White 6399 metres, CR72.5/133
Blue 5789 metres, CR69.3/121
Red 5144 metres, CR65.8/114
Women’s blue, CR75.7/142
Women’s red, CR71.6/132
R380 affiliated
R430 non-affiliated
Tuesday R450 for two plus cart
Friday R600 for two plus cart
Sunday R1500 for four plus carts
Bob Grimsdell 1949
018 011 2910 or
064 814 2117
85 (2023), 94 (2022) & 84 (2021)
Goldfields West is a charming and old-fashioned bushveld course west of Johannesburg, in North West Province, which has changed little over the years. It’s a tranquil getaway, a beautiful oasis of a nature reserve in the heart of gold mining country. In days gone by golfers used to light fires around the clubhouse and braai after a round.
It was thanks to the largesse of the mining company Gold Fields of South Africa in earlier years that several attractive courses were built in the area, and handsomely subsidised for many years. Goldfields, although now in private hands, is one of the few remaining, following the closure of neighbouring Blyvooruitzicht and Stilfontein. Goldfields West itself was liquidated in 2017 and bought by long-time club member Hans Vierra who has restored the quality of the course and the clubhouse.
The entrance road passes the West Driefontein gold mine, and soon the scenery changes as golfers enter a beautiful wooded valley, overlooked by low hills. The holes at Goldfields West are so well camouflaged and spread out that you feel you have the golf course to yourself for the day. A variety of wildlife roams the property.
The original clubhouse was once a stopover hostelry on the farm Driefontein at the turn of the 20th century for travellers between Johannesburg and Kimberley. Little did they know that deep below them lay the richest gold reefs in the world. It was discovered when John Harrison bought the farm in 1911.
Bob Grimsdell’s design features stand out and contribute to the challenge. The fairways are generously wide at times, yet the trees, hazards and rough areas present a challenge if you miss them. And the greens are very different. No bent grass here. The course still retains the local cynodon (skaapplaas) grass which have a strong nap away from the hills. The break on some putts can be enormous. This grass was also on the fairways, but kikuyu has now taken over.
61 by Nathan Moore in 1999 medal
The sixth is a beautiful par 3 played from an elevated tee over a water hazard, and it’s followed by an attractive par 4 turning left uphill and a curving par 5 moving back to the right alongside it. The 14th is an excellent short par 4 to a slightly hidden green.
Full range and short-game areas. Teaching professional and club fitter Ockie Brits (082 850 7966).
2024 Connor Wheatcroft & Elizabeth Akehurst
2023 Connor Wheatcroft & Cheslyn Jacobs
2022 Tiaan Wolfaardt & Cheslyn Jacobs
2021 Tiaan Wolfaardt & Marisa van Niekerk
2020 Terrie Meyer & Elizabeth Akehurst
2019 Graeme Whiting & Elizabeth Akehurst
1/ For many years, from 1957 onwards, the course hosted the Western Transvaal Open (now the North West Open), serving as a permanent venue from 1971 to 1986. The Transvaal Amateur was there in 1984 and 1988. The honours board contains famous names from the past.
2/ The course was built on the historic farm Driefontein, which served as a supply depot and staging post in the 19th century between Johannesburg and Potchefstroom. Sadly the original farmhouse building was lost when a modern clubhouse was built in the 1960s.
3/ The club has a variety of annual subscription options, as low as R2050 for bronze membership, and R3050 for platinum membership, with a weekend green fee of R200. Students and juniors pay R890 a year.
4/ South Africa’s two MotoGP aces, Brad and Darryn Binder, who come from Krugersdorp, are both members of Goldfields West.
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