Having not played Westlake for some time, it was sad to see how many large trees have been lost, changing the playability of several holes. The dogleg left par-4 second is a good example. What was clear was that the course has experienced large traffic this summer. Well known as one of SA’s busiest courses, that may be good for revenue but can have negative effects when coupled with challenging weather. The greens coverage was inconsistent and many were running at different speeds between 9 and 10.5 on the stimp. Bunker edging requires attention with most bunkers being larger than I remember due mainly to maintenance practices. The course setup was not well thought out or seemingly following any plan, which may be due to many greens experiencing stress areas. A club project coming up is the construction of an assisted living estate at the entrance. That will mean the construction of a new clubhouse. Building is scheduled to start within the next year.
