Every September the club hosts the 3-day Calamari Classic, and it has become one of Eastern Cape golf’s most popular events. Visitors come from far and wide, and 270 play each day in an individual Stableford format. The small clubhouse is bursting at the seams. This year the biggest compliments were for the excellent condition of the course, particularly the greens. The Bay course has five 3s and a par of 71 which is in keeping with its quirky nature. Several of the 4s may appear short, but there’s little run on the fairways, which are surprisingly lush for a seaside layout, so they can be tricky to negotiate. The Bay’s main attribute is its playability in the wind, but don’t underestimate the challenge of its low-stroke holes. Stroke 2 is the par-5 15th which seems to stretch forever. It has an unusual green for a long 5, slightly raised, and undulating in places. It’s wide enough, but relatively small in total area considering most golfers will be hitting a long club in for their third shots in the westerly wind. The five finishing holes include two 5s, two 3s, and just a solitary 4, the excellent 16th.
