Metropolitan

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.