Course Review: Royal Durban

The European Tour 2013 season kicks off with the Sunshine Tour, co-hosting the first three events in the yearlong Race to Dubai. First up is the Nelson Mandela Challenge taking place at one of South Africa's oldest golf clubs, Royal Durban.

Originally established as Durban Golf Club in 1892 by local bank manager John Watt, the course is laid out within the confines of Greyville Racecourse. The initial layout was a very rough and ready affair, bearing little resemblance to the beautifully conditioned and manicured terrain we see today. In 1932 the course underwent a complete makeover together with the addition of a brand new clubhouse to replace the run-down rudimentary structure in use until then.

A links style design was chosen as the most suitable option for the course, so that large or bulky trees or bushes would not obscure race-goers' views of the horses. The new layout was one of the first by a young and recently qualified Bob Grimsdell, who over the following five decades would go on to become one of South Africa's most prolific and celebrated architects. In April that same year King George V accorded the club Royal patronage on the basis of Edward VIII's visit seven years earlier in 1925 when still Prince of Wales.

At 6150 metres South Africa's third oldest club is a relatively short championship layout by modern standards. However, there are narrow dense-thatch fairways that yield little roll, punitive rough and wind that can make a difference of up to six clubs. Add frequent opportunities to go out of bounds onto the surrounding racetrack and you get a course that plays significantly longer than the numbers on the card whilst demanding concentration and application from start to finish.

Holes 2 and 9 are identical length short par 4's of 278 metres that will induce many to risk disaster and go for glory. The 442m 18th is a demanding finish that includes all the challenges the course has to offer including the canal and a dam. If the weather is anything but benign at Royal Durban there will be few scores under 280 at close of play on Sunday.

A Golf Weather
Editorial