8

Glendower

Johannesburg - Gauteng

Played this course? Review it now
Find a Course
Search by name, province or ranking
General manager: David Roodt
Greenkeeper: Jan Nortje
Club professional: Rudy Whitfield
Golf manager: Dwain Margro
Club captains: Liam Gardiner & Colleen Francis
President: Kriya Govender
CRITERIA SUMMARY: Total points 80.2 out of 100
Conditioning15.8 / 20
Playability15.8 / 20
Aesthetics11.1 / 15
Design Variety13.0 / 15
Shot Values12.5 / 15
Memorability12.0 / 15

Course Summary

Four tees / Par 72

Yellow, 6962 metres, CR76.3/146
White, 6558 metres, CR74.1/142
Blue, 6042 metres, CR71.3/135
Red, 5475 metres, CR68.2/129
Women’s blue, CR77.9/152
Women’s red, CR74.2/145

Visitor green fee

R440 weekday
R780 weekend
Golf cart R500
Closed on Mondays.

Course designer

Charles Alison 1937, Golf Data 2008

Contact

011 453 1013
www.glendower.co.za

Previous ranking

8 (2023), 6 (2022) & 4 (2021)

Glendower is one of South Africa’s premier championship courses, and its hosting of eight SA Opens is the most by any Gauteng club in the modern era. It recently had five consecutive Opens from 2013 to 2018, highlighted by the appearance of Rory McIlroy in 2017 which attracted some of the biggest galleries seen in Johannesburg. McIlroy thrilled the fans with two 67s and two 68s, before losing in a playoff to Graeme Storm.

At nearly 7 000 metres in length, Glendower has long held a reputation as one of the fiercest parkland challenges with a testing array of strong par 4s (a quartet of them measure between 436 and 465 metres) and intimidating par 3s. The par 5s are friendlier, and the 2018 SA Open yielded no fewer than 76 eagles. The course was upgraded in 2008 by Golf Data, and its sloping greens complexes only add to the difficulty factor. It has the feel and character of a classic US Open type layout, but without penal rough.

There’s a natural beauty to Glendower with its many large trees and a river running through the property which provides a number of wonderful hazards. It makes an early appearance on the left of the par-5 second, fills up a hazard left of the short third, skirts the front of the seventh green, filters into a pond guarding the 10th, and asks to be carried on the tee shot at 12. It ends up in another sizeable pond left of the par-5 13th green.

Glendower hosted an exhibition match between Bobby Locke and Sam Snead on February 12, 1947. Locke played one of his greatest rounds, a flawless 12-under-par 63 containing 10 birdies and an eagle, while Snead shot 68. At the time Glendower had a par of 75. There were seven par 5s, Nos 1 and 2, 7 and 8, 13, 15 and 18. Locke had six birdies and his eagle on them. The original scorecard is framed in the clubhouse entrance, together with Locke’s scores from the 1939 Transvaal Open at Glendower.

Additional Course Facts

Course Record

61 by Matteo Manassero (Italy) in second round of victory in 2024 Jonsson Workwear Open. He had 28-33 with eagles at 2&8 and 7 birdies.
Lowest SA Open scores
63 by Graeme Storm, Edoardo Molinari, 2017; Adrien Saddier, 2018
Women
63 by Ashleigh Buhai, 2020 Jabra Ladies Open

 

Feature Holes

Glendower has three outstanding par 3s which add up to 620 metres of challenging shots from the championship tees. Water hazards guard the daunting third (231) and sixth (185), while the 204-metre 17th leaves little margin for error, the narrow green bunkered right, and falling away steeply on the left.

Accommodation

None on site, but the club handles golf and accommodation bookings with group and individual packages. Contact reception@glendower.co.za

Championships

8 SA Opens (1989 Fred Wadsworth; 1992 Clinton Whitelaw; 1997 Vijay Singh; 2013 Morten Madsen, 2015 Andy Sullivan, 2016 Brandon Stone, 2017 Graeme Storm, 2018 Chris Paisley). SA Amateur 1987; SA Men’s Strokeplay 2012; SA Women’s Strokeplay 2015.

Practice Facility

Five-star range behind clubhouse, long and spacious, run by club pro Rudy Whitfield.

