brave frosty tee-boxes and sub-zero temperatures to get their regular golfing fix, while their Cape counterparts will pack their rain gear and brollies to counter the infamous Cape wet winter. Golfers on the east coast of the country, however, specifically those in KwaZulu-Natal, simply tee it up as if nothing has changed. With an average temperature of 23 degrees Celsius and seawater as warm as your bath, it’s like winter doesn’t exist here at all.
It’s no surprise then that the KZN North Coast, which stretches from Durban to the Tugela River mouth, remains a popular winter destination for those who are keen to thaw out or stay dry with their golf clubs. And with Durban’s new airport having opened in La Mercy, near Ballito, it makes a lot of sense to head out to this part of the world, often referred to as the Dolphin Coast, for a golfing holiday this winter.
The North Coast is Peter Matkovich territory and the golf course designer’s distinctive touch can be found on many of the courses up here. Matko’s first work was to upgrade the front nine and plot the second nine at Umhlali and the former touring professional would later go on to design the highly regarded Prince’s Grant and Simbithi courses. Other top-quality courses in the area include Tom Weiskopf’s Zimbali and the two courses at Mount Edgecombe, so if it’s a golfing holiday you’re after, then this really is about as good as it gets.
Durban itself remains a favourite holiday destination for many tourists, with the beaches, uShaka Marine World, casinos, sporting events, shopping malls and festive nightspots all adding to the visitor menu just a few minutes drive down the road. Oh, and did I mention that here in Sharks country, you can find some of the finest golf courses in the land?
Within a short drive from the airport, visitors have a wide choice of accommodation options available, from five-star hotels to pay-and-stay guesthouses. Since the golf courses are all a fairly short drive up or down the N2, it makes sense to choose a home base on the North Coast and explore from there.
PRINCE’S GRANT GOLF ESTATE, STANGER
PAR-72 CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE DESIGNER: Peter Matkovich
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 17 years since we first laid eyes on Prince’s Grant, Peter Matkovich’s impressive coastal design. Matko built the course on dune land that was formerly a sugar-cane farm and the layout winds in and around these dunes, providing a distinctive links feel in areas and a parkland feel in others. On a few holes, notably the signature par-five 15th, the sea comes into view and one is able to look all the way back down the coast to Umhlanga Rocks, it may be the furthest of the courses, but Prince’s Grant is rated as one of the finest coastal layouts in South Africa and is surprisingly affordable out of season. Simply put, Prince’s Grant should be on your must-play list.
www.princesgrant.co.za Tel: 032 482 0041
Greenfees:
- Normal R285 (affiliated) or R370 (non-affiliated).
- School holidays R400 (affiliated) or R480 (non-affiliated)
UMHLALI COUNTRY CLUB
PAR-72 PARKLAND GOLF COURSE, UMHLALI DESIGNER: Peter Matkovich
Probably one of the more underrated golf courses in the area, Umhlali was Matkovich’s first design and construction project, where he added nine new holes and rebuilt the original nine as the course incorporated a housing element. Umhlali is a popular and friendly club, both in high and low seasons, and while not actually located on the coast, features many coastal characteristics.
The course has a very tropical feel to it, complemented by the myriad palm trees that dot the landscape, and although the holes may not be very long (the course measures under 6 000 metres from the tips), there is more than enough variation in the design to keep the visiting golfer on his toes, while seven holes feature water hazards.
www.umhlalicountryclub.co.za Tel: 032 947 1181
Greenfees:
- Weekends R260 (SAGA affiliated) or R385 (non-affiliated)
“The North Coast is Matkovich territory and his touch can be found on many courses here”
SIMBITHI COUNTRY CLUB, BALLITO
PAR-60 EXECUTIVE COURSE DESIGNER: Peter Matkovich
Simbithi Country Club is an 18-hole ‘executive’ course in Ballito that winds through rolling sand dunes and swamp forests. It’s the first of its kind in South Africa and many believe this shortened version of the game to be the future of golf. As a par 60 comprising mostly par threes (and a few par fours and one par five), a round of golf at Simbithi takes considerably less time than normal – without feeling cheated by the length or difficulty of the course. The key here is that all of the holes are challenging and constructed according to USGA specification, and Matko’s idea was to “test a player’s ability to use all the clubs in their bag”.The course may be aimed at families and casual golfers, but the more skilled golfers out there will enjoy the challenge of going low here, making use of the variety of tee-box options.
