Kambaku Golf Club- Komatipoort played 8 March 2020

Saturday 7 March we arrived at Mpumalanga. That is a place on the boarder of Kruger Park and a few kilometers from the boarder to Mozambique.

As explained in an earlier blog we had a doubt about playing the Leopard Creek Golf Course partly because of the maintenance going on the course right now and partly because of the very high cost. Alternatively we were looking for other golf courses in or close to Kruger Park.

One of these courses is Golf Club Komatipoort (Kambaku) .

In daily language called the Kambuka golf course. The history behind this name is the following.

KAMBAKU in the local Shangaan language means an “Exceptionally Big Elephant Bull”. Kambaku is one of the seven great elephants of Kruger National Park. Kambaku’s left tusk was 259,5cm and weighted 63kg, the right was 265cm long and weighted 64kg.

But in 1985 Kambaku was severely wounded at the south bank of the Crocodile River and was badly injured. The game ranger, Lynn van Rooyen, found Kambaku and there was no way of saving Kambaku, he was forced to shoot the wounded animal. A sad story, but also a story and name telling something about the golf club with focus on preserving nature and  wild life.

As the club are presenting themselves on their web page:

“Ideally situated close to the Kruger National Park nestles a unique gem of a golf course that will challenge each and every level of golfer. With the breathtaking Lebombo Mountains as backdrop, you can retreat to the Bushveld let your dreams take flight and enjoy a slice of heaven…”

And I can tell you; this is a very local club established by golfers, for golfers – for the love of golf.

Kambaku is a place where you play your daily or weekly round with your friends without having to think too much about the cost.

Then we – by fortune – met one of the locals who is also a member of Leopard Creek.

He told us the story about the relations and cooperation between Leopard Creek. Leopard Creek is doing a lot to support the Kambaku club as well as other local courses in the area like Skukuza and Malelane golf club, by donating money as well as support in green keeping and maintenance, with knowledge and materials. So actually there is a great cooperation between the clubs in the area with Leopard Creek as a big benefactor.

Now, back to the course. It is a fun course to play. Very flat and good to walk.

We started with pull trolleys and a spotter. And I tell you; thank you for the spotter. Without his knowledge we would have been lost. To find the right tees depending on playing hole 1 or 10, 2 or 11 etc. could be quite confusing, while some of the 2 pairs of tee boxes could be in 2 different places. And because some of the fairways, or part of a fairway, is shared between 2 holes it can be rather trafficked.

It’s not a really park land, links or forest course. In lack of better terms let me just call it a nature course. Local trees, vegetations, bushes etc. are the main ingredients in the architecture.

So – imagine the jungle (with no really tall trees) and then cut space for fairways, some with doglegs left, some with doglegs right depending of where a taller tree, a hill or a group of thick bushes makes a leg natural and then place the green and make room for bunkers. And instead of 9 tee boxes you put in 2 different boxes for each hole. And with a lot of work clearing, constructing and sawing grass, you have a great 9 hole course that feels like playing 18 different holes.

And when you then add fine fairways and greens as well as an interesting clubhouse with an ambience of local enthusiasme, you are in for a good golfing experience.

Finally about our day. We stayed for 4 days at a B&B or call it a petite hotel called Villa Candilabra. Call them and you will have a fantastic stay – close to the golf course.

Fact about Golf Club Komatipoort – Kambaku

2 x 9 holes. Par: 72. Length: 5.857m. Rating: back 71.5. front 77.7

Designer: Douw van der Merwe. Clearing the site started in 1997 and opened for play in 2001.

The course and club present themselves in this way:

“Komatipoort golf course is unique in every way. A group of dedicated farmers together as a community proceeded with clearing the site in 1997. Course designer Douw van der Merwe added his expertise to the layout and slowly this beautiful course, set at the confluence of the Komati and Crocodile Rivers, took shape. It was literally a case of your bulldozer today, my tractor tomorrow; anyone got cement, sand or perhaps you can lend a hand on the weekend. You can understand how and why this course is such a success. With great community effort, pride,  and a love for the game of golf, Komatipoort golf course came to being. This, however, didn’t happen overnight. The grass was planted in 2001 and shortly thereafter the course opened for play.”

Harry van Dyk took over the maintenance of the golf course 4 years ago and some major changes has taken place.

Course record:

Juan Prinsloo with a record of 62.

My game

Praise to a fantastic caddie, I only lost a couple of balls. I still tried to ignore my tick bite disease but my stubbornness caught up with me on the last nine.

Eza was clever she chose a golf cart for the last nine. I was more stubborn and continued walking with my spotter. Am still effected by these tick bites and are quickly being drained of energy. But that didn’t spoiled a good day on the Kambaku golf course.

Finally about our day. We stayed for 3 days at the at a B&B or call it a petite hotel called Villa Candilabra. Call them and you will have a fantastic stay – close to the golf course.

Evaluation for Kambaku Golf club played on 8 March 2020 – (9 hole course)

Short summary

Kambakuis a 9 hole course with different tees for each of the holes making the second 9 somewhat different to play from the first 9. The course, as I see it, is a blend of park and bush veld with the Crocodile river and Kruger Park as its neighbor.

Walking this course is a pleasure to your eyes and a challenge to your game. Without a doubt among the best 9 hole courses I have played, not only in SA but wherever I have played a nine-hole course. Considering that most of the work on the golf course is made by and/or are managed voluntarily by members, the overall maintenance is great.

If you go for a caddie or a ball spotter you will find them very friendly and professional. They know the course and the game of golf, making you feel in good hands.

If you are in the area of Leopard Creek, you should go and play Kambaku, enjoy the course, the ambience and enthusiasm of the members and staff. The core quality of what golf is (I think) supposed to be.

Comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.