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Milnerton

Cape Town - Western Cape

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Manager: Mark Schacht
Golf director: Kyle Lee
Club captain: Colin Jacobs
Greenkeeper: Craig Helstrip
President: Shaun Buchanan
CRITERIA SUMMARY: Total points 63.3 out of 100
Conditioning13.0 / 20
Playability13.3 / 20
Aesthetics10.4 / 15
Design Variety8.8 / 15
Shot Values9.5 / 15
Memorability8.3 / 15

Course Summary

Three tees / Par 72

Yellow 5975 metres, CR 72.4/130
White 5623 metres, CR 70.7/124
Red 5111 metres, CR 67.8/119
Women’s white, CR 76.7/137
Women’s red, CR 73.6/123

Visitor green fee

R425 affiliated
R750 non-affiliated
R315 affiliated special Monday-Tuesday
Golf cart R480, trolley R120

Course designer

Archie Tosh 1925,
Mark Muller (Golf Data) 1997

Contact

021 552 1047
proshop@milgolf.co.za
www.milnertongolf.co.za

Previous ranking

86 (2023), 80 (2022) & 86 (2021)

The clubhouse at Milnerton occupies a dramatic site on the edge of a white sandy beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Table Mountain and the Cape Town skyline form an impressive backdrop. The main lounge and bar has the best view. Sunsets here are amazing. 

The links-style golf course runs out-and-back on a narrow strip of land between the ocean and an inland waterway, with six holes bordering the beach, so close at times that a wayward tee shot can end up heading for the surf. The beach used to be in play, but is now an environmentally sensitive area.

Golf has been played here for 96 years, but the original layout underwent a dramatic change in the mid-1990s when part of the property became a residential housing estate. A new course was built by Golf Data, although several of the older holes near the clubhouse were retained. When you tee off at the first it looks like pristine links land, but the estate soon hoves into view at the fourth. However, there’s only ever houses on one side of any fairway, so the course still has a natural and spacious feel, with indigenous vegetation, wetlands, and a number of water hazards on the inland holes.

The course goes straight out for 9 holes, where there is a halfway house, and golfers can drive there by car or golf cart so that there are always two starting tees. It’s a breezy coastline, particularly in summer; depending on the season, the one nine is downwind and the other nine into the wind.

For social rounds, Milnerton is shortened to par 71, with the par-5 sixth reduced to a short par 4.

Additional Course Facts

Course Record

66 by Darren Devlin, Luca Filippi, Roy Wynton & Robbie Oosthuizen.

Feature Holes

The holes along the shoreline are the most memorable. The 306-metre second plays from a tee on the dunes, with a cluster of deep bunkers to be avoided on the right. Returning home, the par-3 11th reveals views of Table Mountain, and the 380m 12th with the beach on the right is one of the most memorable holes. The closing holes, starting with the 304m 16th, adjoin the lagoon and wetlands. The 373m 18th is one of the best par 4s in the Cape Peninsula, water closely flanking the left from tee to green.

Practice Facility

Short-game area and practice putting green next to first tee. Range adjoining third hole reserved for members and day guests.

Club Champions

2023 Jack Buchanan & Casey Hattle
2022 Chris Wicks & Casey Hattle
2021 Murray Boast & Casey Hattle
2020 Adrian Ford & Casey Hattle
2019 Adrian Ford & Vanessa Smith

Did You Know

1/ Milnerton is on sandy soil and its excellent drainage means that it is a popular venue for golfers during the wet Cape winter.

2/ The course has remarkably good and slick bent grass greens considering how close it is to the ocean.

3/ Milnerton hosted six SA Masters from 1978 to 1985. Winners were Dale Hayes, Gary Player, Nick Price, Mark McNulty (2) and Tony Johnstone.

4/ Golf began at Milnerton in 1913, but stopped during the First World War, only resuming in 1925.

5/ Wilco Nienaber shot 62 in the 2018 Western Province Championships, but the sixth was played as a short par 4 and it did not count as a course record.

6/ The club’s honours boards are well displayed in the clubhouse, and show outstanding achievements in recent years by international representatives such as Cameron Johnston, Luca Filippi and Cara Gorlei, who won the 2017 SA Women’s Amateur.