Did You Know

1/ The first round of 61 in South Africa was scored at Glendower in 1975 by Allan Henning on his way to winning a Sunshine Tour event. The course was lengthened and strengthened during the 1980s under club president Francois Tolken prior to hosting its first men’s SA Amateur (1987) and SA Open (1989).

2/ Glendower is a rare SA course for having a design connection to legendary British course architects Harry Colt and Alister Mackenzie. The designer in the late 1930s was Charles Hugh Alison, a partner of those personalities, who worked with them on 300 courses worldwide.

3/ Branden Grace had 5 eagles in the 2018 SA Open, three of them at par 5s in a first round 65, when he finished second to Englishman Chris Paisley. Thriston Lawrence had 5 eagles in his T-2 at 2024 Jonsson Workwear Open, at each of the four par 5s.

4/ Bobby Locke posted a world record total of 265 for 72 holes at Glendower in 1939 Transvaal Open. He won by 26! The lowest SA Open total at Glendower was 267 by Chris Paisley in 2018.

5/ Rory McIlroy had an eagle 2 at 444m No 7, holing out with a 9-iron from 146m, in third round of 2017 SA Open. He finished 18-under, but lost to Englishman Graeme Storm on the third playoff hole.

6/ The club logo depicts a Blue Crane. Each hole is named after a bird species, and all 18 are found on site.

7/ Club members Yurav Premlall and Kyra van Kan were ranked among SA’s top amateurs. They both won their first club championship titles at the age of 13.

8/ Matteo Manassero set the lowest sub-par total for a DP World Tour event in SA with 26-under 262 (68-61-67-66) in the 2024 Jonsson Workwear Open.

Club Champions

2024 Jaiden Pass & Aletha Wentzell
2023 Minjun Heo & Sally Weideman
2022 Warren Hofmann & Kyra van Kan
2021 Rob Massiceti & Kyra van Kan
2020 Saul Moss & Kyra van Kan
2019 Yurav Premlall & Kyra van Kan

