Yellow 6614 metres, CR73.6/132
White 6427 metres, CR73.1/129
Blue 6167 metres, CR71.3/126
Red 5454 metres, CR67.5/118
Women’s blue, CR78.4/148
Women’s red, CR73.5/137
Weekdays R145; weekends R250
011 749 3187
www.stateminescc.co.za
85
State Mines is a hidden gem among Gauteng golf courses, an attractive, tranquil experience on the East Rand that in days gone by was a favourite of Bobby Locke, who grew up in the area.
Tall blue gum trees are a feature of the property, and add character to the design of the holes. It’s a well-balanced layout with a mix of different holes, having been redesigned by Gauteng course architect Rob O’Friel in the early 1990s.
State Mines have recently replanted the greens with bent grass, with some new shaping done on certain holes.
With its excellent quality greens, the layout is a friendly one if you’re hitting it straight, and State Mines was the scene of the lowest score in a professional event in South Africa in 2003, when Jaco van Zyl shot 58 on the Diner’s Club tour. Club member Casey Jarvis had a 61 in the 2018 Ekurhuleni Open.
58 by Jaco van Zyl in 2003 Diner’s Tour pro event
Driving range open to visitors, with balls available at pro shop. Short-game area in front of clubhouse.
Vaughn van Deventer & Cynthia Dicks
1/ Club member Casey Jarvis, at the age of 15, turned in a remarkable performance on his home course in the 2018 Ekurhuleni Open, winning by 11 shots with a 27-under-par score of 261 for 72 holes. He opened with an 11-birdie 61, and followed that with 70-64-66, having 30 birdies and 3 bogeys.
2/ This area of the East Rand used to be prime gold mining country, and golf was first played at State Mines in 1909, the State Mines Gold Mining Company having built a 9-hole course as a facility for their employees.
3/ In the heyday of the gold mines there were numerous golf courses in the area. Some have closed, but several have survived and continue to offer affordable golf. There are 17 clubs affiliated to the Ekurhuleni Golf Union.
4/ All the street names in the surrounding suburb of Brakpan North honour former SA sports stars from the 1960s and 1970s, among them Pollock, Bacher, Barlow, Nash, Ellis, Du Preez, Drysdale, McMillan, Hewitt.
If you've played this course recently, why not tell us all about it? Follow the link to our review section, complete our grading criteria and give us some details on your experience. If selected, your review will appear amongst the course’s collection of player reviews.