Clovelly

Engaging and charming course.

Christiaan Kriel

21 April 2023

Clovelly's challenges are best experienced on a breezy day. The par-5 ninth into the south-easter is a long hole, capped not only by an elevated green site, but one with devilish slopes. The wind funnels through the valley, and I noticed that newly planted trees on the course are protected by metal-framed wind "shields" to keep them upright while growing. Load shedding is affecting Clovelly's ability to pump water out of their boreholes into course dams and hazards. Some are bone dry; others have lower levels of water. The course remains in good condition though. New rakes are urgently needed for the bunkers.

Thomas Souness

16 February 2023

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It's tourist season at Clovelly. The course, in immaculate condition, has been busy over the holidays and will stay that way through to March. It's easy to gauge why it has been so popular for so long. Highly playable for everyone yet challenging at the same time in breezy summer weather. The course routing has a wonderful balance to it. And magnificent Aesthetics has Clovelly rated among SA's top 10 in this ranking category. A round begins with two outstanding starting holes, the first and tenth playing downhill from elevated tees alongside the clubhouse. It does mean No 18 has an uphill conclusion. This is a terrific short par 4 (281m), but the green is raised so steeply above the fairway to be dissatisfying and an uncomfortable approach for many. Lowering it by a metre or two would make a world of difference.

Stuart McLean

26 January 2023

Played on Sunday and condition and layout magnificent. Great pro shop and amazing staff.

Jaun Du Plooy

09 November 2022

Clovelly is a club not shy to make significant changes to their course when they feel it is necessary, and their latest one is to rebuild the green of the par-3 11th hole. This is the shortest hole of the 18 (perhaps also the weakest up to now), with a raised green both plain in shape and large in width and length. It has now been shrunk, retaining only its width, with the back half of the green converted into mounding. The target is thus much smaller with some slopes. The new green will open for play by the end of July. Hopefully more can be made of the water hazard short and left of the green by enlarging it. Currently it only catches a weak shot, when it should be more threatening. That would really add character to No 11 and raise it to the same level as the other three excellent par 3s, none of which has water in play. Clovelly has an excellent warm-up range close to the clubhouse in an attractive amphitheatre. A big clock on the range keeps you alert to your tee time.

Stuart McLean

22 July 2022

A welcoming club and a course with great conditioning and scenic values. An interesting test when the wind is blowing. Clovelly, being a shorter course, does well in design to demand accuracy on several holes if players want to take the risk-reward option. The par-5 15th is an exceptional signature hole with its semi-island green bordered by one of the course's stunning water features. An enjoyable experience and deserved of its top 50 ranking.

Craig Gunther

14 February 2022

My first time and I found the layout interesting. Certainly it factors in the wind, a 4-club on the day I played. Knowing which direction it comes from and where to miss is something I would benefit from next time. I enjoyed the first nine more, with a greater variety of holes and the use of the lower mountain slopes for the tee boxes on seven and nine. My only gripe was the pace of play and lack of marshalling. A good afternoon was marred by a round that took well over 5 hours.

Chris Wood

28 January 2022

A morning round at Clovelly last week proved one of my best experiences on a golf course. I was fortunate to draw a beautiful sunny day, and this is a course to savour in idyllic conditions. Relatively short, yet with a bucketful of interesting challenges on a rich mixture of unique looking holes, whether off the tee, into greens, or putting on some scarily quick greens. Magnificent natural surroundings, huge sand dunes on one side and a mountain on the other, a peaceful setting only interrupted by a jogger or cyclist passing by on a trail. So many holes provide outstanding views. No surprise that Clovelly is included on the itinerary of so many of our foreign golfing visitors, who deem it the best in the Cape Peninsula. Clubhouse facilities are simple yet offer all that is needed. I left Clovelly a most contented golfer.

