Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club

The World Atlas of Golf, which lists the great courses and how they are played, features just two South African clubs on its hallowed pages. One is Durban Country Club and the other is Royal Johannesburg, which was established more than 100 years ago.

The East Course is a championship layout that has hosted 7 South African Open Championships, the SA Amateur and numerous other Tour events. Played off the Championship tees it measures 6846 meters, and a more user friendly 6382 meters off the Club tees. Famously or infamously the 10th and 11th holes are reputed to be the two longest back-to-back par fours in the world.

The West Course, in comparison to the East Course, is a fine example of how two layouts in close proximity can still create quite different, but vastly enjoyable golfing experiences. While its beautiful sweeping fairways and generous sized greens inspire joy and confidence, the player who strays from them will quickly find trees, water or other frustration in uncompromising abundance. But coming back from trouble is also a pleasure in itself, with a hard fought scramble for par sometimes bringing as much satisfaction as a well played two-club. Although measuring a few hundred meters less in overall length than its neighbour, the West Course doesn’t seem to play much shorter. Experienced golfers may find the easier holes a touch more forgiving, but the thrill of going for birdies is often tempered with punishment for even a small inaccuracy.