Yellow 6603 metres, CR74.2/140
White 6278 metres, CR72.5/136
Blue 5659 metres, CR68.6/132
Women’s white, CR79.1/152
Women’s blue, CR74.8/146
Weekday R280 am, R390 pm
Weekend R550
Laurie Waters 1916
011 646 5400
www.parkviewgolf.co.za
Parkview celebrated its centenary in 2016, and its parkland layout is one of the oldest in Gauteng, with many of the original holes remaining. It does have a modern look to it, though, as a major upgrade by Golf Data in 2001 transformed a deteriorating classic thanks to new greens (with Penn A4 bent grass), stylish bunkering, swales and mounding. Plus, a water hazard built in front of the green at the par-3 15th has made this a signature hole. It’s not a lengthy course, but with 12 par 4s and creatively designed greens it remains a strong challenge when the green speeds are up.
Parkview has long been associated with Bobby Locke, and a lifesize statue of the four-time Open champion was erected beside the clubhouse in 2016. Locke became a sporting sensation at Parkview in 1935 when he claimed the SA Open and SA Amateur trophies in the same week at the age of 17. He was made an honorary member and embraced this privilege for the rest of his life. It was the only time the championships were held at the club.
Parkview is similar to nearby Killarney GC in that it is shoe-horned into three narrow parcels of land, each separated by roads. A deep stormwater sluit runs through the middle, with holes on either side, and occasionally features as a hazard. The biggest parcel contains the first eight holes, including some of the most attractive, before returning to the clubhouse.
Parkview is renowned for being a hospitable and social members club and that spirit has continued to thrive. The modest-sized clubhouse has much to do with that. It’s only a few strides from the front door to the locker room or bar, or downstairs to the putting green and pro shop.
The original Parkview layout designed by Laurie Waters was long and demanding for its era, with a par of 78. Four new holes were designed by English architect Colonel SV Hotchkin in 1930-31 when land was swapped for housing. These are the four holes 12-15.
62 by Ashley Roestoff
Unusually, Parkview has just three par 5s and three par 3s. Two of the par 5s are back-to-back alongside each other (13-14) and beautiful holes in that the land slopes and tumbles. The par 3s are an excellent trio. The most distinctive hole is the par-4 fourth, known as The Wallers, strikingly unique and difficult, played from an elevated tee to a fairway which curves away left to the green around a stand of trees. A housing development left of the hole is on former club land, and this paid for the Golf Data upgrade.
Range forms part of ninth fairway. Short-game area and practice putting green.
Gareth Honke & Yuko Sargent
1/ Parkview hosts the Bobby Locke Festival in November, and their main 36-hole tournament became a 72-hole SAGA ranking event in 2016.
2/ Deon Germishuys, the 2018 SA Amateur champion, posted a tournament record 63 (10 birdies) in the 2017 Bobby Locke. He had a back nine of 7-under 30.
3/ The late Dave Symons, member of the SA Hall of Fame, joined the club as a junior in 1952. He won the club championship 16 times over four decades (1959-1988).
4/ Parkview GC was created between 1912 and 1916 by an early 20th century development company as a way of luring Johannesburg residents to buy stands in this new suburb seven kilometres north of the city centre. Parkview and Observatory in the east remain the two closest golf clubs from Joburg City Hall.
5/ Street names in surrounding suburbs have a golf theme – top UK links Troon, Muirfield, Cruden Bay and Hoylake, plus Open champions Sarazen, Cotton, Vardon, Hagen and Taylor.
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