Stuart McLean

23 January 2022

Playing at Clovelly is a pleasure. You receive a warm welcome in the attractive pro shop and from the starter who kindly accommodated us as a twoball on a busy Thursday morning full of fourballs. Clovelly operates a one-tee start off the par-5 tenth, and the first tee was still free before the field turned. We had the front nine to ourselves before re-joining the field on the tenth. The course offers lush fairways -- no need to place -- and even-paced greens with a smooth putting surface running about 9.5 on the stimpmeter. Bunkers are well sanded. The pace of play was good at 4:30 with a courtesy visit from the marshal every now and then to see how we were doing. The halfway house has a variety of good quality food at affordable prices. Clovelly has one of the best of clubhouse views, overlooking the course in its beautiful valley and the surrounding area of Fish Hoek.

Henry Trevena

21 January 2022

My first time playing Clovelly, great to tick off one of my last handful of top 100 courses still outstanding. Each hole was played in a 3- or 4-club wind providing exactly the challenge the course was designed for. I enjoyed the balance of shorter and longer holes. Pace of play was the biggest detractor, with slow groups causing the round to take well over five hours and no marshall to chase them. Conditioning was good and reminiscent of several of our good coastal layouts.

Chris Wood

10 May 2021

A relatively short course where accuracy is key. The greens have steadily improved with the club's purchase of a heavy roller a few years ago. Still receptive and running consistently at 9-10 throughout summer.

Brent Arthur Kleve

01 May 2021

Clovelly has one of the best golf clubhouses in South Africa. Not only is it a fine looking building, perfectly positioned on a hillside overlooking the course with stunning views, its key components are all closely linked together and well presented. The superb pro shop has pride of place, with the halfway house and locker room on either side of it. A staircase takes you upstairs to the 19th hole. And all the starting tees are right there too, virtually an extension of the clubhouse. No place to hide if you're nervous about teeing off in front of a gallery. The first tee box is attractively built up next to the starter's hut, while those on the neighbouring tenth are stacked in attractive tiers on the slope leading down to the fairway. Clovelly is one of those clubs where you tingle with anticipation on arrival.

Stuart McLean

04 January 2021

Due to its relatively remote position in the Cape Peninsula, Clovelly probably gets less exposure than it deserves. An attractive layout with a friendly clubhouse atmosphere. The shortish course (5780 metres from the back tees) is protected by the wind which funnels through the valley skirted by a mountain ridge.

Willem van der Merwe

03 January 2021

Once again Clovelly's team accomplish the impossible. The course is in amazing condition, maintained by two rotating teams of 8 course staff each. A testament to good leadership, and friendly and welcoming staff all round. The course and its pristine location is breathtaking. The best place to unwind after a stressful 2020. The only area on the course that needs attention is the updating of hazard lines and reconsidering the many out-of-bounds stakes on the property boundary. Good news is that Clovelly is about to embark on that project.

warren minster

02 January 2021

Clovelly need to consider rebuilding both the ninth and 18th greens as the ground below each green is subsiding and creating impossibly quick putts from back to front. As it is both greens have limited pin placings and any putt from above the hole is unfair as you cannot stop it without hitting the pin. The practice putting green also needs to be redone. Otherwise the quality of the greens has improved thanks to a lot of dusting which has helped the speed and consistency (10.5 on stimp).

Henry Trevena

28 August 2020

The greens have improved at Clovelly since the club purchased a heavy roller two years ago. This has firmed up the greens while keeping them receptive. It has also made the greens more consistent. The first cut is currently longer than normal (rain and less staff) so it's toughened up the course for golfers who just miss the fairway.

Brent Kleve

24 August 2020

Course stays in excellent condition throughout the year. Great greens and a good club atmosphere.

Barry Cohen

12 July 2020

Tucked away off the main coast road this is a real gem. Facilities have improved over the years and the course remains enjoyable and challenging when the wind blows through the valley.

Sandor Kovacs

16 April 2020

Clovelly in superb condition, greens running well. It is always a test, wind or no wind. Bunkers are disappointingly inconsistent.

Eve Starke

07 March 2020

The clubhouse atmosphere and hospitality at Clovelly is among the best in the country. Always a delight to be there. The bunkers tend to be inconsistent, yet the overall presentation of the course is beautiful.

Warren Minster

17 February 2020

Fish Hoek - Western Cape

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