Summarised overview of all courses played in South Africa
I would like to give you an overview of the evaluations of all the courses that we have played in South Africa.
Those who have played Pinnacle Point, for example, may be surprised over the very low ranking of that course.
Should you like to see the actual evaluation and it’s impact on the overall ranking of a particular course, just click on the name of the course below and you will be taken to the relevant blog post for this information.
Overall score
The overall scores are as follow:
The golf course
Criteria for golf course evaluation:
- What you see from tee is what you get
- More shot options from tee
- Test of your course management skills
- Fair and well-kept greens
- Can you find your ball if out of fairways
- Overall maintenance
- Is it possible to walk the course
- Layout with regard to flow
Score count 40% on final ranking
The ranking of each golf course based on the evaluation of the above mentioned criteria:
| The golf course | Results |
| Pretoria Country Club | 38 |
| Zebula Golf Estate & Spa | 37 |
| George Golf Club | 36 |
| Centurion Estate & Country Club | 35 |
| Durban Country Club | 35 |
| Stellenbosch Golf Club | 33 |
| De Zalze Country Club | 32 |
| Port Shepstone Country Club | 32 |
| Mosselbay Golf Club | 32 |
| East London Golf Club | 30 |
| Kambaku Golf Club, 9 hole | 30 |
| White River Country Club | 30 |
| Kirkwood Golf Club, 9 hole | 29 |
| Silwerstrand – Robertson Golf Club | 29 |
| Waterkloof Golf Club | 28 |
| Port St Johns Golf Club, 9 hole | 26 |
| Wild Coast Sun Country Club | 20 |
| Pinnacle Point Golf Club | 19 |
The nature
Criteria for evaluating nature:
- Landscape – wow factor
- Tranquillity
Score count 10% on final ranking
The ranking of the nature of each clubs golf course based on the evaluation of the above mentioned criteria:
| The Nature | Results |
| Mosselbay Golf Club | 10 |
| Pinnacle Point Golf Club | 10 |
| East London Golf Club | 10 |
| Wild Coast Sun Country Club | 10 |
| George Golf Club | 9 |
| White River Country Club | 9 |
| Kambaku Golf Club, 9 hole | 9 |
| Zebula Golf Estate & Spa | 9 |
| Centurion Estate & Country Club | 8 |
| Pretoria Country Club | 8 |
| De Zalze Country Club | 7 |
| Silwerstrand – Robertson Golf Club | 7 |
| Kirkwood Golf Club, 9 hole | 7 |
| Port St Johns Golf Club, 9 hole | 7 |
| Port Shepstone Country Club | 6 |
| Stellenbosch Golf Club | 5 |
| Durban Country Club | 5 |
| Waterkloof Golf Club | 4 |
Practice Facilities
Criteria for evaluating practice facilities:
- Driving range – mats/grass, target areas, quality of practice balls, distance to first tee
- Short game – sand bunkers, variations in approach shots and length
- Putting greens – similar to greens on course, size and distance to first tee
Score count 15% on final ranking
The ranking of each clubs practice facilities based on the evaluation of the above mentioned criteria:
| Practice facilities | Results |
| Zebula Golf Estate & Spa | 14 |
| De Zalze Country Club | 14 |
| Centurion Estate & Country Club | 12 |
| Pretoria Country Club | 12 |
| Waterkloof Golf Club | 10 |
| Stellenbosch Golf Club | 9 |
| Kambaku Golf Club, 9 hole | 8 |
| Durban Country Club | 8 |
| Silwerstrand – Robertson Golf Club | 7 |
| East London Golf Club | 6 |
| Mosselbay Golf Club | 6 |
| Pinnacle Point Golf Club | 6 |
| Port Shepstone Country Club | 6 |
| White River Country Club | 6 |
| George Golf Club | 5 |
| Wild Coast Sun Country Club | 4 |
| Kirkwood Golf Club, 9 hole | 3 |
| Port St Johns Golf Club, 9 hole | 3 |
The Club house service
Criteria for evaluation club house service:
- Bar – restaurant – food: quality and service
- Reception: Open – help full
Score count 10% on final ranking
The ranking of the club house service based on the evaluation of the above mentioned criteria:
| Club house service | Results |
| Stellenbosch Golf Club | 9 |
| Port Shepstone Country Club | 9 |
| Centurion Estate & Country Club | 9 |
| Pinnacle Point Golf Club | 9 |
| Zebula Golf Estate & Spa | 9 |
| De Zalze Country Club | 8 |
| Silwerstrand – Robertson Golf Club | 8 |
| Mosselbay Golf Club | 8 |
| Wild Coast Sun Country Club | 8 |
| Durban Country Club | 8 |
| White River Country Club | 8 |
| Kambaku Golf Club, 9 hole | 8 |
| Waterkloof Golf Club | 8 |
| Pretoria Country Club | 8 |
| George Golf Club | 8 |
| East London Golf Club | 7 |
| Port St Johns Golf Club, 9 hole | 7 |
| Kirkwood Golf Club, 9 hole | 6 |
Authenticity/Ambience
Criteria for evaluation authenticity
- Made by golfers for golfers playing golf: clubs primarily focus is on golf activities
- Traditions and club life: members playing in individual and team competitions
- Members and staff involvement and enthusiasm in management and daily operation
- Ambiance: open atmosphere, help full, involving etc.
