White 6029 metres, CR72.7/129
Blue 5557 metres, CR69.5/122
Red 5267 metres, CR68.8/121
Women’s blue, CR75.6/131
Women’s red, CR74.7/129
R350 affiliated
R400 non-affiliated
Jimmy Johnston 1902,
Bob Grimsdell 1952,
Golfscape 2001
041 374 3140
www.pegc.co.za
New entry
One of South Africa’s oldest clubs, founded in 1890, boasting a parkland layout in the heart of the city, known affectionately as The Hill. It has been the scene of many championships over the years, including the PEGC centenary SA Amateur in 1990 won by Retief Goosen.
Golf has been played at this Mill Park venue since November 1902, and in 1917 the course fairways welcomed the first aircraft to land in Port Elizabeth. The pilot had flown from Cape Town and he came to an abrupt halt in a bunker. The wooden propeller from the plane hangs in the clubhouse. In the 1980s this was one of the busiest courses in the country, doing over 50 000 rounds a year, but golf in Port Elizabeth has seen a downturn in recent years, with Walmer Country Club closing its doors in 2019.
The Hill underwent a major upgrade by Danie Obermeyer and Philip Basson (Golfscape) in 2001/2. The greens were rebuilt and contoured, modern bunkering introduced, and two new holes built to replace the old par-3 fourth and par-5 fifth, reducing the par from 73 to 72.
In 2004 the club hosted the SA Boys Championship, and Anton Haig won the strokeplay with a level par total of 288. The course remains a strong test of golf today, particularly when the wind is up.
PEGC has an excellent back nine, and the finishing stretch of holes is a varied one, a strong dogleg right par 4 at 15, short par 4 at 16, water hazard par 3 at 17, and a dogleg left par 5 18th where eagles have often decided tournaments.
62 by JP van der Watt in second round of PE Open on May 22, 2022. He won the title with 71-62.
Previously: 63 by Albert Venter in 2015 Eastern Province Open.
2022 Lumkile Mantshiyo & Zahn Scholtz
2021 Matthew Steiger & Zahn Scholtz
2020 Sean Lottering & Melissa Palmer
2019 Kyle de Beer & Melissa Palmer
A 220-metre range adjoins the tenth hole at entrance to club and is open to the public. It is home to the Graeme Whale Golf Academy. Whale has been the head pro for 20 years. Range membership is available. There’s a short-game facility. Practice green and chipping green in front of clubhouse.
1/ The club website offers attractive Play as you Go membership packages. This includes full membership with unlimited golf at R1150 a month. Or R450 per month with one free round. The club has 700 members.
2/ The property is public land and the club welcomes considerate dog walkers. Trails have been set for mountain bikes and runners with a trail fee. The Candy Cycle Store operates a ‘trail house’ in the parking area.
3/ PEGC, at their original North End course, hosted four early SA men’s Amateur championships in 1890s, and the first 72-hole SA Open in 1908 (George Fotheringham). The Open was played on the current course in 1921 and 1926 (won by Jock Brews), and 1931 (Sid Brews). After that the Open went to Humewood, beginning in 1934. It held a 1966 exhibition match between Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus.
4/ PEGC has hosted 17 SA Amateur championships, 10 men and 7 women. Winners in modern times were Trevor Lagerwey (1974), Retief Goosen (1990), Jackie Mercer (1979) and Wendy Warrington (1998). Kim Williams won the “double” of SA women’s strokeplay and matchplay titles in 2010. The club hosted the 2015 SA men’s strokeplay and 2018 SA women’s strokeplay, both played at separate venues from the SA Amateur.
5/ Two SA women’s internationals, Ramona Terblanche and Janice Keyter, were PEGC members. Terblanche won 12 club championships between 1972 and 1988, Keyter four from 1991-94.
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