Course and Facilities Rating
blankConditioning Ratings
Greensblankblankblankblankblank
Bunkersblankblankblankblankblank
Teesblankblankblankblankblank
Fairwaysblankblankblankblankblank
Presentationblankblankblankblankblank
Overall Conditioningblankblankblankblankblank
blankFacility Ratings
Pace of Playblankblankblankblankblank
Practice Facilityblankblankblankblankblank
Halfway Houseblankblankblankblankblank
Pro Shopblankblankblankblankblank
Serviceblankblankblankblankblank
Locker Roomblankblankblankblankblank
19th Holeblankblankblankblankblank
Course Etiquetteblankblankblankblankblank
Course Reviews
The classic golf experience is alive and well at Glendower. Noticeable small touches, including a check-in desk, halfway pre-orders, and marshalling pace of play. The operations team are focused on improving the experience and service. Conditioning is excellent. Greens among the best in Gauteng with subtle breaks. Putts roll true at a good pace. Bunkers are typically less consistent than other courses but have improved. Work on the waterways is progressing and the par-5 second will be significantly better looking once done. Glendower may not defend itself well against the pros, but for the amateur it is a treat.
Jon James
02 June 2024
Glendower has a waterway levy of R40 on every green fee, money well spent on improving the look and structure of this lengthy and tortuous waterway which runs from the second hole through the property before exiting at the par-3 14th. An expensive project is the one underway on the spillway of the dam in front of the second tee. This will become a succession of attractive pools at different levels before the waterway narrows alongside the fairway. The erosion from flooding of the stream's banks and those around the sixth hole water hazard is being tackled with some neat restorative work. This is such a well-merited undertaking. The wonderful par-3 third has been transformed and opened up by clearing thick foliage around the tee boxes which allows more water to be visible. Tree branches have been lifted around the course, providing better views from hole to hole. The presentation of the course is excellent. Glendower hosted three pro tournaments this summer, and unfortunately heavy cart traffic from contractors has caused damage and scarring. Carts are such a benefit for golfers, yet their devastating impact on course condition is being felt.
Stuart McLean
26 April 2024
blank
View more reviews
Great course. Here and there a bunker needs attention but rest is spot on. Halfway house takes your order before tee off, so food is warm and ready at the turn. Nice touch. Friendly, helpful staff. Other courses can learn from them.
Ignis van der Merwe
03 April 2024
Glendower is regarded as one of our leading championship layouts, host of eight SA Opens. But following the Jonsson Workwear Open it has the unenviable and surprising distinction of owning the lowest sub-par winning score (26-under-par) of all DP World Tour events played in SA the last 30 years. Durban CC had 25-under from Ernie Els at the 2010 SA Open and will be happy to relinquish the title. Eight players 20-under and lower, 50 players in double digits under par. Winner Matteo Manassero had three bogeys in 72 holes; runners-up Thriston Lawrence five eagles; Shaun Norris 28 birdies. Average score 70.13. There were 2023 birdies and 119 eagles from 464 rounds. The 17th (club's eighth hole) played as the easiest par 5 in history, averaging 4.23 with 48 eagles.
Thomas Souness
12 March 2024
Having played many top courses in SA as a visitor from the UK, Glendower was our favourite overall. Long way for us to come but golf in SA is simply the best.
Richard Anderson
29 April 2023
Glendower is one of our most accessible Top 10 courses and represents excellent value on a weekday. A privilege being able to regularly play a course of this quality. The fairways, greens and overall presentation continue to set a high standard. The par 4s on the back nine are among the most enjoyable and testing to play. Holes 10 through 12 offer variety and keep your attention with the stream in play. My favourite par 3s are 6 and 14. Excellent service at Glendower. A good pro shop under Rudy Whitfield.
Jon James
12 April 2023
Glendower presents a stern but enjoyable test. The par 4s are memorable, offering variety in shape, distance and elevation. Thankfully, the shortish par 5s offer scoring opportunities. The greens are a highlight, running fast and true. Recent rains have unfortunately affected the overall conditioning. Friendly service throughout at this ‘classic golf experience.’
Avinash Kalkapersad
20 February 2023
Glendower continues to provide the "classic golf experience" and is exceptional value for money. The course, beautifully presented following summer rains, is a challenge off the back tees, with the rough providing a strong defence. The bunkers are generally playable despite the rain providing drainage challenges. The variety of the design makes for an enjoyable round. No two rounds will present the same conditions, pin locations and general setup. The third is a special hole, playing over 200m off the back, one of the best par-3s in Gauteng that will test your mettle early in the round.
Jon James
10 January 2023
The first thing I noticed on arrival at Glendower was that most of the prime parking is allocated to committee members and staff. Even the club champion has his spot near the front door. The clubhouse has been attractively modernised inside and I like the outside deck. My first visit and from the first hole I could sense this was a proper championship layout. Each hole on the front nine looked stunning and asked for challenging shots. It was breezy and the two par 3s into the wind were daunting due to the water hazards that were very much in play. The par-5 second and the downhill par-4 seventh were holes I would have loved to play again. The green at No 9 was beautifully framed with a stone wall edging the water hazard. The back nine began impressively, but I didn't particularly like the steady uphill climb from 15 to 18 back to the clubhouse. Strong holes yet not matching up to the earlier quality. The magnificent greens made this a memorable outing.
Lamprecht de Villiers
31 October 2022
