De Zalze Golf Club played on 14 Feb 2020

We came to De Zalze with a very nice experience from our round at Stellenbosch.  Here the ambience was great and the enthusiasm for golf. I think that the atmosphere in the clubhouse as well as the flow of play on the golf course was due to the fact that Stellenbosch is an old golf club developed by golfers for golfers – So we litteraly went from an old golf course to a new golf course with a very short history.

De Zalze, is a golf estate and a golfing tourist course with the main purpose of generating an income. After the round at Stellenbosch we had a good chat with a golfing family of 4, who actually lived at the De Zalze estate, but were members of Stellenbosch. As they said, partly because they had 2 boys who were given better conditions to develop their golf in that club and because they enjoyed the social life in the club.

That is probably why we headed for De Zalze the next day with not too high expectations. But we were very pleasantly surprised. At De Zalze, we experienced a very personal and golf-enthusiastic reception and service.

It is an exciting course with many holes where you always have to think ahead, that is where to hit to be in the best position for you next stroke. You have to think strategically aiming for the optimal position  taking the layout and your own abilities into consideration. This is clearly a course you should play two or more times to get most out of your game.

There are some holes with doglegs where you can cut the leg and get a good score, but also loose a shot or two. Holes that requires a good balance between the risk and reward on the one hand and your golfing skill on the other. For example on one hole, you have to decide how much diagonally you are going to dare to cross a water hazard.

The course is well maintained and it is clear that resources are being spent on making things perfect. Which is probably not the easiest or cheapest thing to do in a place where the lack of water for periods is pronounced. However – without being an expert – grass on fairways and rough is Kikuyu grass. A very broad-leafed, thick and robust grass species. If you find your ball on the fairway or even in semi rough, the ball is teed up nicely and you can easily hit it clean and/or with a back spin. The same goes for the short chips. It was a pleasure – a little unlike the fairways on  Stellenbosch where grass was short or worn out.

Facts about De Zalze

Basically, De Zalze’s story is based on wine. The name De Zelze originates from the three adjoining wine producing farms: Groote Zalze, Kleine Zalze and De Vleie, whose history dates back to 1838. In 2000 the Spier Group purchased an interest in the property and together with Kleine Zalze remodeled the estate into golf real estate properties. And added the golf course in and between the wine land and historical building. I guess with the vision to be able to make a better business by integrating wine and golf.

Give the golf course time to grow and mature, and adding small changes in the layout and the planting, you will have a great golf course. We were told that is excatly what the are planning to do.

Course record.

Sorry, haven’t got any response about course record from the golf management. Probably because the course is new and not having hosted any big tournament yet.

My game

Nothing to brag about. I remember a birdie on the previously mentioned hole where I crossed  the water hazard with a great drive and a draw that left me just 80 meters short of the green.

An other thing that I remember is the caddie that our playing partners hired for the round. He had been a professional caddie, ones caddied for Sam Torrence once. He knew his business.

He became part of the most memorable situation, when his player hit her ball close to a snake in the semi rough. She wanted to pick up her ball but he insisted that she should leave the ball and drop a new one on the fairway. Which she – a bit reluctantly – did.

After we finished the round we learned that the management had called for a snake catcher to get rid of the snake. He found the snake dead and picked up her ball. Which she now could pick up in the shop.

Evaluation: De Zalze Golf Club. Played February 14, 2020

Short summary

De Zalze is a fairly new golf course constructed in a flat landscape, playable by golfers of all levels. Course rating from men’s (normal) tee is 72,1. Indicating that it is not the most difficult course to play. There are not a lot of surprises or adrenalin stimulating holes on the course. What you see is what you get. But it is a good walk. Especially if you like to warm up and/or practice your game, visit the driving range and practice area. One of the best that I have been on at all the golf courses we have played in the SA. An enthusiastic golfer like me can easily spend a whole day at this club’s facilities.

Comments, suggestions and questions are welcome!