Royal Johannesburg (West)

Royal has two superb courses (lucky members), and for me the West is the more interesting in terms of its variety of 3s and 4s. The terrain is less hilly, although still having undulations. It must be the best 36-hole facility in SA, fractionally ahead of Fancourt, principally because of having four starting tees close to the clubhouse and a terrific practice area for putting and chipping directly in front of it. The West's par 3s impressed me, but No 7 needs attention. From the back tees you can hardly see the putting surface due to the reeds in the water alongside the green. And being a yellow-staked penalty area you have to go to a drop zone which has seen so much activity it is hacked to pieces. A better solution surely could be found?

Lamprecht de Villiers

17 June 2024

It hasn't been a particularly wet summer in Gauteng, yet Royal has had more heavy rain showers than most clubs in the region, and it is unfortunately affecting playability due to the undulating terrain. Several fairways on West are soft and muddy as water gravitates to low-lying areas, the worst being that on the uphill dogleg left 15th, with drives burying into the wet ground. One ball disappeared. The greens were unaffected though and putting rather well. Only one greenside bunker, right of No 2, was damaged.

Stuart McLean

20 January 2024

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The fairways on the West are surprisingly lush and green, in beautiful condition for early summer in Gauteng. The fairway lies are excellent. It also means the rough is punishingly thick in places, notably around the greens. Right of No 3 I could hardly move the ball forward, while in other places it leapt out like a bolting rabbit. This is a quality design in so many respects, having such a variety of holes to keep everyone interested: ever-changing direction, distances and elevation, variety of greens, the clever placement of greenside bunkers. Fairway bunkers are notably absent, except on three holes (11-12-15) where they dictate the line to be taken off the tee.

Thomas Souness

08 December 2023

Royal West has a significant number of excellent holes in a beautiful setting which for me makes it one of Gauteng's finest parkland layouts. A most attractive walk. So much balanced variety in the design. Doglegs, elevation changes, water hazards that are seriously in play, four exceptional par 3s. Four particularly strong par 4s at No 3 and No 5, No 13 and No 16, balanced out by a mix of other interesting 4s. One of the best clubhouses in SA.

Dieter ten Haag

02 December 2023

The West's new 777 bent grass greens have been open for six months and sad to see the number of unrepaired pitch marks which have scarred many. Fixing pitch marks is obviously not within the remit of some golfers today. Or raking bunkers. The West's new greenside bunkers are terrific by the way, attractively shaped and mostly substantial. I didn't visit any fairway bunkers, but there are only a handful. A feature of playing the West is their absence, and the quality of the design means they are probably not needed. So many good holes here, and I'm amused when golfers describe the West as an "easy" layout. Yes, perhaps in comparison to the East Course, but I found it easy to make bogeys. Part of the problem may have been the surprising slowness of the greens. They didn't look freshly cut. I'm told they are being protected as they settle in, yet moderately extra pace would make them more fun and interesting.

Stuart McLean

29 May 2023

Changes to improve the course were disappointingly limited in the 2022 upgrade of the Royal West greens and bunkers, and the club appears to have missed an opportunity to reshape weaker holes and introduce more new bunkers other than that on the par-5 11th (previously the second). And regretfully the cross bunker on this hole has been removed. It was a key defence of the hole and its absence has reduced the hole's aesthetics. The new greens are firm and may take a while to become receptive to approach shots. The West remains an enjoyable day out, although we had poor service at halfway.

Jon James

25 January 2023

An excellent upgrade to the reconfigured West course (the nines have been reversed), plus the addition of some classy touches (new distance markers) that enhances the playing experience. The Royal team take small details into account, focusing not only on the two courses, but everything a golfer experiences after entering the property. The new greens need time to settle and were springy, making it almost impossible to stop an approach shot or even a chip. The West is still enjoyable though, and more playable than the East Course for the average golfer.

Chris Wood

31 December 2022

Being tasked this year with upgrading a West Course that has been around for 100 years could not have been an easy proposition. However, Royal Johannesburg CEO Chris Bentley and his team, working with Agrano Turf, have achieved a notable success. The West has long existed in the shadow of the championship East Course but the upgrades to greens and bunkers have narrowed the gap. Along with significant aesthetic improvements and minor layout and directional changes, the West may well now be the club golfer's preferred course to play. Royal resisted any urge to make a major redesign and have retained the West's architecture more or less as it has been since several alterations were implemented some years ago. What one sees now is a beautiful parkland course that encompasses modern conditioning, playability and varying challenges depending on one’s choice of tee boxes. With the addition of a first-class restaurant, Old Oak, and a new halfway house, which provide excellent service and cuisine, Royal Johannesburg must rank as one of SA's finest golfing facilities.