7/ Former tennis professional Neil Broad – a silver-medal doubles winner at the 1996 Olympics – has won the men’s club championship.

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Course Reviews
Milnerton provides the best views money can buy. Thoroughly enjoyed my round.
Masupha Letsie
22 July 2023
It's a time of year when foggy days are an occurrence at Milnerton, warm moist air passing over the cold Atlantic Ocean on the doorstep. Teeing off at noon I was told the morning fog had only lifted two hours earlier. Conditions looked set for a fine sunny afternoon though. Starting at No 10 we had magnificent views of Table Mountain and Lion's Head on the par-3 11th tee. But playing the par-5 17th the mist started rolling in with the breeze. Before long it was a clammy cold haar of the proper Scottish variety. Miserable conditions. A foghorn was blowing out to sea. The temperature dropped to 12C and the light was gloomy, although you could see where you were going, and more importantly follow the flight of the ball. And in that icy air it wasn't going too far. The golfers in the fourball ahead were shadowy figures as the mist intermittently lifted and closed on us. Many golfers pay a fortune to experience this on the links of Scotland. But I can do without it.
Stuart McLean
06 May 2022
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View more reviews
Milnerton is located in an idyllic position on the Atlantic Ocean with spectacular views of Table Mountain. It is a brute in the breeze but on a calm day a pleasure to play. The linksy terrain is enjoyable and many holes allow for varied approaches or clubs off the tee. The par 5s are generally reachable and provide scoring opportunities. Stroke 1 is the par-4 ninth and presents such a stern test (392m off the back) that par here is a great score. The short holes are a strength of the design and test different shot shapes, requiring a longer club when the breeze gets up. The greens are currently superb. Our fourball commented on the quality of the surfaces and enjoyed the extra roll out on a well struck putt. Overall conditioning was impressive with the fairways cut tight and providing a true response on approach shots. Milnerton represents great value for money with excellent service and the beautiful 19th hole ready to welcome you.
Jon James
10 March 2022
I play Milnerton a few times every month and there has never been an occasion when I was unhappy about anything related to the course. Service is friendly, course is in good condition, and there is a relaxing 19th hole.
Ryelan Hardnick
01 February 2022
Milnerton is my favourite winter venue in Cape Town, and many golfers will feel the same way about this attractive linksy course where the clubhouse stands on the Atlantic Ocean shore. I played this week on a typical fine winter's day, sunny, a light south-easter blowing, which you seldom experience in the blustery summer months. I could not have asked for better conditions. The course is in outstanding condition, possibly the best I have seen it. The greens are fabulous, running at a quick pace. The slopes are gentle, so you're always looking to hole putts rather than avoid three-putting. The early winter rains have given the course a healthy look, flushing out the salty residue from the summer effluent irrigation. Rain is the main source of irrigation in winter, and the water drains away quickly, always providing firm conditions underfoot.
Stuart McLean
04 June 2021
Spectacular sea views and a wonderful vista of Table Mountain dominate the experience here. Nine holes out from the clubhouse and nine back, running between the shoreline and the lagoon and wetlands. Very exposed to the elements which can make the course challenging on a windy day.
Brent Arthur Kleve
28 April 2021
Milnerton is particularly beautiful to play in the winter months, because the days are relatively calm -- there's always a breeze on the Atlantic shoreline though -- and the views are stunning with the clear blue skies. The residents of Sunset Links estate not only have great sunsets to admire, but a superb property on which to enjoy evening walks. Following lockdown the course is in excellent condition, the fairways remarkably good.
Stuart McLean
21 July 2020
Very tough layout in the wind which I would rate as a true links being so close to the sea. Not the most creative of designs but a good test of golfing skills in any weather.
Sandor Kovacs
16 April 2020
Usually a windy test with great views of the ocean and Cape Town. Good clubhouse atmosphere.
warren minster
08 April 2020
The views of Table Mountain across the sea from some of the tees and fairways make this a worthwhile round irrespective of your score.
Trevor King
08 March 2020
Golf at Milnerton reminds everyone how beautiful Cape Town is, on the course and in the clubhouse. The course is dry and linksy due to windy weather yet the greens remain good.
Eve Starke
29 February 2020
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