Green 7040 metres, CR75.6/130
White 6401 metres, CR71.8/122
Blue 5698 metres, CR68.2/120
Red 5261 metres, CR66.1/114
Women’s blue, CR74.3/131
Women’s red, CR71.6/126
R690 Tuesday to Sunday
R400 Wednesday special
Jack Nicklaus 1998
012 244 8000
www.pecanwood.co.za
28 (2022) & 30 (2021)
Pecanwood was the first Jack Nicklaus Signature design in Africa when it opened for play in August 1998 as part of a golf estate on the shores of Hartbeespoort Dam, with a magnificent backdrop of the Magaliesberg mountain range. Over the next decade Nicklaus would return time and again to design another five courses in South Africa. Pecanwood ushered in a new era of five-star course design.
Nicklaus delivered a championship-quality layout at Pecanwood that at the time was the longest course in the country, 60 metres longer than the Gary Player CC at Sun City, with a rating of 76 from the back tees. It was the first course in South Africa to make maximum use of fairway bunkering as serious hazards. There is 4.5 hectares of sand. Providing contrast and definition, the bunkers are placed in strategic positions on every hole, so straight driving is a premier requirement.
Although working with a flat piece of land, Nicklaus and his shaper created something unique as 1.5 million cubic metres of earth was excavated. Golf Data began constructing the course in 1995, the first of several joint projects with Nicklaus. This earth was used to construct the peninsulas on the estate.
Pecanwood was originally on farmland and the waterfront property was discovered in 1993 by Rodney Clare, owner of a small real estate development company. Visiting the area to purchase a weekend home, he was told that the price of the vacant tomato farm next door was the same as the asking price of a home at Eagle’s Landing. Clare bought the land and developed both Pecanwood and Key West estate. A Malaysian development company, Country Heights, was the construction partner at Pecanwood. Country Heights became sole owners in 2002.
61 by Paul Shields (Scotland) in the 2012 Gauteng North Open
These come on the back nine, where the course gets closest to the Hartbeespoort Dam shoreline. The par-3 13th, one of four outstanding short holes, is on the edge of the water. The next two par 4s, 14 and 15, are special, as they encircle a large inner water hazard. The Nicklaus greens are a feature of the course, beautifully shaped and without the extreme slopes which distinguish some of his later designs.
Outstanding range, both long and wide, in front of the double-storey clubhouse. There are tees at both ends.
There are seven guest houses within the estate.
Pecanwood’s newest champions, Jayden Jacobs and Megan Marais, are aged 14 and 13 respectively, possibly a world record for the youngest A division club champions.
2023 Jayden Jacobs & Megan Marais
2022 Conrad Loubser & Karen Weskob
2021 Slade Pickering & Lauren Bekker
2020 Luc Gavagnin & Lauren Bekker
2019 Luc Gavagnin & Linda Jordaan
1/ Pecanwood derives its name from a stand of large pecan trees between the fifth and seventh holes. The architectural design was modelled on an American gated development, PGA West in Palm Springs, California. The original building plans were modified to total 880 houses; the number of golf members set at 888; both lucky numbers according to Malaysian beliefs.
2/ Pecanwood hosted its first European Tour event in March 2022, won by Pablo Larrazabal on 22-under 266 (27 birdies). There were four 62s in the first round. Nacho Elvira had a back nine 29 with seven straight birdies from 10 to 16.
3/ Scot Paul Shields played the front nine at Pecanwood in 28 in his course record 61 at the 2012 Gauteng North Open. He failed to win the tournament.
4/ The 2018 men’s SA Strokeplay championship at Pecanwood saw Oliver Gillberg (Sweden) set a 72-hole tournament record of 27-under 261 (67-62-64-68) with 28 birdies and two eagles.
5/ Sunshine Tour pro Justin Walters was the first men’s club champion in 1999, and heavyweight boxing champion Corrie Sanders won in 2003. The 2018 champion was 13-year-old Rorisang Nkosi, with 14-year-old Luc Gavagnin winning in 2019.
6/ Water sports are popular, and Pecanwood has a Boat Club facing on to a marina.
Conditioning Ratings
Facility Ratings
This course would be much busier if it was closer to the city. A magnificent setting with some world-class holes to challenge players of all abilities.
A friendly course that can test all golfers. Bunkers need work and is a project in the process of being implemented. The staff, under GM Morne Botha, are doing a fantastic job of promoting the club and golf.
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