Reading is the busiest course in Ekurhuleni, and its popularity means tee times are scarce later in the week. Unusual set of starting tees. The tenth tee is slap bang in front of the clubhouse, while No 1 is way off in the distance. What they have in common though is being a brace of intimidating par 4s on which to start a round, or restart following the halfway break. Both are framed by tall trees. The tenth is 50 metres longer and stroke 1, yet the first (stroke 4) has a stream fronting the green. You will enjoy Reading if you like playing strong par 4s. There are 11 of them, as the course par is 71. The longest off the back is 446, the shortest 340, and that’s uphill. No 13 could possibly be a par 5, and it is a 3-shotter for most of us, but it’s a glorious hole for the big boys, a long drive into a valley, and then up towards a hillside green. Another challenging par 4 to be treated with respect is the dogleg ninth (stroke 2), where a stream twice crosses the fairway. A festive 19th hole awaits. Traditional long bar with a snooker table and darts boards in the back.