Noodsberg Country Club

Noodsberg Country Club has its origins in the KwaZulu-Natal sugar industry, beginning with a cricket field for employees of the Noodsberg Sugar Mill which opened in 1966 near Dalton. A 9-hole golf course and clubhouse were completed in 1978. A variety of sporting sections have come and gone, while golf has remained a constant presence. The course, now with 10 holes, has matured into one of the most attractive 9-holers in South Africa.

The club is close to both Maritzburg, 50 kilometres away via Wartburg, and 78 kilometres from Ballito on the North Coast.

You enter the property at a crossroads close to the Sugar Mill, and drive along an attractive tree-lined avenue to the country club some distance away from the mill, set in tranquil surroundings.

It’s a heavily tree-lined par-71 layout which in places may draw comparisons with Augusta National with its trees and undulating land. It has firm, fast Royal Blue cynodon greens with subtle slopes.

The stroke 1 certainly wouldn’t be out of place at Augusta. This is a beautiful, challenging hole, played firstly (No 5) as a 455-metre par 5, then (No 14) as a 385-metre par 4. There’s a stream to be crossed, after which the fairway threads its way between the pine trees and climbs to an elevated green. The following hole is a par 3 (6 & 15) which plays back down 169 metres to a green in a valley, similar to Nos 4 and 6 at Augusta.

Positioning is important off the tee from the start of the round. The 348-metre opening hole curves right around the cricket field to a green hidden from sight. The second is 304 metres, and again the green is well protected by trees, so you have to be on the left side of the fairway to have a clear shot at the pin.

Golfers then encounter two par 3s alongside each other (3 & 12). No 3 is 110 metres and No 12 is 153 metres. The fourth (335m) is a straight hole with a stream across the fairway about 200 metres from the tee, so longer hitters will be tempted to carry it. The second time round, at No 13, it is played as a dogleg right from 360 through a narrow avenue of trees.

Another innovative alternative occurs at 7 & 16. It’s firstly a long dogleg right 5 (513) around a dam, then a brilliant 360m par 4 where you tee up on the dam wall and drive across the water to the fairway. Nos 8 & 17 are again a par 4 (398) and par 5 (470) variation, and the round ends with another short par 4, played at 284 and 317.

The golf course first took shape in 1976 with four holes built by local farmers with the help of the Noodsberg sugar mill. These were the current first, second, third and ninth holes close to the clubhouse. A year later, in 1977, assisted by Jack Straw, another five holes were built, and the first club championship took place in 1978. There were few trees, but this soon changed after hundreds of pines and bluegums were planted to better define the holes. The bluegums were removed in 1993 and replaced by indigenous trees.

A decade later a tenth hole was built, an additional par 3 (153 metres) which now plays as the 12th.

The original greens had Bayview grass, and in 2010 all 10 greens were reconstructed and planted with Royal Blue cynodon which proved an excellent decision as the grass enjoys the climate.

Read: SAINTS & SUGAR MILLS 9-HOLE TRIO