The Lakes has been one of the biggest climbers in the Top 100. Since 2021 it has gone from No 98 to No 73 (2024). It has an interesting collection of holes twisting through varied terrain which brings into play elevation changes and a multitude of hazards. It’s a longer course than The Woods, Mount Edgecombe’s older layout, yet you will play off a lower handicap than you do at The Woods because it is par 72, and The Woods par 70. Surprised though to see The Lakes has a weak Slope of 121 off the white club tees (115 blue), even though this is a course where trouble and lost balls await more frequently than at The Woods. It begins in a friendly manner, but from No 6 onwards you don’t want to miss fairways. Thick grass and wetlands bordering the fairways can spoil your day. The par 4s are good ones — Nos 4-9-11-16 the pick of them in terms of challenging drives — and even the shorter 4s, Nos 1-5-6-10, seem to play longer than their distance. Greens and tees in good shape, but most of the bunkers have been reduced to GUR with all the recent rain and washaways.
