Port Shepstone Golf Club played 29 Feb 2020
Several people we met on our trip from the Cape and up north, recommended us to visit and play Port Shepstone.
Here we met with one of Eza’s old friends from the time when she lived and played golf in South Africa.
When we booked tee-times we where invited to participate in the club’s Saturday match. We accepted the invitation, though with no ambition of winning a price. It didn’t take long before we were integrated and felt like a part of a big golfing family.
The course is flat with only one or two elevated tee-boxes. A real parkland course with fairways framed with tall trees and dog-legs right as well as left. Streams are crossing the fairways on several holes.
Be aware of your distances and you need to be in the right position for your approach shot to reach the green in regulation. There is a bit of difference between the first and the second nine. I guess that the first nine is part of the layout from 1912. The back nine is a bit more open and (unfortunately) close to a main road, resulting in disturbing traffic noise.
After the round (no one of us with a score worth mentioning), we took part in the price giving ceremony. The ambience was like in your home club. A lot of jokes and congratulations. And a beer or two.
Facts about
Port Shepstone is a parkland golf course. Designed by Syd Brews. Par is 72
The course is set alongside the stunning Umzimkhulu River and the Indian Ocean.
The history of Port Shepstone dates back to 1912 when the first nine holes were laid out, and oozes so much of history with many tales of change, upgrades and flooding when the Umzimkhulu River mouth is closed. The club also offers bowls, cricket, squash and even belly dancing.
Voted Best Golf Course for 5 years in a row in the South Coast Herald’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Impressive when one thinks of other courses in the area. This club has a “family feel” with a hub of members always finding an excuse to be at the course.
Course record
“Good Morning Finn
I hope you enjoyed playing at Port Shepstone Country Club and hopefully we’ll see you back soon! Santhos Baskali, our Mens Golf Captain, asked me to let you know that the course record is held by our resident PGA Golf Professional and Greenkeeper Jesse Verster who carded a 62 gross – 10 under par (63 nett off his +1 handicap) on 19/10/2005. He was playing in the Sunshine Tour at that stage.
Kind regards
Linda – PRO SHOP”
My game
As I said, Port Shepstone is a very nice course to walk. I hit a few good shots – no birdies.
But I realized that I have to practice mental training in one particular area. And that is to increase concentration by closing down my hearing capacity. I’m not talking about shutting out the noise from the traffic on the last nine holes, but from talking constantly going on between my 2 playing partners. There might have been 3 seconds of “no talk” on the top of their swing, but as soon as the ball was off the tee, the next sentence continued where the last was stopped. Very impressive I can tell you. And they had a lot to talk about after they haven’t seen each other for 15 years.
Evaluation: Port Shepstone Country Club played Saturday, 29, 2020
Short summary
Port Shepstone is a nice course. What you see is what you get. No doglegs, no landing area, no streams or ponds you can’t see – and therefore a course you can play well the first time you visit it. There are water ponds and streams separating many of the fairways but, as said, you can see it all. So keep your shots straight and you will be fine.
In my opinion it is not the most exciting course that I have played, but a fair walk for golfers of all levels. The most points goes to the club house staff and the authenticity and ambience created by the members of the club. So, if you haven’t done your best on the course, you can look forward to a great reception at the 19th hole.
Comments, questions and suggestions are welcome!
