White River Country Club played on 5 March 2020

We left Durban Country Club heading north toward the White River Country Club. A drive of a bit more than 700km with a stop halfway at a place called Piet Retief. See history of Piet Retief on our Inspirational blog.

Anyway, a long drive and with the great experience from our visit to Durban C.C. we didn’t expect too much.

White River CC, as you can see from the google map picture, is in the north east side of SA, on the country side away from the coast.

A very beautiful and quiet place. Furthermore, we found a B&B in a house on the resort with a view to the 10^th fairway and green. Looking exciting. Walking the fairway in the evening, I was looking forward to play the course.

And I actually played 27 holes the next day. The first round walking with Eza and 2 local golfers, Niel and Viv, that we met the evening before at a restaurant. You know: hello, how are you doing, where are you coming from, are you here to play golf etc. and soon you are sitting at the same table discussing golf and life.

It is a very interesting course. Lots of ponds and water streams crossing fairways or running along side the fairways. You need to know your golf to stay dry. Hole 12 is a relatively short par 3 with water all along the right hand side of the fairway, protecting half of the front of the green, and running around the right hand side to the back of the green. An easy hole if you hit a straight shot. Just a little slice and you are in water.

The next hole (13th) is a par 4, 371m from men’s tee, 325m from the ladies. Here some 200m up the fairway is a dogleg to the left around another pond that you will have to cross if you are going for the green in 2. And, of course, if you are a long hitter, I warn you, as further up the fairway as smaller it becomes. So good luck. Two very fine holes in a row that, if in competition, will make the adrenalin running and could very well be decisive for who is winning and your overall score.

I cannot find a simple way of describing the course. It’s not a forest, a park land, a links or what the South Africans are calling a Bush Veld course. As you can see from the photos there are many open fairways, but also some with tall trees, some with low vegetations and some with a lot of water.

A very interesting course that will keep you on your toes. Only negative, I see is the rough. Most rough is high grass. Just ½ a meter out of the fairway you will have difficulties finding your ball. For the sake of the flow, play a provisional. Use your 3 minutes – if not found, forget it and move on. If you find it and can reach the fairway with a 2 club length drop, take the penalty and drop. If not, take a wedge and try to hack it out. And don’t be angry if not successful in the first try.

Facts about White River Golf course

18 holes, par 71. From men’s tee 6.062m. From women’s 5044m. Ratings are 71 and 70. Indicating that this is not the most difficult course in the world.

On their website you can read:

“The course was first opened for play on 1st March 1924. Mowing (that is construction) was done by oxen and mules and the grounds men’s favorite way of getting rid of excess grass was to spray it with paraffin and burn it off.”

The length of the course was 3028 yards and including sand greens.

“Cost of construction 100 pounds – annual maintenance bill 150 pounds.”

A new nine hole course was constructed in 1973 and opened for play with a competition between Gary Player and Cobie le Grange. Le Grange a well known SA golfer, but Player we all know. Just a testimony as to how long time Gary Player have been around.

In 1992 the second nine holes were added and this “new” course, ready for play in March 1993. Which nine was the first and which the second I don’t know and walking the course it’s not to see. Today all holes are integrated promoting a very good flow of play.

You can read the full history here: http://www.whiterivercountryclub.co.za/about-us/#tab-1-2.

Below you can see the layout of today.

Course record.

Sorry, no information

My game

As said we played 18 holes with our new golfing friends, Viv and Neil. We played a foursome, men vs. women. Men won. No further comments!

I must have played ok, otherwise I wouldn’t have gone for 9 holes later in the afternoon. Though in a cart with Eza as the driver.

Evaluation of White River Country Club played on 5 March 2020

Short summary

I cannot find a simple way of describing the course. It’s not a forest, a park land, a links or a Bush Veld course. Basically all these types are blended into one course. There are many holes with open fairways, some with tall trees, some with low vegetations and some with a lot of water. It gives you a nice variation of holes requiring some thinking and shot making skills – at least if you will try to make some short-cuts to the green. It is not the most difficult course we have played, but a nice test of your golf – no matter what level.

White River is a country club, that means that people are building houses for recreation around the golf course. The architecture of the houses – whether I think it fits in or not – is not a part of my evaluation. Whether you like the style or not is a very subjective thing.

But White River is actually the first club where I think that the houses fits beautiful into the golf course and the surrounding landscape. I think it deserve to be mentioned. I makes the pleasure of walking the course even better.

Questions, suggestions and comments are welcome!