Mussel Bay Golf Club played 18 Feb 20
Coming from a park land course like George Golf Club to the wide open links style golf course at Mossel Bay is a big change. On their scorecard as well as on many signs in and around the clubhouse they write: MOSSEL BAY Golf Club “See the sea from every tee” and that is actually what you can. A spectacular view.
The fairways are very broad. From many tees you have down-hill drives tempting you to try and hit the ball a lot longer than you actually can. But when successful it gives you a little adrenalin kick. The course is good for golfers of any handicap and playing skills. It can be long uphill and short downhill but it takes very wayward shots to loose the ball. I really liked playing it.
This is a course for the Red golfer, you can go for it without being severely punished to. The view is fantastic and so are the wind coming in from the sea. The day we played there was a fairly strong breeze.
And then of course, this is Louis Oosthuizen’s home club where he made the course record of 57 strokes. I will revert to that later. But of course the club honors him among other things with this picture on a stone pillar on the golf course.
On the course we found this interesting sculpture. See picture below. Unfortunately the photo is not that sharp, but to the right is a stone hanging on a robe. It is quite heavy, but can swing back and forth
To the right is the sign telling you the function of the stone. This sculpture is a weather station.
Now you are fully informed about the weather at Mussel Bay.
Fact about Mossel Bay G.C.
The golf club was founded in 1905 and the golf course relocated to its present position in 1924. As said, the course is an easy walk and very playable from tee to green for all golfers. The beautiful views of the Indian Ocean or the Springbuck roaming on the course might distract you, but they will most definitely leave you with lasting memories.
The signature hole is the 17th hole, par 5. 494m from the medal tee. 482 from the “normal” men’s tee, it is downhill which will help you especially when playing into the sea breeze. The tee is situated high above the fairway with magnificent vistas over the estate, and the hole runs downhill towards the green with the Indian Ocean as your backdrop. Well-placed bunkers on the side of the fairway will catch any errand tee shots.
The green is a large, three level, undulating green, which makes a par 5 on the hole uncertain, should you find the green with your approach shot. See picture. The long hitter will try to cut the leg.
Course record
The course record 57 was made by Louis Oosthuizen a day in December 2002 when he was still an amateur. At that time he played in +3. Nearly 2 years later, in 2004, he shot a round of 59. According to my information the record was made in a private round with 3 of his friends.
Not to take anything away from Oosthuizen’s performance, but if we want to compare golf scores under 60, which in golf is a magic number, we also have to take not only the par of the given course but also the rating of the course into consideration. In according to USGA and R&A course rating is an evaluation of the difficulty of a golf course for scratch golfers. Course rating tells scratch golfers how difficult the course will be; slope rating tells bogey golfers how difficult it will be. The course Louis played is 5848m, par is 72 but the rating is 70. To par 72 his was 15 under. To the rating he was 13 under. Still very impressive. Today Oosthuizen is using the number 57 as his brand name as well as the name for his restaurant in Mossel Bay.
My game
After my round at George I told you that on the next round I would play Grey golf. And I tell you that I really tried hard. But I think that Mossel Bay golf course is probably the most difficult course to play grey golf for a combined red / green golfer. You know there is nothing – absolutely no hole on that course – that inspire to a security oriented, always play it safe golf. Read more about red and green and grey and blue golfers here.
No, with the wide fairways and no dangerous rough and especially on the downhill holes with the wind from behind to help, it is very tempting to go for it.
I did lose a ball to a villa-garden, but on the other hand on the hole 5, 443m, par 5 – I was only 6.5cm from the hole beating Mr. Louis Oosthuizen. At his record round he got a birdie on that hole – I was only 6.5cm from an Eagle. Comparing scorecards we squared one hole, I won one hole and he won the rest. Well done sir.
Evaluation of Mosselbaai Gholf Club played 18 Feb 2020
Short summary
Mussel Bay is the course where Louis Oosthuizen made his famous course record of 57 strokes. There are 2 reasons why you should play it.
First: course rating is 70 (men’s tee), telling you that this is not the most difficult course. This is a course for the Red “go for it” golfer. Hit it hard and as long as you can from the tee and then hit it again. You have broad fairways and no tricky doglegs or bunkers. What you see is what you get.
Second: Enjoy the scenery and the view over the ocean. It is fantastic, but pray for no wind or if wind, be sure to have enough golf balls in your bag. Because then it’s a total different challenge.
Comments, suggestions and questions are welcome
