I’m told that a million trees have been planted on the greater Steyn City residential estate, including the golf course. A substantial boost to its green, environmental credentials. And almost another million trees to be planted in areas still to be developed. As the trees mature they continue to shape and define an excellent Nicklaus Design layout, one that I find eminently enjoyable to play. It’s a course with many interesting variations from tee to green. No hole appears to be awkwardly fitted in, although with all the land the 18 holes occupy that is no surprise. And the greens complexes have been designed to be challenging, yet mostly fair in terms of slopes. One feature of Steyn City which for me marks it out as a special course is having both a spectacularly presented first hole (teeing off over the Jukskei River) and an equally brilliant 18th. And both of them strong par 4s. You can’t say that of too many courses in South Africa.