Rustenburg

Rustenburg is one of the leading courses in the North West Province, an attractive bushveld layout on the edge of the mining city which is the only one in the region to have hosted numerous South African championships, interprovincial tournaments, and the North West Open. It’s the nearest course to Sun City (50 kilometres).

First thing golfers will notice when they go to the practice green or first tee is the number of animal sculptures and giant golf balls around them. The animals were created by a Zimbabwean artist living locally using the metal from oil drums. Three of the sculptures sit distinctively in thick grass between the 12th and 13th holes.

Golf Data modernised the original Bob Grimsdell design in 1994, and blended the two nines which were opposite in character from the days when it began as a 9-holer. The front nine is lengthy at 3435 metres (par 37) due to there being three par 5s and four par 4s of between 380 and 420 metres. The back nine is 3001 metres (par 35) with just the one par 5.

Rustenburg is a relatively flat and open layout, so occasional water hazards and an abundance of indigenous trees are the notable features, along with the backdrop of the Magaliesberg hills. There is water guarding the front right of the green on the 514-metre par-5 sixth hole, and a dam on the par-3 seventh, although it stops well short of the green.

The shortest par 5, the 452-metre eighth, is the signature hole, and one visitors will most remember. It is a sharp dogleg left around thick foliage with bunkers right, and the large green is positioned on the far bank of the stream which flows through the course. Another excellent hole is the 365m 11th, its fairway narrowing between stands of tall trees before turning right towards the green.

Golfers face an early test on the 420-metre second hole, which is stroke 1. It has a tree-lined fairway which narrows as it reaches the stream further along, and the water runs along the left side towards the green.

An interesting feature is that the tees of three holes are situated in front of the clubhouse. The 381m first is a straightaway par 4, and alongside it is the 356m 12th, an attractive par 4 curving left to a green protected by a hazard. Alongside No 12 is the 415m tenth, heading off at a different angle between tall trees. It’s stroke 2 and a challenging starting hole.

Rustenburg was in danger of closing in 2016/17 until the club and course was rescued by local businessman MH Tayob who paid off the club’s R10-million debt and bought a new fleet of course machinery. He has converted most of the clubhouse into commercial outlets, and advertising signs are prominent. The clubhouse is a low north-facing building which provides an attractive view over the course.

Rustenburg was regularly ranked in the Golf Digest Top 100 from 2002 until 2016, reaching a high of No 63.

The club is home to one of South African golf’s oldest festival weeks, the Orange Blossom, in October, although it has been reduced from a 7-day event to three days.