The “classic golf experience” is the tag line at Glendower and the current conditioning and experience fully lives up to expectations. The course conditioning is immaculate and the greens probably the best in Gauteng. The rough is brutal following record rainfall and will punish any wayward drives. Glendower remains timeless and will test all players with narrow landing areas, subtle breaks on the greens and well-placed hazards. The par-3 third is one of the best holes, with a hazard left and bunkering right of the green. It is followed by the strokes 1 and 3 (par 4s) adding to a demanding stretch which tests the full array of shots. The par-4 seventh (stroke 5) is another special hole which requires an accurate tee shot and well directed approach into a demanding greens complex. The back nine brings similar challenges off the tee, and includes some of the most beautifully framed holes. The par-5 15th is visually stunning, with the bunkering and shaping of the hole to the green representing some of the most memorable design. The only drawback at present is the consistency and maintenance of the bunkers. The greenside traps are acceptable, but many fairway bunkers are poor and frequently unraked by players (something that annoyingly appears to be an unfortunate trend on most Highveld courses). Glendower is a “must play” and is as good as it has been for years. Credit to Mike Burnard and his team. Play it on a Tuesday or Wednesday when it is exceptional value for money.
Jon James
01 April 2022
Phenomenal true championship course. South Africa's US Open equivalent. A challenging day out. You have to miss in the right place and that still might not be enough. Beautiful greens.
Graham Jones
31 January 2022
Top course in a wonderful area, easily accessible and always in immaculate condition. Great smooth greens and a terrific layout playable by all standards of players.
Neville Clarke
25 January 2022
Having a river run through your course is a mixed blessing for many clubs in Gauteng. These waterways provide excellent natural hazards and attractive aesthetics, yet summer storms bring flooding, unattractive erosion and unsightly debris due to poor management of these rivers upstream. The water quality is usually mucky and contaminated. Glendower's river enters the course behind the first green, and it chugs past eight holes before exiting the property after the par-5 13th. It's hard to imagine what Glendower would be like without it. It enhances the par-5 second and par-3 third, and forms a forbidding barrier short of the seventh green. The pond on 10 turns this long downhill 4 into a scary proposition. And the way the river winds in front of the diagonally shaped fairway at 12 towards the green makes this par 4 an excellent example of a "Cape" template, the essence of risk and reward tee shots. The longer the carry, the closer you get to the green.
Stuart McLean
22 December 2021
Fantastic course. Always in great shape and greens rolls fast and consistent. Holes 1, 7, 10 and 18 are memorable. Have to make birdies on the par 5s to score well as the rest of course is a strong test.
Justin Weir
10 October 2021
Superb golf course all around.
Leon Bevan
06 July 2021
A tough championship course in very good condition. Bunker sand not firm enough. Such a pity the rivers and streams are so polluted in Gauteng. This impacts negatively on the aesthetic appeal of affected courses like Glendower.
David Leslie
17 May 2021
Every hole offers its own challenge. There is no weak hole that merely moves you from one tee to another. Unrelenting challenge but fun at the same time.
Sabelo Ndabazandile
07 January 2021
Had not played Glendower for two years and the transformation, mostly by clearing the dams of vegetation and raising the "browsing" line of the trees, is most pleasing to the eye. The attention to aesthetics is undeniable and helps ease the pain of a tough golf course. The clubhouse bar and lounge has been renovated too.
vaughan sammons
24 December 2020
Glendower offers the most varied and interesting challenges of the parkland courses in Gauteng. From the opening hole, a par 4 where you are confronted by a long approach shot that needs to carry two large bunkers guarding the green, you get a sense of how demanding Glendower is going to be if you want to take it on. Yet it has options for the 10-handicap golfer to score well if you know when to lay up and be cautious. The par 5s exemplify this. If the scratch golfer wants to birdie them with aggressive play there is high risk involved, yet plodding down the fairway can present an easy par. Glendower ranks high because there are no weak holes, design variety is good in every facet other than the absence of a short par 4, and superb conditioning is a hallmark.
Stuart McLean
12 December 2020
Glendower is still one of the great layouts in SA. However, the conditioning has not been near its usual high standard. The fairways are patchy and the presentation not where it used to be. The greens are adequate and it remains to be seen if their latest treatment will improve these. Disappointing for a course ranked No 2.
Ponky Firer
19 November 2020

One of our great golf courses which is rightfully ranked in the top 5. Conditioning is excellent year round which adds to the pleasure of being challenged on one of the tougher layouts. Every drive is demanding and precision shots are required to score well. 

Ponky Firer
04 October 2020
Great course lives up to expectations. True championship 18 with few flaws.
Sandor Kovacs
16 April 2020
Greens and bunkers were average considering the course's No 2 ranking.
David Frost
01 March 2020
Submit Your Review & Ratings

HAVE YOU PLAYED Glendower RECENTLY?

If you've played this course recently, why not tell us all about it? Follow the link to our review section, complete our grading criteria and give us some details on your experience. If selected, your review will appear amongst the course’s collection of player reviews.

Review this Course
Course Location
Other Top 100 Courses in the Area
  •
    Royal Johannesburg (East)
    Johannesburg
    RANKED 12
  •
    Royal Johannesburg (West)
    Johannesburg
    RANKED 28
  •
    Houghton
    Johannesburg
    RANKED 30
  •
    Modderfontein
    Johannesburg
    RANKED 49
  •
    Killarney
    Johannesburg
    RANKED 47
  •
    Wanderers
    Johannesburg
    RANKED 65