White 5661 metres, CR 70.1/135
Blue 5114 metres, CR 67.4/122
Red 4608 metres, CR 64.5/115
Women’s blue, CR 73.3/131
Women’s red, CR 69.7/124
R400
R285 hotel resident
R255 member guest
Sean Quinn (Golf Data) 2008
040 864 1010/2
www.katleisure.co.za
93 (2023)
Katberg has for many years been a remote resort in the Winterberg mountains, 930 metres above sea level. Originally a family hotel, offering a variety of leisure facilities, including a makeshift mashie golf course.
Today it’s the setting for the 400-hectare Katberg Eco Golf Estate – owned by Kat Leisure Hotel Group – home to an enjoyable 18-hole course. It’s primarily a fun layout which can be appreciated by good golfers and beginners. Set against the undulating terrain of the lower mountain slopes it is the third shortest course in the Top 100 (5 661 metres), after Southbroom and Umdoni Park, yet with small greens it can be testing when set up for a tournament. The winning score in the 72-hole SA Boys Championship in 2012 was
6-under-par 282.
Katberg is a 3-hour drive from Port Elizabeth Airport, and 2½ hours from East London Airport. The route from East London takes you on a scenic drive to Cathcart, and then through the magnificent Nico Malan Pass to Seymour. The last 20 kilometres are on dirt roads.
There is no shop on the estate, so residents and visitors need to bring in their own provisions.
Read: KATBERG, ORKNEY & EMFULENI JOIN TOP 100
Read: WHAT MAKES THE EAST CAPE SO SPECIAL
61 by Matthew Thompson in 2018 Denis Whitfield event. Manager Piet Gunther previously had a 62.
There’s a scenic stretch of holes from No 6 to No 9 gently flowing back downhill to the clubhouse which provide some of the most interesting challenges on the course. A large dam borders the left of the sixth fairway, the seventh is a par 3 across the dam, while the 501m eighth demands a well-struck drive to carry a ravine. The back nine is relatively short at 2 752 metres, and has three par 4s of 295, 285 and 260 metres where the green is in reach for longer hitters. But there’s danger to face if tee shots go astray.
The Katberg Hotel within the estate has re-opened with 30 rooms. There are 13 self-catering golf villas on the estate, either two- or three bedrooms with all facilities, including indoor gas fireplaces and a weber braai. And Waylands Country House is a luxury gourmet retreat in the heart of the mountains, 20km from the estate.
1/ Katberg hosted the SA Boys Championship in 2012, and the winners were 15-year-olds Tristen Strydom (strokeplay) and Thriston Lawrence (matchplay), both now Sunshine Tour professionals. It also held the SA Country Districts IPT in 2010.
2/ Katberg is one of four Top 100 courses which has a par-3 18th hole – the others are Kingswood, Beachwood and Umhlali. Katberg’s is a beauty, played from a high tee over a stream to the green.
3/ It is one of the more isolated Top 100 courses; 200 kilometres from East London GC, 180 kilometres from Royal Port Alfred. It is 40km from Hogsback in the Amathole mountains.
4/ The charming and cosy clubhouse, a restored building from the 1920s, has a pub and restaurant, plus there’s a swimming pool.
2020 to 2022 Not played
2019 Johan du Plessis & Debbie Sheen
A charming course, in good condition, with well-designed greens that are a test for your short game.
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