White 5870 metres, CR 71.2/134
Blue 5458 metres, CR 69.0/130
Red 4819 metres, CR 65.5/124
Women’s blue, CR 75.4/147
Women’s red, CR 71.1/139
R545 for 18, R370 for 9
Students (U-25) R260 & R235
Pensioners R280 Mon-Thursday
Golf cart R420 & R310
Bob Grimsdell 1963,
Sean Quinn (Golf Data) 2013
033 234 4232
www.boschhoek.co.za
95 (2023), 97 (2022) & 96 (2021)
No 1 (2024)
The magnificent Bosch Hoek in the KZN Midlands became the first 9-hole course to be included among South Africa’s Top 100 Courses. Recognised as one of the country’s best 9-holers for many years, Bosch Hoek has been transformed as a golfing destination under the ownership and investment of Ivan Clark over the last decade. And much of its charm lies in the fact that it has remained a 9-holer, and not been increased in size.
First of all there was a makeover of the original Bob Grimsdell design by Golf Data designer Sean Quinn in 2013, the club’s 50th anniversary. Golf Data modernised the greens, and remodelled the two par 5s into more exciting and challenging holes. The Bosch Hoek dam has been utilised as a feature of the layout, both visually and within the design. Clark also had a luxury lodge built close to the clubhouse in 2017 so that Bosch Hoek could offer accommodation for golfers, wedding parties and conferences.
Bosch Hoek adjoins the N3 highway through the Midlands, and is now an ideal stopover for golfers travelling between KZN and Gauteng. Bosch Hoek is parkland golf at its best, with beautiful mature trees framing the fairways. It’s a tranquil walk in the countryside. In autumn the property is at its most magnificent, when the trees are aflame with golden colours.
The small clubhouse at Bosch Hoek, which sits right on the first tee, harks back to a simpler time when this was a private club. It’s comfortable and charming and just the right proportions for a course that can only accommodate 60 golfers at a time.
57 by Sunshine Tour professional Daniel Greene in January 2019 medal.
The second/11th is a short par 4 which at 250 metres puts the green easily within reach of many golfers. It is overlooked by the beautiful old Bosch Hoek Manor House. The sixth/15th is a terrific risk-and-reward par 5 where the Bosch Hoek Dam comes into play along the left of the hole, with a green jutting out into the water, leaving little margin for error on the approach shot.
Bosch Hoek Lodge a short walk from the clubhouse offers luxury and standard rooms in an attractive setting with a restaurant. Rates are inclusive of breakfast and currently it is R1149 for an overnight stay and 18 holes of golf.
Fair-sized range close to clubhouse alongside first hole, and a talking point is the Wayne Westner Teaching Robot which stands there.
2023 Kesley Hansen & Paula Beddow
2022 Kesley Hansen & Lucy Norton
2021 Kesley Hansen & Paula Beddow
2020 Bruce Dixon & Lynn Garbutt
2019 Kesley Hansen & Sherry King
1/ Bosch Hoek began out of a connection with The River Club in Sandton, where one of the founder members of this private members club was the industrialist Charles Sydney “Punch” Barlow. The River Club course was designed and built by Bob Grimsdell, and as part of his contract Grimsdell also undertook in 1963 to lay out a 9-hole course on Barlow’s Bosch Hoek working farm.
2/ Bosch Hoek was a private facility for 30 years under the ownership of first Barlow and then his stepson Peter Gallo. Gallo opened the course to public use in the 1990s when he developed the Bosch Hoek Country Estate. It now has 264 members.
3/ Sunshine Tour pro Daniel Greene, who resides in KZN Midlands, shot 15-under 57 in January 2019 club medal. He had two eagles (2 at par-4 second and 3 at par-5 sixth) and 11 birdies. He played front nine in 27.
4/ The residential estate, away from the golf course, is restricted to 35 properties.
5/ Greenkeeper Kesley Hansen has won club championship 8 times, including 6 of last 7 years.
6/ The club has hosted the annual SA Rugby Legends golf day for the last 10 years.
Conditioning RatingsFacility RatingsEnjoyed a round in the members Saturday afternoon competition, and it was noticeable how busy the course was with golfers of both genders. Fortunate to tee off early (11.20) as from 4pm onwards at this time of year the sun makes an early departure, and the temperature in the Midlands cools down quickly for late finishers. A warm day becomes frigid. Bosch Hoek's greens are a feature and roll magnificently. The members refer to holes 6 to 8 as their "Amen Corner" and they do challenge you. The sixth is a shortish par 5 but the lake left of the fairway and around the green makes you cautious; the seventh is a fabulous par 3, a narrow green fronted by the same lake where the back bunker is not where you want to be. The green slopes away from the sand towards the water. The eighth is a superb 380-metre par 4, its fairway curving around a stream on the left, and boasting the best designed green of nine creative complexes. This one is angled sideways, leaving a tiny opening, and guarded by three bunkers. Bosch Hoek has never previously had irrigation on the fairways, and a new system is being installed.
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