Woodhill

Woodhill has one of SA's deepest and spacious fairway bunkers (similar in size to the one on Maccauvlei's 17th). It guards the left side of the dogleg par-4 fourth hole, and this vast stretch of sand is set to disappear this year despite it being a feature of this 417-metre stroke 1. It's a fearsome looking bunker for the visitor, yet evidently one most members don't mind being in. The firm base of the bunker is relatively simple to escape from -- unless you are bunker-phobic -- and it is a shorter route to the green compared to being in the fairway. The longer hitters today also tend to fly their drives straight over the bunker, leaving a short approach. A pair of smaller bunkers are set to replace it, along with extra trees to block the corner of the dogleg. Woodhill are about to embark on a major bunker upgrade with Bunker Armour which will see their distinctive dark-coloured sand replaced by a shimmering white replacement, and new drainage installed.

Lamprecht de Villiers

28 June 2025

Woodhill members argue that they have the best set of par 3s in SA, and it's certainly the case that these are four of the most challenging one-shot holes. Coming up against the long second so early in the round (201 yellow, 186 white) is not something to be welcomed. It plays slightly uphill to a relatively narrow yet long green that falls away abruptly on the right. No 7 (192-182) is played through a narrow gap to an infinity green that falls precipitously away at the back. No 12 (194-154) is seen as Woodhill's signature hole, from high elevated tees to a green framed beautifully by bunkers and protected in front by water. No 16 (181-169) is diabolical, a narrow green squeezed in between a water hazard left, bunker and trees right. Hit all four greens in the same round and you can rightly boast about your ball-striking prowess. And all are highly stroked (9-15-12-14). What I like about Woodhill is that they have a proven innovative system of mixing up the distances on these holes, not playing them at the same length all the time. The white club tees, and others, are moved further back or forward every week by up to 35 metres. Pins and tees are changed three times a week so that members enjoy a variety of scenarios throughout all 18 holes. With 13 different settings, it means you can play there for an entire month without any repetition. That's clever management.

Stuart McLean

21 June 2025

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Woodhill is slowly but surely recovering from last year's chain of events which resulted in damage to the overall condition of the course. New greenkeeper Pieter Cooper (ex-Wingate Park) has been kept busy restoring it back to a healthy look. Fairways and surrounds are green and carpeted again, and the greens improving every day after hollow-tining in January. A major project coming up this winter will involve Bunker Armour fixing the drainage of all the bunkers and replacing the sand. Woodhill has brownish sand in its bunkers, and they will become white, transforming the overall look. The five bunkers on the par-3 12th have already been done as a trial, and the white sand works well. From the elevated back tee at 12 the two back bunkers appear to be immediately behind the green, giving definition to the hole. Yet this pair are a good 25 metres behind the green, with a hollow in between.

Stuart McLean

07 February 2025

One of my favourite courses but sadly found it in a bad condition. The greens aren't what they used to be, and the bunkers require more sand. The PGA Club Pro Championship was meant to be played at Woodhill in May but will be moved to a different venue.

Ignis van der Merwe

04 April 2024

Woodhill reaches a surprising height on the front nine without you knowing it, until you begin the descent and espy beautiful views. One look from the clubhouse at the estate houses opposite confirms a significant hill. The climb from first tee to fourth green is steady if not extreme, although it includes the 546m third, where trees guard the entrance to a bunkerless green. After the flattish fifth, another strong par 5, the par-4 sixth sweeps grandly downhill. Behind the par-3 seventh green is a steep slope 50 metres down to the eighth tee. No 8 is the longest 4 at 445 and was maligned in earlier years because the fairway falls right, and it's a dogleg left. A much better hole today for the modern game. Two fairway bunkers delineate where a drive should finish. After that the fairway narrows and buckles for a risky landing. No 9 is an excellent risk-reward 4 from all tees. Water right of fairway and green.

Stuart McLean

16 March 2024

I enjoyed my game at Woodhill. Loved the layout and the challenge the course brings. For me the highlights were great greens running true, and an exceptional halfway house, a place where you want to break after 9. Some areas they can improve: the pro shop has adequate stock but did feel dark inside; the sand texture in the bunkers varied from hole to hole; although naturally dry following the winter months, some fairways weren't well defined in terms of the first cut. Can't wait for the rain to arrive and play there again.

Ignis van der Merwe

07 September 2023

Woodhill has an excellent honours board in the clubhouse corridor, and every albatross on the course has been recorded. I was surprised to see there have been four aces in the last 20 years on the par-4 ninth hole, an attractive risk-and-reward par 4, with water right of the green and fairway. It plays 330 metres from the club tees, so it's not a hole I suspected might yield that many. There's only been one ace for instance at the downhill 300-metre 15th where you would expect more. (The big surprise was a hole-in-one on the 428-metre eighth! However, I'm told it happened when the hole had been temporarily shortened to a par 3 in 2001.) Woodhill's bent grass greens are outstanding; much of the poa in them has disappeared. Greenkeeper Hugo van den Berg has been inter-seeding three times during the growing season with an abundance of bent, in September, January and March. The result is impressive.

Stuart McLean

26 October 2022

Woodhill has improved as a club and I love being a member there.

Jackson Wolter

11 August 2022

More clubs in Gauteng are acquiring greens rollers to improve the putting surfaces of their greens and also increase the speeds. Having a greens roller operating regularly is said to increase the Stimpmeter reading by at least 1.6. Woodhill have bought the latest Toro GreensPro 1260 which crabs sideways at pace across the green. It couples quickly up to a vehicle, so can be moved around all 18 holes in about three hours. The result of the purchase is outstanding greens at this Pretoria golf estate and a superior putting experience.

Thomas Souness

17 December 2021

Woodhill has evolved over the last two decades into an attractive and most enjoyable parkland course, heavily tree-lined in places so that the estate housing is generally hidden from view from the fairways. It's in superb condition, particularly lush. The front nine is not only extremely strong, but blessed with an excellent variety of holes that continually undulate. The opening five holes lay down a daunting challenge to any golfer. You begin with an uphill par 4 that curves through a narrow neck to the green, then comes a long par 3 (without a single bunker) and a demanding par 5 that climbs gently to a narrow green tucked away in the trees. The fourth is an excellent long par 4 that doglegs left around one of the biggest and deepest bunkers in South Africa, a forbidding place to put your tee shot. That's followed by a stunning par 5 that is a creative piece of design by Peter Matkovich.

Stuart McLean

11 December 2021

Woodhill is arguably the best manicured course in Pretoria. The greens are true and chipping and putting is a joy. This estate course has matured. The trees are growing big, which helps with the shaping of the holes, while the houses are less visible from the fairway. Great improvements to the clubhouse, a comfortable place for a sundowner after golf.

Philip Malan

10 December 2020

Woodhill is coming of age in 2020 when it turns 21. And boy has this course matured beautifully over its lifetime. Compared to the early years of its development when it hosted the Telkom PGA Championship it has blossomed into an attractive visual experience. Quite the parkland beauty. I loved the par-5 fifth. An unusual hole for South Africa, like something you would find in the UK. And the par-3 12th from the high back tee is superlative. What a thrill to hit the green from 190 metres!

Stuart McLean

17 March 2020

Pretoria - Gauteng

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