Jackal Creek

Jackal Creek is one of Gauteng’s newer courses, opened for play in March 2010 as part of the unique Jackal Creek golf estate in Honeydew which combines modern apartment lockup-and-go living with 164 hectares of open space provided by an 18-hole golf course designed by Douw van der Merwe.

The name of the estate originates from the packs of black-backed jackals to be seen on the property, living at various dens, including one on the 18th. They have always been in the area and come and go as they please. Wits University have studied the jackals and keep regular checks on them.

The course, with bent grass greens and kikuyu fairways, has a unique bushveld feel to it, notably on the back nine. There are numerous elevation changes, rolling fairways, strategic bunkering, water hazards and large greens. Most golfers use carts as it is a difficult walk.

There is quite a discrepancy in length and strength between the two nines. Jackal Creek opens with two long holes, a 558-metre par 5 and 453-metre par 4. With two more par 5s on the front nine, this is a lengthy nine at 3462 metres from the yellow tees (par 37), almost 400 metres longer than a relatively shortish back nine.

The second nine has one par 5, the 537-metre 18th, although this is one of the most challenging holes on the course, a tight drive to a fairway curving right steeply uphill alongside a stream to an elevated green fronted by a water hazard.

From the club white tees, the back nine is only 2846 metres, with five shortish par 4s. There is a 128-metre par 3 (No 7), attractively set in a small quarry, and downhill 203-metre par 3 (No 15).

Upgrades were done by Ashley Roestoff Golf in 2017. Former Sunshine Tour professional Roestoff is the general manager and golf director.

The course was re-routed to provide a better balance of holes. The first six holes remained unchanged, thereafter the sequence was changed to get the ninth hole close to the clubhouse, so that the halfway house could operate out of the clubhouse. Some holes were lengthened, others shortened. There were 21 bunkers removed, leaving 76 in play.

The clubhouse is a contemporary design, unique to South African golf clubs. A restaurant and bar extends on to a balcony overlooking the 18th green with views of the distant Magaliesberg range. There are running trails on the estate, a gym, and squash and tennis courts. The membership has remained steady at 420 for the past five years.