Swellendam have made outstanding improvements to their 9-holer, with the assistance of course architect Louis van der Walt, who works for Peter Matkovich. It’s currently looking in great condition. The presentation of holes around the clubhouse is superb. A major change is the building of a new large green (bent grass) on the par-5 second hole, which will soon open. This will stretch the distance to 500 metres. The green has been moved to the edge of the property, where it falls away down a slope. The back tee of this dogleg left downhill 5 has been raised high, giving a better view of the hole. The par-3 fourth also has a new raised back tee which means it plays 192 downhill as No 13. The opening short 4 has a large new water hole on the left side of the fairway, about 50 metres short of the green. Artificial water hazards alongside the fourth and sixth greens have been removed. Better variety of distances improves the course balance. The par-5 fifth is played as a long par 4 at No 14, and a new back tee means the par-4 ninth is played as a par-5 on 18. The club now has three tee options, white, blue and red. The signature hole for me is the attractive 7/16, with two tees now forward at 293 and 277 off white. It’s a great risk-reward short 4, but a towering tree fronting the green and a watery ditch alongside the green bring trouble into play.