Roy Jones

23 December 2022

The West is always enjoyable, usually offering consistently good levels of playability and conditioning throughout the year. The heavy rains have impacted the course's lower areas though: the third and 15th were waterlogged. The West's strength lies in the good design variety of the par 3s which range from 100 to 185 metres. The short fifth demands precision while the eighth may require a long club. The two most testing holes are the par-4s seventh (stroke 1) and 12th (stroke 2). Each lives up to the stroke index. Significant work is ongoing around the Royal clubhouse, and hopefully will improve the halfway house service. The only course-related drawbacks on the West relate to its current conditioning. The tee boxes are poor by Royal standards (they need levelling) and the greens frustratingly slow and uneven. Reviewers have commented on the inconsistency of the putting surfaces on both East and West courses. Attention to these flaws would improve the overall experience.

Jon James

21 March 2022

Royal's status as one of the best clubs to be a member is confirmed by having two such magnificent courses to choose from. The West Course is awesome, always challenging, and fun to play. In great condition too and it drains better than the East Course.

Graham Jones

29 January 2022

The West Course is often described as the easier-to-play sibling of the East Course at Royal, yet it's a good challenge in its own right, and a comfortable fit for both low and high handicaps. Probably more forgiving off the tee than the East, and nowhere near as long. The West has a better set of par 3s in my opinion, each of them special holes. On the front nine you have the contrast between playing the short fifth -- 88 metres to a front pin on the day I played -- and the daunting eighth, one of the best par 3s in South Africa, which was over 200 metres to a testing back pin where the green has considerable slope to negotiate. The 13th is another long par 3 from a high tee to a large green guarded by a deep bunker on the right, while the 16th plays across water to a wide shelf of a green offering a variety of pin positions. Creative design thinking went into this quartet of wonderful holes.

Stuart McLean

26 November 2021

Played on a glorious May day. Fairways still green but getting some run. Greens have recovered well from recent aerating programme and were very good. A wonderful course to play as it is not too difficult.

Michael Faber

19 May 2021

Royal West presents a well balanced and enjoyable golfing test. Fairways, greens and rough are in very good condition, but the teeing areas are not kept to anything like the same standard. It’s a pity that the excellent greens are slow, as speedier greens would add greatly to the challenge and enjoyment in playing this course.

Mark Lynam

10 March 2021

RJK West is suitable for all levels of golfers. While RJK East has its emphasis on length, West emphasises Playability and Shotmaking with a variety of interesting and challenging holes. It's no wonder the senior category of members much prefer this course. Conditioning is excellent which adds to the altogether enjoyable golf experience.

Terry Knight

21 January 2021

Always an excellent experience playing either course at Royal. The West was in superb condition, greens a little slower than you would expect but they held approach shots well. Stunning scenery around the course.

Craig Gunther

19 January 2021

The West Course is often considered as "the least" compared with "the beast" or East Course, and not a destination in its own right. For the average golfer, though, from 8 handicap up, the West is far more playable, still challenging and enjoyable. The Poa greens are in superb condition with an average stimp reading of 10 depending on ambient weather conditions. The bunkers have a low rating due to sand inconsistency but remain playable.

Vaughan Sammons

22 December 2020

The West is supposed to be the easier of the two courses at Royal. Don't let that lull you into a false sense of security as there are some really difficult holes. Overall it may be shorter than the East, yet there are some special and very hard holes. The stroke 1, No 7, may be the most difficult of the 36 at Royal. A few dogleg holes make it play differently to the East. The East may be brilliant, but the West is considered more fun to play.

Doron Neuhaus

18 November 2020

The West Course holds its own against the East at Royal. Fantastic layout and usually well conditioned all year round. Easier than the East but don't let that fool you about the challenge.

Sandor Kovacs

16 April 2020

The West is supposedly the easier of the two courses at Royal, yet it has several challenging holes, and even one of SA's shortest par 3s scares most handicap golfers.

Sabelo Ndabazandile

27 February 2020

Course in excellent condition ??️

Henry Trevena

13 February 2020

Johannesburg - Gauteng

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