Huddle Park is one of Gauteng’s most underrated courses, an attractive parkland venue boasting a classic back nine. The strength and character of holes 10 to 18 is remarkable. The championship yellow tees have been reinstated at 6706 metres, and if you wish to play from the tips, you will face three strong par 4s beginning with No 8 at 446 metres, then No 10 (455), and No 18 at 429. The 18th is a fabulous conclusion, uphill towards the clubhouse, framed by tall trees. The green is left of the fairway and has a terrific tilt to it, sloping from left to right. The old Bob Grimsdell greens are a feature, containing the subtlest of slopes, and the par-5 sixth green is another beauty, where putts break sharply towards the front entrance. They are in excellent condition, quite pacy, which is how they should be played. The opening five holes at Huddle Park are underwhelming, other than the par-3 third with its water hazard, and the average quality of this front nine is odd when compared to what awaits on the back nine. The front nine holes are also in a poorer state, with rutted fairways in places. A weakness of the design is the absence of a short 4. From the white club tees the shortest 4 is the 15th at 357, and this is a tricky uphill dogleg which is stroke 2 on the card.
