White 5699 metres, CR70.4/127
Blue 5268 metres, CR68.0/123
Red 4813 metres, CR65.3/122
Women’s blue, CR73.9/127
Women’s red, CR70.7/121
SA Affiliated R380 (9) R570 (18)
WP Affiliated R345 (9) R515 (18)
Non-affiliated R410 & R630
Golf cart R360 & R550
Mark Muller 2010
021 430 6011
www.metropolitangolfclub.co.za
No 4 (2024)
Adjoining the Cape Town Waterfront, and close to the city centre, Metropolitan is Cape Town’s second oldest golf club (1895), yet has a brand new 9-hole course that was completed after the 2010 World Cup. It lies in the shadow of the Cape Town Stadium, with Table Mountain and Signal Hill as a backdrop. The club’s original unique layout – nine holes with 15 greens – was in use for 100 years before being closed in 2007 to accommodate the stadium site, although the 1950s clubhouse remains.
Today’s 9-hole design by Cape Town course architect Mark Muller has 14 different greens, beautiful sloping modern structures with fast-running putting surfaces. Five of the holes have alternate greens, and the other four holes have two pins in place on the green. It’s a popular and busy course, with 600 members, and a favourite with international visitors. Its situation often protects it from the south-easterly wind.
With a par of 70 there are just two par-5s, both impressive and challenging holes. The third is 489 metres from the back tee, and the 12th measures 505 metres. The fairway is wide enough off the tee, yet narrows further on as water hazards come into play on both sides. Water crosses the fairway well short of two separate greens, leaving golfers with the option of laying up with their second shots or taking on the carry. The opening three holes at Metropolitan are certainly the most exacting, and then come the potential birdie holes.
The round ends with a glorious par-3 in front of the clubhouse, played from an elevated tee over a water hazard.
63, Andrew Georgiou 2023
2023 Andrew Georgiou & Claire Winstanley
2022 Pearce Lewin & Bev Button
The club was originally known as Green & Sea Point GC when founded in 1895 with a course on Green Point Common. The club closed for three years during the Anglo-Boer War. It was renamed Metropolitan GC in 1906 with the opening of a new 9-holer. The name has a connection to Cape Town’s famous Met horse race. The Metropolitan Handicap was first run in 1883 on a racetrack in Green Point before moving to Kenilworth. The old racecourse stand was the golf clubhouse from 1906 to 1959 when the current clubhouse was opened.
1/ The club pro shop has a performance studio including new technology and equipment. The roof of the facility has created an outdoor deck as an extension to the attractive upstairs 19th hole, offering a superb view over the closing holes.
2/ South Africa’s finest woman golfer, Sally Little, learned the game at Metropolitan, where her father Percy Little was a member. She became a Prentice member in 1962.
3/ There are practice putting greens at the clubhouse and first tee, a practice bunker, plus warm-up nets.
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