Golf Courses & Clubs in Port Elizabeth

Posted in Golf | Golf & Golf Courses | Sports | Sports & Leisure | Tourism

We have some championship courses here in Nelson Mandela Bay that will challenge you whilst providing you with some breathtaking scenery and golfing experiences!

Humewood Golf Club:

The championship course of Port Elizabeth. An old-styled golf course that elegantly flows through the dunes of Summerstrand. Its beauty is simple, its many shades of green against a back drop of the ocean and blue skies is breathtakingly stunning.

This course is a must to play. Its teeth begin to show as the wind picks up otherwise its difficulty is reduced. Its rolling fairways, undulating greens and deep bunkers all add to the history of this truly great links.

The course is best described as:

Unique
Challenging layout
A masterpiece

All are invited to enjoy a round on our championship links course and, whilst you’re soaking up an almost old-fashioned atmosphere, watch out for that wind! The prevailing south-easterly and westerly winds will demand all your golfing skills.

And you better hope that gale force conditions are not the order of the day!

Hole	Description
1	A straightforward hole to start off with that runs slightly downhill towards the sea. The wide fairway assists you to get over those 1st tee nerves, but beware of the two fairway bunkers, which are perfectly positioned for those long hitters. There is dead ground in front of the green, so be sure to trust your yardage and take enough club for your approach.
2	A fantastic dogleg left par 4. The drive is key on this hole, as you will be driving over a hump on the corner to a semi-blind fairway, which has a large bale–out area to the right . The approach shot is to a long green that is well protected on both sides. The green slopes severely from back to front.
3	This long, sea–facing par 3 always presents its self as a challenge to any golfer. This small green is protected by 2 large bunkers to the right and a hump short right of the green. The hump is a good line to take, however don’t pitch directly into it, as it may just kick the ball towards the bunkers.
4	The first of the four long par 4’s that Humewood has to offer. Almost 400 meters long, your drive needs to favor the left of the fairway, accurately missing the deep rough on the left and two well-placed fairway bunkers to the right. The approach shot is to an elevated green that has a blind bunker to the right. This green is over 100 feet long, so be aware to check the pin placing.
5	This generously wide fairway has a well-placed fairway bunker to the right. It is a testing hole leaving you with a tricky approach shot. This narrow and slightly elevated green is placed diagonally across the fairway, with the front of the green being on the right, and moves backwards to the left. You may well find yourself putting up to the green from a shot that is left short of the green.
6	This short, deceptive par 3 was, for years, regarded as the toughest par 3 on the South African Professional Tour. Invariably played in a cross wind, this devil of a hole has a long, narrow and elevated green that is protected by bunkers on both sides. Make sure that you know the exact direction of the wind as there are trees to the right of the tee and green which could lead you into false sense of security.
7	This par 5 is regarded as a perfect birdie opportunity as it is easily reachable for 2 shots by the longer hitter. This hole doglegs to the right with most golfers not attempting to fly the corner. After your lay–up, one’s short approach is to a large green that slopes slightly from left to right and generally runs fast from front to back.
8	The stroke 1! This par 4 runs as straight as an arrow. Hit and hit again until you reach this tiny green, this seems to be the norm for this hole. Bush runs down the left hand side of the hole that comes into play off the tee and runs the entire length of the hole up to the green. Be aware of a cheeky slope that runs to the left of the green.
9	Turning back to the clubhouse and sea, this short par 4 is a welcome relief after the 8th hole. The wide and rolling fairway has a definite links effect to it with a level lie very difficult to find. The mid-iron approach shot is to a long green guarded by two bunkers on the right. The rather large left to the slope in the green can prove to be a challenge on both the approach shot as well as your putting.
10	Once a par 5, this long par 4 with its wide fairway usually plays crosswind. The huge natural mounds on this fairway make the very long blind approach shot to a small green extremely difficult. Beware of the bunker featured on the left of the green. For those who can’t reach in two shots, be sure to be bold with your pitch shot as it will be played straight into the green.
11	This beautiful par 5 is sea-facing and moves with a dogleg to the right. This tee shot demands accuracy. The longer hitters must be careful not to drive it through the fairway. The green is reachable in two for the longer hitters and is slightly elevated and is surrounded by bush and protected by a bunker short left. A definite birdie opportunity.
12	This deceptive ‘easy’ par 3 can ruin your scorecard. A mid- to long-iron needs to be well struck to thread the ball between bunkers guarding the green on both sides. A slope on the left of the green will bring the ball back onto this long and narrow green.
13	Ranked as one of the top 500 holes in the world, this majestic par 4 runs all of 408 meters uphill. The severely sloped and undulating fairway adds to the difficulty of the hole, as well as a tough semi–blind approach shot to a tiny green behind a mound on the right. There is a fairway bunker to the left of the green that will catch a miscued approach shot. Once you have putted out, be sure to look back towards the tee – a truly panoramic view of the bay.
14	An amazing par 3. The tee shot is an elongated green. One of the fantastic features of this hole is a well-positioned pot bunker on the left of the green, but be aware of the blind bunker situated over a tiny hill to the right. Club selection is key, as you don’t want to go long as there is a severe slope that would present you with a tough chip back to the green.
15	A picturesque par 5 that demands accuracy off the tee, as the fairway is lined with bush on either side. The long and narrow green is protected by bunkers on both sides and surrounded by thick bush. It is reachable in two by the longer hitters; however, care needs to be taken! Be sure to take notice that the green slopes from back to front and has a severe slope from left to right.
16	This short par 4 presents you with 2 options. Firstly, the brave option for attempting to drive the green, or secondly the more conservative route of laying up for the short pitch approach shot. But beware, this tiny green is well protected by small bunkers on either side as well as a large fairway bunker that is hiding behind a large mound that runs across the fairway
17	The turn back to the clubhouse begins with this long par 5. The tee shot usually plays crosswind and needs to avoid a blind fairway bunker on the right. The second shot needs to be negotiated over a mound that runs across the fairway and the windsock behind the green would be the perfect line. The approach shot is to a small firm green that resembles an up-turned saucer and has a small bunker feature on the left.
18	The front windows of the clubhouse are the ideal line off this final tee. This medium length par 4 doglegs slightly to the right and has severely sloping fairway that almost always guarantees a tricky lie for the approach shot. The final green is possibly the largest on the course and is surrounded by bunkers on both sides. When completing this hole take a look back down the wonderful fairway with the ocean as the backdrop and keep that true links memory until next time.

For more info CLICK HERE

Port Elizabeth Golf Club:

A golf course in the city centre. At 135 years old in 2015. It’s been here a long time. The front 9 is more difficult than the back 9. Its parkland design requires you to shape your tee both ways. Its main difficulty lies around the greens. With slopey greens, flag positions can become a challenge. Short siding yourself on the greens can lead to many chips and putts. Its generally forgiving and a great walk. It’s a great course for the members and those with a higher handicap.

Get in-depth information on their course & other facts by CLICKING HERE