There’s a welcoming feel to the golfing experience at Somerset West CC which is attracting plenty of visitors and new members. Clubhouse facilities have all been upgraded, and the course is presented extremely well. The course can be a tiger when the wind is up, but it was docile on the calm day I played. Golfers are thrilled to play the “new” links holes on the other side of the railway line, but the “old” parkland holes around the clubhouse are well-designed and equally challenging. Holes 5 to 9 are among the best on the property, including two of the strongest 4s back-to-back at 5 (369) and 6 (385), both framed by stately giant pines. Somerset West is known for short 4s though, six of 330 metres or less. However, they don’t all play that short, and No 10 at 307 is a tricky dogleg left. A more abrupt dogleg right is No 8 (330) which tempts long hitters to aim straight for the green. But tall trees have to be carried, or it can go wrong. Good finishing holes on each nine, the ninth (154) with its long green sloping from back to front, water left, and the dogleg right 18th (387). Pity the tall trees on the corner of the dogleg are no longer there.
