Yellow 6156 metres, CR73.3/137
White 5942 metres, CR71.9/134
Blue 5287 metres, CR67.9/122
Red 5151 metres, CR67.4/119
Women’s blue, CR74.5/140
Women’s red, CR73.4/139
R400 affiliated
R480 non-affiliated
Group rates available
Bob Grimsdell 1933,
Golf Data 2007
033 347 1394
www.victoria.co.za
41 (2022) & 39 (2021)
The majestic and scenic Victoria course benefitted enormously from a major upgrade in 2006/07 which transformed the old Bob Grimsdell layout.
Golf Data’s Sean Quinn designed creative and challenging greens complexes for this undulating hillside course which possesses some of the most interesting and varied holes in South Africa. It’s an old-fashioned classic with a modern enhanced twist.
Victoria lies on the steep slopes of Town Hill, below the N3 highway which climbs steeply out of Maritzburg to Hilton, and the terrain makes for a thrilling golf experience as well as displaying magnificent views over a valley. The 335-metre first hole sets the scene, plunging straight downhill to the green. There is not a flat hole on this course. Elevation changes abound, and the fairways roll and slope prodigiously in places.
The Golf Data upgrade was financed by the sale of land for a residential estate on the perimeter of the course. It was a bold renovation where some average holes became much more appealing to the eye. The greens are to USGA specifications with Penn A1 bent grass. Extensive storage dams were added to the property, creating attractive water hazards.
Victoria has a good mix of demanding long par 4s and relatively short ones. The seventh is just 277 metres from the back, but the narrow elevated green is well defended. Nearing the finish, 15 and 16 might only require wedge approaches, yet treacherous small greens call for accurate golf. There are only three par 5s (the par is 71) and each has special characteristics. The third and 18th climb and dip, while the 11th is a fabulous downhiller with water lapping the right side of the fairway in the last 100 metres before the green.
59 by Daniel Greene in November 2008.
Note: Golf director Mark Truter had 59 on the old layout in 2003.
There is an outstanding run of five beautiful and challenging holes to begin the front nine, four par 4s and a par 5. The second fairway sits high on a ridge above the third fairway heading in the opposite direction. The 391-metre fifth is a highly unusual uphill hole with a dogleg left that is a classic piece of golf course architecture from an earlier era, a rare gem. Victoria has 10 holes going out before returning to the clubhouse and the halfway house.
There are 3 en-suite guest rooms separate from the clubhouse. Booking through club website.
Range is 230 metres long, 30m wide. Large sloping putting green in front of the clubhouse. Warm-up net.
2022 Chris Cordier & Wendy Carruthers
2021 Nikhil Gopal & Sonja Purdon
2020 Morgan Phillips & Sonja Purdon
2019 Nikhil Gopal & Sonja Purdon
1/ The club’s history is interlinked with the city’s Victoria Club founded in 1859. Maritzburg Country Club was established in 1933 by golf-playing members of Victoria Club, located in Longmarket Street for 100 years. As MCC grew in numbers so the influence of the city club declined until the two clubs merged as VCC in 1997.
2/ The first official round of golf in South Africa was played in the city in June 1886 at Maritzburg Golf Club with hickory clubs commissioned from Old Tom Morris.
3/ Ernie Els made his final SA Amateur appearance in 1989 when Maritzburg CC hosted the championship for the first time. He won his first 72-hole SA Strokeplay title with five-under 279, and then lost in the matchplay final to Craig Rivett after 38 holes. Els played in four consecutive finals from 1986 to 1989 and lost three of them.
4/ VCC hosted the SA Mid-Amateur in 2015, and Gerlou Roux won with seven-under 277.
5/ Victoria has conference and function facilities, plus floodlit tennis courts, squash courts and a swimming pool.
6/ The golf course adjoins Queen Elizabeth Park nature reserve, so expect sightings of rare birds such as the crowned eagle.
Conditioning Ratings
Facility Ratings
VCC is a parkland gem in superb condition. The greens have some of the best surfaces I have played in KZN and the roll is consistent and fast. The changes in elevation and risk-reward par 4s (specifically holes 7, 15 and 16) are highlights on each nine. The strokes one (12th hole, par 4) and two (5th hole, par 4) are demandingly excellent holes with high memorability. It is clear why Victoria has been rated in the Top 50 and it looks likely to stay there based on the attention to detail, great service and enjoyment factors. If you haven't played it, add it to your itinerary. It will not be the last time you make the detour into Pietermaritzburg.
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