Pleased to see Houghton back as a DP World Tour venue after being absent for almost 20 years. Their beautiful clubhouse with its modern interior will be a feature of the TV coverage. It becomes the third club to host the Joburg Open, being played for the 15th time from November 24-27. Royal J&K had the first 11, and Randpark the last three. Houghton’s greens are creatively designed with their different levels and slopes, and the pros will have to putt with imagination. The course is in good condition but needs rain to green up the fairways and create definition. It will play as a par-71 layout, with the 15th, the best of four excellent par 5s, being played as a par 4 from a forward tee. The back tee at 15 is too close to the 11th tee boxes in a tournament situation. No 15 is one of six holes where water hazards guard the green.
