Royal
Johannesburg Golf Course
Royal Johannesburg and Kensington golf club is one of
the most prestigious clubs in South Africa and boasts
two 18-hole championship courses - the East Course and
the West Course. Both have scenic, tree-lined fairways
and gently rolling slopes.
East Course
The East Course is a championship layout that has hosted
7 South African Open Championships, the SA Amateur and
numerous other Tour events. Played off the Championship
tees it measures 6846 meters, and a more user friendly
6382 meters off the Club tees. Famously or infamously
the 10th and 11th holes are reputed to be the two longest
back-to-back par fours in the world.
The signature hole of the East Course is the 11th. The
hole is telescoped by huge poplars that make the lower
holes on the East Course so spectacular. A tee complex
of 5 tees changes both the angle of attack and the length
(from a monstrous 457 meters to a relatively tame 382
meters). The second shot is a challenging mid iron across
water.
West Course
The 4th hole is regarded as the signature hole. A tributary
of the Jukskei River fronts the green and is very much
in play along the left hand side of the fairway. The
hole, as is the West course itself, is enchanting against
the backdrop of Linksfield Ridge.
The West Course, in comparison to the East Course,
is a fine example of how two layouts in close proximity
can still create quite different, but vastly enjoyable
golfing experiences.
While its beautiful sweeping fairways and generous
sized greens inspire joy and confidence, the player
who strays from them will quickly find trees, water
or other frustration in uncompromising abundance. But
coming back from trouble is also a pleasure in itself,
with a hard fought scramble for par sometimes bringing
as much satisfaction as a well played two-club.
Although measuring a few hundred meters less in overall
length than its neighbour, the West Course doesn’t
seem to play much shorter. Experienced golfers may find
the easier holes a touch more forgiving, but the thrill
of going for birdies is often tempered with punishment
for even a small inaccuracy.
Players of every level will however find much to delight
in and many reasons to return to Royal West.
Location
Fairway Avenue, Linksfield North. Getting there: Turn
off the N3 at the Linksfield turn-off and then turn right.
Proceed past the major set of traffic lights. You have
to pass the Engen garage on the right. After 60 metres,
turn right and then follow the signboards off Louis Botha
Avenue into 10th Street. At the end of 10th Street you
turn right into Council Street. At the traffic lights
you turn left. After 1.5 kilometres you turn left again
and follow the signboards.
Facilities
- Bar
- Caddies graded
- Carts for hire
- Clubs for hire
- Conference facilites
- Driving Range
- Full practice putting green
- Halfway House
- Locker Facilities
- Parking
Club Regulations
- Appropriate golf attire required.
- No cell phones are permitted on the golf courses or
in the bar.
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