There’s plenty of good design variety in this Vaal River layout, an enjoyable and testing round from first hole to last. Much of the challenge is focused around tricky greens complexes, well-guarded by slopes and bunkers with new white sand. The attractive dogleg right opening par 4 has a steep bank fronting the green. The island green sixth (stroke 1) has an overly penal putting surface for the extreme risk-reward nature of a long 4. Find the large green with your second and par is a lottery as it slopes steeply back to front. You could make a case for saying some holes have a preponderance of fairway bunkers designed to catch the club golfer. Not enough thought was given to the role they play. And they have grim-looking dark sand. At No 7 a fairway bunker on the left was built behind trees. There’s river on the right, a ditch in front of the green, so why the need for a fairway bunker?