The new clubhouse is superb and a post-round drink on the deck, which features a massive fig tree rising out from the middle of it, is a perfect end to a quick round of golf. For those interested in a classy dinner venue, the John Platter Wine Gallery, located at the clubhouse, is a fine setting to indulge in some food and wine pairings.
www.simbithi.com 032 946 5407
Greenfees:
- R165 (SAGA affiliated) or R275 (non-affiliated)
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WHILE IN KZN…
JOE COOL’S:
With a tagline of undeniably the world’s worst restaurant’, you might be a bit confused by this Durban beachfront jaunt, but spend a few hours there on a Sunday night and it will all start to make sense. Where else do you find people walking straight off the beach into the pub?
KINGS PARK:
The Stadium, ABSA Stadium, Kings Park – whatever you want to call it, don’t miss out on a chance to enjoy the most festive rugby stadium in the country. Even if they aren’t your team, some time in the car park after the game will give you a sense about what Sharks rugby is all about.
USHAKA MARINE WORLD:
Durban’s marine theme park is also one of its biggest attractions. Expect to find an incredible aquarium, dolphinarium, Wet ‘n Wild park, Village Walk shopping and a Kids’ World.
BUNNY CHOW:
You’ve heard all about Durban’s famous cuisine, but have you tried some bunny chow? Just remember to ask for mild!
CASINOS:
This part of the world is home to the Suncoast and Sibaya casinos, so if that’s what you are into, then by all means put it all on red.
SHAKA’S GRAVE:
The legendary King Shaka is buried up the North Coast, at KwaDukuza.
MICROLIGHTING:
Take to the skies over Ballito with a microlight flight from the Ballito Microlight School.There are some amazing views to soak in.
SHOPPING:
Umhlanga Rocks is the place to shop – with numerous shopping centres and countless boutique shops. Warning: the credit card could start humming in this bit of retail paradise.
FLORIDA ROAD:
Durban’s nightlife centre is a street filled with bars and restaurants.Take a pub tour by foot – as long as you remember your taxi fare for the trip home!
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MOUNT EDGECOMBE COUNTRY CLUB
TWO PAR-72 CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSES DESIGNERS: Course 1 – Sid Brews (1935) and Hugh Baiocchi(1992) Course 2 – DDV Design Group (1994)
With two championship golf courses, Mount Edgecombe, just north of the city, has long been one of the most popular residential estates in the greater Durban area. The first course, originally the
Huletts Country Club, was given a redesign by Hugh Baiocchi back in 1992 as the area was converted into a residential estate. Shortly afterwards, the second course, designed by DDV, made its appearance and, together with a driving range, completes a world-class golfing facility.
Course 1 is the more highly rated of the two layouts, with the watery ‘Amen Corner’ from the 14th to the 16th being a particularly impressive stretch of holes. Generally in great condition, the course hosted the recent SA Amateur Strokeplay event, where local lad Jared Harvey prevailed.
Course 2 also has its fair share of water hazards and is fairly undulating, but it is a bit wilder than Course 1 when it comes to the surrounding vegetation and a wide range of bird species can be found on this part of the estate. It is a spectacular course for all levels of golfer.
www.mountedgecombe.com Tel: 031539 5330
Greenfees:
- R290 (all visitors)
ZIMBALI COUNTRY CLUB
PAR-72 CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE DESIGNER: Tom Weiskopf
With the opening holes winding through rolling, open fairways and the closing stretch laid out through thick coastal forest, the Zimbali experience is as close to nature as you can get. Designer Tom Weiskopf’s philosophy of ‘conservation takes precedence’ is clear from the start and the 1973 Open champion has succeeded in creating a challenging yet memorable golf course.
