Yellow 6000 metres, CR72.2/138
White 5592 metres, CR70.1/128
Red 5136 metres, CR67.9/124
Women’s white, CR76.1/134
Women’s red, CR73.2/126
R350 affiliated
R450 non-affiliated
Seniors R280 & R380
Charles Molteno Murray 1937
021 689 4176
www.rondeboschgolfclub.com
This centrally-situated historic Cape Town club (founded in 1911) has Devil’s Peak as a scenic backdrop, plus a challenging parkland layout that has an interesting mix of different holes, undulating in places. It has been one of the consistently best-conditioned courses in the city for many years, and is popular with local golfers. It’s busy, with over 50 000 annual rounds.
The course has changed its routing over the years, due to a 10-8 split on its nines. The old eighth hole, a strong par 4, recently became the 18th. Curiously, the finishing holes on each nine conclude on each side of the clubhouse, rather than in front of it. An unusual feature is that the tees of three holes – Nos 1, 6 and 11 – are immediately in front of the clubhouse.
Rondebosch has at times lived in the shadow of its neighbour, King David Mowbray, which lies a pitch shot across the busy N2 highway separating the two. Whereas Mowbray has held SA Opens and men’s SA Amateurs, Rondebosch has instead hosted the SA Women’s Open and SA Women’s Amateur, in recognition of the club’s exceptionally strong women’s section. The club uniquely had a female club captain, Erica Lefson, former president of Women’s Golf SA.
The Black River runs through the edge of the course, splitting three holes from the rest. The par-3 second is played across the river, and the par-4 eighth is a wonderful risk-reward short par 4 with the river bank hard up against the left edge of the fairway from tee to green. The par-5 ninth is one of the best golf holes in Cape Town, a big curving dogleg to the left around the boundary fence. There’s a water hazard on the right off the tee, and the second shot has to be played across a deep culvert that runs at an angle across the fairway.
A 150-metre long range close to the clubhouse with grass tees and a short-game facility. Warm-up nets at first tee.
Craig Lewthwaite is the teaching professional.
62, Pieter Moolman, 2022 Cape Town Open
(31-31, 9 birdies, 1 eagle);
Felix Mory, 2022 Cape Town Open
(30-32, 8 birdies, 1 eagle)
63, Alan McLean, 1998 Vodacom Series West Cape;
Brett Liddle, 2001 Western Cape Classic
2021 A B Price & Amanda Ogden
2020 Hilmi Mallick & Gill Tebbutt
2019 Kyran Hawkins & Gill Tebbutt
Pieter Moolman and Felix Mory (France) set a new course record of 62 within an hour of each other on February 18 when Rondebosch co-hosted the 2022 Cape Town Open. Moolman had nine birdies and an eagle three at 17, Mory eight birdies and an eagle three at 13. Rondebosch has hosted Sunshine Tour events and the SA Women’s Open.
1/ Two prominent club members, Gillian Tebbutt and Ronnie Glennie, are in the SA Golf Hall of Fame.
2/ Tebbutt is the most successful amateur in the history of SA women’s golf. She has numerous international and SA titles, but one of her memorable feats has been to win the Rondebosch club championship 42 times! Her first title was as 19-year-old Gill Whitfield in 1973, and her 40th came in 2018. She and older sister Lynn have won 50 titles in 56 years.
3/ Glennie as an amateur won the 1947 SA Open at Mowbray, and 1949 SA Amateur at Maccauvlei. His 12 club championships at Rondebosch were over a span of 27 years, 1946 to 1973.
4/ The club has one of the country’s longest-serving greenkeepers in Beattie West, who has kept the course to a high standard for more than 20 years.
5/ In the 2002 SA Women’s Amateur, 15-year-old Tanica van As from Port Elizabeth won the strokeplay title against a strong squad of British and Irish international.
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