COURSE OF THE MONTH Southbroom Golf Club Southern COMFORT The praises for Southbroom Golf Club on the South Coast of KZN are sung often and loudly, and it is easy to see why. Besides its charming location, the course’s excellent design and its culture of welcoming visitors with open arms make it an ever-popular local choice, writes John Botha. Photographs by Jamie Thom Jamie by Photographs Unnecessarily Well Made COURSE OF THE MONTH Southbroom Golf Club or those of us who have be the finest tests of golf – a South those courses that are forgiving professional based at Observatory officially formed. At the time, there Southbroom, due to the foresight cramped, and for the majority of PREVIOUS PAGE The mix of been fortunate enough African group and one for courses enough to have fun, without being Golf Club and who then moved were 50 regular players, only eight shown by the original develop- golfers, particularly when a breeze thick shrubbery, water hazards to play many golf cours- abroad. In SA, the likes of Gary condescending. Tracks such as to Umkomaas. (Naven would later of whom attended the inaugural ers, was mercifully preserved. is blowing, the layout is tough and strong breezes makes this es at home and abroad, Player Country Club, Blair Atholl, these I file in a personal ‘favour- become an honorary life member meeting. A single room constitut- At a time when environmental enough to hold their attention. short layout a true test. Fthere are a few simple acid tests to The Links at Fancourt, Durban ites’ folder, and Southbroom is of the PGA.) The original course ed the clubhouse, and the ablution consideration had not yet gained There are simply no bad holes THIS PAGE The putting surfaces measure the quality of experience. Country Club, St Francis Links and certainly one of them. was opened in 1938, but after the facilities consisted of a shack at the universal momentum, the Eyles on this course, and after a rather are in top condition year-round. Perhaps the most obvious is the Humewood make the cut. Beyond Southbroom Golf Club owes its Second World War, the increased back that served men and women. family fortunately appreciated the benign par four to start (324 me- longing to return; another is the our borders, I rate Muirfield Village, existence to a British missionary, popularity of the club created As the southern coastal region importance of retaining as much tres), where the only real danger is flanked by out-of-bounds stakes, memorability factor, either of the Royal Melbourne, Ballybunion, Alfred Eyles, who had acquired the a demand for 18 holes. Durban of KZN became more popular as indigenous vegetation as possi- water down the right side, another and particularly when the souther- golf course or the clubhouse and Royal Dornoch and Augusta land from the Natal colonial gov- Country Club’s M Mandy teamed a permanent residential area and ble, providing for larger residen- relatively straightforward 335- ly wind is blowing, this beauty can other facilities. Personally, if I play National as exceptional tests. ernment in 1883. It was Eyles’ sons, up with Ron Burd, Southbroom’s holiday destination, so the for- tial stands, as well as generous metre two-shotter is played. After present a rather intimidating tee particularly poorly (which nowa- But there is a clear distinction Frank and Gilbert, who in 1933 first resident professional, to lay tunes of the club improved, but provisions for the golf course and an iron off the tee, an approach shot. The approach, over water, days is more often than not) and between what I consider to be a established a township here, out the new course, which used while some areas nearby became other open spaces. over water is required, but follow- also requires some precision, and still enjoy my round, this proves thorough examination of a golfer’s complete with plans for a nine- just four of the original holes. overdeveloped and the mag- This course may lack the length ing this gentle introduction comes the first-time visitor might at this the course is something special. ability, where each department hole golf course designed by It was only in 1950 that nificent subtropical coastal forest to qualify it as a serious test of one of the best holes. Deserving point realise that this unnecessarily I have a list of what I consider to of a player’s game is tested, and J Naven, the long-serving golf Southbroom Golf Club was was destroyed, the village of ball striking, but it is certainly not of its stroke-1 label, this par four is well-made course is no pushover. 90 Compleat Golfer JANUARY 2014 www.compleatgolfer.co.za www.compleatgolfer.co.za JANUARY 2014 Compleat Golfer 91 FACTFILE The opening par four looks easy, but the coastal breeze changes everything. GETTING THERE Head south from Durban on the N2 (it becomes the R61). At the end of the toll road, 7km after the Margate/ Ramsgate turnoff, turn left into Southbroom Avenue. Follow the signs to the clubhouse. COURSE Classic coastal parkland, 5 584 metres DESIGNER Mandy/Burd (1949) CLUB MANAGER Gavin Sole CLUB PROFESSION- Every golf course should have onto the green to make a mock- AL/GOLF DIRECTOR one really short hole, and South- ery of par. Forget it. On the first of Glenmorangie is, quite simply, Derek James broom’s 4th, measuring a modest these, the 6th, a well-positioned the most delicious and com- 114 metres, certainly qualifies, but tee shot is needed to a sloping plex single malt whisky in the CLUB CAPTAIN few par threes anywhere offer a fairway, and to get up in two the world. Its multi-layered aromas Derrick Matthew more beautiful view from the tee. second must be played with fine and kaleidoscopic flavours A driveable par four is another judgement or end up in a stream stimulate the senses and entice COURSE must on any layout, and a few in front of the green. The 9th, the the palate. SUPERINTENDENT foolhardy long-hitters may fancy shortest of the four, is a superb This beautifully seductive Charl Potgieter their chances of powering a tee hole with water all the way along spirit originates in the heart of shot onto the green at the 5th, a the right side, and punishing veg- the Scottish Highlands where, GREENFEES 255-metre hole that has a green etation to the left. The approach at the Glenmorangie distillery, Non-affiliated R300, affiliated guarded by trees. Most would must again carry water, and any it is first captured by elegant, (Saturdays and peak season) regret this decision after making a shot tugged to the left also ends swan-necked stills that are R265, other R245 big number, and the same can be up in the drink. Something of an the tallest in Scotland, said for a few holes here if a player anomaly is the pair of par fives to before being expertly CONTACT becomes too ambitious. finish the round, but rather than matured in the finest Tel: 039 316 6051 Many golfers would agree that being a soft ending, both are oak casks. Website: www. to design and construct mam- genuine score-spreaders that re- Undeniably southbroomgolfclub.co.za moth par fives, which become quire finesse and accuracy – two the most complex and not much more than long-hitting attributes that certain modern perfectly balanced contests, makes little sense. It designers ignore. single malt whisky, LIKES was the immortal Bobby Jones I can pay this club no greater every sip of ■ The classic feel of the design who pointed out that on long, compliment than to say that Glenmorangie and excellent playability. wide par fives, the player only during this time of economic offers a heady ■ The birds and occasional starts playing golf with the third uncertainty when more than a and alluring duiker and bushbuck sightings. shot, and who can argue? Higher few courses may close, if only experience in ■ The friendliness of the staff. handicappers are disadvantaged a handful survive, I would hope taste, texture ■ The traditional pro shop is on these holes, and the margin for Southbroom is among them. and aroma. easily one of the best in SA. error is just too big for the ‘slug- This is the sort of layout that one If you would DISLIKES gers’. Refreshingly, Southbroom is could play every day without like more ■ This course is just too busy home to a quartet of par fives that tiring of it, and long may it retain information during high season, but the measure between 413 and 443 its quaint, friendly atmosphere. about our flow of play is well controlled. metres. One might assume that Calling this a ‘holiday’ course whisky, ■ Southbroom’s location is out on all of these holes, the lower hardly does it justice, but if you please visit of the way for most golfers. handicapper has only to bomb must, rather call it ‘the best glenmorangie.com. a drive out there and lob an iron holiday course in the land’. CG Not for Sale to Persons Under the Age of 18..