Long walks between green and tee mean that this is a carts-only course, but this hardly detracts from the feeling of being out in nature and some of the ocean views are spectacular. Much like its designer, the course can be charismatic and volatile, rewarding the good shots and punishing those that are bad. Over the years, the course has become more playable, with wider landing areas and improved tee positions, but regardless of your score, the Zimbali experience is something like no other.
www.zimbali.co.za Tel: 032 538 1041
Greenfees:
- Weekends R385 (affiliated) or R470 (non-affiliated)
- Carts: R230/cart
WHERE TO STAY
This part of the country is geared towards tourists and between the coastal towns of Ballito, Umdloti and Salt Rock and the booming hotspot of Umhlanga Rocks, there are literally hundreds of places to rest your weary head. Over the summer months, when the coastline is packed with sun worshippers, surfers and holidaymakers, accommodation is harder to find, but come the winter months, there are great deals to be had.
FOR CONVENIENCE:
- HAMPSHIRE HOTEL, BALLITO
Located not much more than a long par five from King Shaka Airport, the new Hampshire Hotel is a very handy spot for the corporate golfer. It may not be right on the beach, like a lot of the other hotels, but the attraction of this hotel is its proximity to the airport and its reasonable rates. Having said that, it is certainly more than just a place to sleep-and store the clubs. The hotel is elegantly decorated, the service is good, the rooms are spacious and the breakfast is worthy of a mention. Nearby golf courses include Prince’s Grant, Zimbali, Umhlali and Simbithi. www.hampshirehotel.co.za Tel: 032 586 6000
FOR RELAXATION:
- THE SQUARE BOUTIQUE HOTEL & SPA, UMHLANGA ROCKS
Another sparkling new hotel to fall under the Three Cities umbrella, The Square Boutique Hotel & Spa is a retro-style hotel with a luxurious touch to it. Located in a vibrant part of Umhlanga Rocks, amid commercial and retail properties, The Square Boutique features some stunning views of the ocean, especially from the roof-top pool. Not only are the rooms impressively large, but the hotel has its own spa and gym.The Aqua spa offers a variety of treatments by professional and enthusiastic beauty therapists – so much so that by the time I got back from my round of golf, my darling had hardly noticed that I had been gone. The chefs at the Cosmopolitan restaurant were both adventurous and eager to impress, which resulted in some special treatment when it came to dinner time at the hotel’s open-to-the-public eatery. It’s also a popular spot for morning coffees and low-key business meetings. www.thesquare.co.za Tel: 0861 000 333
FOR LUXURY AND SHOPPING:
- ROYAL PALM HOTEL, UMHLANGA ROCKS
Umhlanga Rocks’ growth over the past decade has been astonishing. Formerly a holiday spot conveniently close to Durban, the area now competes with Durban’s CBD as a business hub of note. The growth has also seen a spike in the number of boutique hotels such as the new Royal Palm Hotel, a Three Cities hotel that is barely a chip and a putt from the Gateway shopping centre. On a quick tour of the hotel, I discovered that there were a variety of room options available. My junior suite, covering only slightly less floor space than my house, was among the smallest of the 94 apartments, with two-bedroom and penthouse apartments available for those in need of extra room. One of the attractions of the Royal Palm, apart from slick design and modern finishes, is the classy Dish restaurant, located on the bottom floor. Unlike some hotel arrangements, this contemporary diner is open to hotel guests and the public, and it’s clearly a popular spot among locals, whether it be for lunch, dinner or cocktails. Nearby golf courses include Mount Edgecombe, Durban Country Club and Beachwood. www.royal-palm.co.za Tel: 031 581 8000
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