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
Affiliated R320 (9) R490 (18),
non-affiliated R385 & R595
Golf cart R360 & R550
Mark Muller 2010
021 430 6011
www.metropolitangolfclub.co.za
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.
65 by Roux Burger in 2013
Chris van Rensburg & Lee-Anne Varrie
1/ The club has opened a new pro shop with performance studio including the latest technology and equipment. The roof of the new facility has created an outdoor deck as an extension to the attractive upstairs 19 th 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.
If you've played this course recently, why not tell us all about it? Follow the link to our review section, complete our grading criteria and give us some details on your experience. If selected, your review will appear amongst the course’s collection of player reviews.