Silwerstrand Golf and River Estate – Robertson played on 15 February 2020
Silwerstrand Golf and River Estate is the home of Robertson Golf Club. One can easily be confused, because basically it is a golf course build to attract customers to the estate. We played the course in the company with one of Eza’s old friends, Lizette van Zyl and one of the local members, Larry Hester
My impression was that this is a golf club that is struggling to get members as well as financial resources to keep the course at a high standard. The course is set in an open and flat landscape with few trees and ponds – water hazards and streams. The Breede river is not a part of the course but outside the course behind the houses. On the web site they call it a links style golf course, but sorry the fairways was not for long running low stinger shots.
As you most probably can sense from this introduction, I was not impressed with the course. On the course there are no surprises, no need for course management skills. All fairways are basically straight ahead. On hole 13 you have a dogleg right, but everything is visible – meaning you know your target area and there are not a lot of options to choose from. To me only one hole could get the adrenalin running a little faster (than normal) and that is the par 3, hole 7, with an island green. See picture.
Facts about Robertson
18 holes. 4 tee places. Length from the back to the front tee: 6.100m, 5.800m, 5.400m and 5.100m. Course rating from 73.3 till 68,6 – 74,4 for the front (ladies tee). The course is relatively new, open for play not very many years ago.
The Robertson Golf Club was established back in 1958 as a 9 hole course. When the estate started an extra 9 holes were added and the new 18 holes opened in April 2008.
The architect of the present course is Danie Obermeyer.
Course record.
63 but we could not get the name.
My game
What I remember the most from my round at Robertson is the conversation with my playing partner, local member Larry Hester. Very inspiring. Eza and Lizette of course were chatting continuously like only woman can do very well. Which just reminds me that a walk on a golf course is never a walk spoiled – unless you spoil it yourself!
Evaluation Robertson Golf Course, played February 15, 2020
Short summary
I experienced Robertson golf course as a fairly easy course for players of all handicaps. Which is also what the course rating, 68,3, playing from the men’s normal tee, indicate. Really not especially exciting. Creativity and strategy are not the most needed competences. Couple of hole where you have to negotiate water. Most greens are elevated, making it a bit difficult to get close to the hole. Wrong length and your ball will run out of the green. Fairways are wide, and you can find your ball if out of fairway. If you can stay out of the water you only need 1 ball for your round.
Comments, suggestions and questions are welcome!
Dear Elisabeth. We are alway looking forward to response. Thanks for yours. From other golfers we have heard the same story. Their golf course looks fantastic, but empthy and why should responsible people not be alowed to play – one or two together. Anyway we are now situated in the SA country, up in the mountain. No golf courses here and no temptation. Right now I’m working on a comparison between the evaluation of the 18 SA courses we have played so far, plus other ideas. Hope that you and other followers enjoy. Take care and stay healty.
A walk on a golf course is nevet spoilt. Agree. This week I have walked on our course in Aarhus – without clubs! Just been walking in the sun( we have had sun for many days now). All alone, could not see a soul. The course is green, beautiful, empty, well kept. We are longing for playing. Nothing is as usual here. Enjoy your stay!