- Are guests welcome
Score count 20% on final ranking
The ranking of each clubs authenticity based on the evaluation of the above mentioned criteria:
| Authenticity/Ambience | Results |
| Kirkwood Golf Club, 9 hole | 25 |
| Port St Johns Golf Club, 9 hole | 25 |
| Port Shepstone Country Club | 23 |
| Centurion Estate & Country Club | 23 |
| Pretoria Country Club | 23 |
| George Golf Club | 23 |
| Kambaku Golf Club, 9 hole | 21 |
| Stellenbosch Golf Club | 21 |
| East London Golf Club | 21 |
| Durban Country Club | 21 |
| Zebula Golf Estate & Spa | 20 |
| White River Country Club | 20 |
| De Zalze Country Club | 17 |
| Mosselbay Golf Club | 17 |
| Waterkloof Golf Club | 16 |
| Pinnacle Point Golf Club | 16 |
| Silwerstrand – Robertson Golf Club | 15 |
| Wild Coast Sun Country Club | 14 |
You will probably agree with me in some of my assessments and perhaps strongly disagree with others. That’s the way it is.
I think the noise from cars, planes, machines spoils the good golfing experience. I love nature and the sounds of nature. For others, it doesn’t mean that much.
I like to walk when I play golf, it is good exercise and give me time to think and prepare for the next shot. Others like to drive a golf cart.
The flow of the game means a lot to me. The flow is not only a matter of how many players there are on the course (and their handicap), but also about the course’s design.
We experience things differently and therefore evaluate golf courses differently.
And of course we can experience different degrees of service, but our experience also depends on ourselves, the mood we are in, whether we ourselves are open and active in the contact with others.
So why do all that evaluation work? In fact, probably mostly for my own sake. Playing and evaluating the 18 golf courses we have played so far has taught me a lot about myself and my own golf and a great deal about course design and architecture. It has opened my eyes to some things about golf, the culture and the economy that I haven’t seen or thought about before.
I hope that some of you who have followed us on this blog, have found it worth the time.
Now we are just waiting for the Corona-restrictions to be lifted, so we can re-start our adventure.
And as usual: Comments, ideas and questions are welcome.
Thx so much for yr updates on SA golf courses.
Noticed you did not play the Elements, being one of my favorites.
Definitely right about Pinnacle Point – a great golf course!
Take care.
If I remember correctly we did not play Element due to maintenance. Have a little doubt about your comment on Pinnacle Point. As a golf course, it is almost impossible to play just near to handicap regardless of handicap. For many of the holes, you can’t see what happens to the ball after it hit the fairway. 3 of the par 3 holes are Dead or Alive holes. If you don’t hit the green from the tee, there are no alternatives. Either you are in the water or in the rocks. There is no flow. A 4-ball with two cart drives slalom, one player to the right – then the next to the left and often then back again. And when crossing an invisible line you have to drive backwards in slow motion. And even if you can find your ball in the rough, you are not allowed to pick it up not even to play it – even if possible. If you want to warm up, do it before driving through the gate. Otherwise you have to go back in your car. You can’t go out of the gate in the buggy. But yes, a stunningly beautiful and dramatic golf course with and brilliant view over the ocean.
Hi guys, thank you for this update. It is an impressive amount of work that you have done evaluating all the courses. To me, the results would be even more significant if I could compare them with a course that I know. That is the reason to ask you to evaluate Torremirona in the same way. Would that be possible? Thanks in advance.