There are only two 27-hole facilities in South Africa, here at Paarl GC and at Hermanus, another Western Cape club. Serengeti in Gauteng used to have 27, but the third nine was rebuilt into an 18-hole Par 3. Hermanus has three similar nines in terms of their design, look and feel. However, the Boschenmeer nine at Paarl was designed to be deliberately different to the two nines which make up the Old Course, rather than a seamless continuation. It therefore doesn’t really fit in when paired with either of the other two nines. It was constructed before work began on redesigning the other 18 holes. Water is a big factor and represents the only real trouble. The holes are interesting and the straight hitter will enjoy this layout. It’s a course of three distinct parts to it. The middle section from 4 to 6 is unlike anything on the property. You begin the dogleg par-5 fourth on a hilltop where the terrain has something of a links feel. It’s a good hole though, and the only weak one is the par-4 sixth, a blind tee shot going in the opposite direction on the same hill.
