Heron Banks

This new course on the Vaal River, part of a residential estate development, has already accumulated a large membership in an area of the Vaal Triangle where four good value courses make for an inexpensive golf destination an hour’s drive south from Gauteng – the others being Emfuleni, Maccauvlei and Riviera.

Heron Banks opened as a 9-holer in 2014 and a second nine has since been completed by the course owners and developers, father and son, Gary and Robbie Lance. Robbie not only runs the golf club, he is also responsible for the course maintenance. A clubhouse has been built, there’s an excellent range, a fleet of golf carts, and attractive membership options available. Full membership is R2 650, R1 200 for seniors and students, R1 100 for female members.

The course, with trademark Danie Obermeyer bunker complexes a feature on many holes, has excellent greens, and water hazards are everywhere, particularly on the back nine where holes 15-17 run alongside the Vaal River. The hazards come into play on 13 holes.

The front nine is inland of the clubhouse and from the back tees it is a strong test at 3452 metres. The last three holes comprise a 455-metre par 4, 419m par 4, and 570m par 5. The ninth is a magnificent 3-shotter, flowing downhill from an elevated back tee. The back nine (the original nine) among the wetlands is shorter and far more scenic. It begins with a superb par-3 heading towards the river, and ends with a good par 4.

There are five par 3s and from the back tees you probably won’t find a longer set in the country. The shortest is 179 metres and longest 209.