De Zalze has one of the most thrilling 18th holes among Top 100 Courses, a short risk-reward par 4 across the Blaauwklippen River. However, the elevated back tee (308 metres) has seldom been used in recent years for safety reasons. Golfers used the lower tee at 275. A wooden walkway has now been built over a rocky slope to link this back tee (a narrow one) with the cart path, and both the yellow and white tees are up there. It’s a very different hole from that height, plus a scenic vista. Landscaping work is taking place on the lengthy par-4 11th, beautifying the teeing areas (five tees from 287 to 383) with indigenous plants and giving definition and colour to what is a straightforward hole. Many young trees have been added along the left side of the fairway, and a new cart path has been built way left of the hole. The par 3 tees are being increased in size, while the par-3 ninth recently saw the removal of 10 000 golf balls from the water hazard fronting the green. De Zalze has become a sought-after destination for foreign tourists thanks to its enhanced clubhouse experience, and the visitor green fee has risen accordingly.
