Royal Cape Golf Club
- The Royal Cape Golf Club is the oldest
golf course in South Africa. It was founded as early as
1885 by the British General Sir Henry Torrens, who had taken
over the command of the troops at the Cape and immediately
laid out a golf course in front of his military camp in
Wynberg. It received the attribute "Royal" in 1910 by the
Duke of Connaught, who represented King George V at the
opening of the first parliament of the South African Union.
With lovely views of Table Mountain from most holes, this
championship course offers a beautiful setting that will
make any visit here truly memorable. Royal Cape Golf Club
is a true championship course having hosted the South African
Open no less than eleven times and the SA Amateur Championships
eight times. The most recent SA Open held here was in 1996
and was won by Ernie Els. The selection of Royal Cape as
the "Home of the Vodacom Players Championships" further
underlines the championship status of the course.
The course today is a fine test of golf especially when
the south-easter is blowing. Essentially it is a flat parkland
course, well maintained and a pleasure to play with lovely
views of the Table Mountain range. The fairways are narrow
and tree-lined, demanding accuracy off the tees. Wayward
shots are penalized by trees and the greens are well bunkered.
There is also plenty of water on the course, particularly
at the corner of the 3rd and 4th and 5th holes and also
at the 14th, 15th and 16th holes. The most difficult holes
are the par 4 third, at 435m the longest two-shotter on
the course, and the par 4 14th played into the teeth of
the prevailing south-easter with water guarding the right
of the green.
No. of holes: 18
Length: 5,787 Meters
Par: 72
Course Type: Parkland