Schoeman Park hasn’t been a Top 100 course for some years yet its back nine would be the envy of many high-ranking courses in South Africa. The holes from 10 to 18 are superbly designed and a tremendous challenge. The shortest par 4 is 385 metres from the back tees, and the round finishes with a formidable “Amen Corner” from 16 to 18 around a forest of massive blue gum trees. Two strong dogleg fours split by a 204m par 3. Trees are such an integral feature of this layout, defining the strategy off the tee, that the course has not one fairway bunker, and doesn’t need any. On my latest visit the greens were in brilliant condition. The artificial concrete hazards on the front nine, something of an eyesore, were mostly dry even after a wet summer; hopefully these are going to be removed.
