They do not count as criteria when evaluating the Top 100 course rankings, but for the past 12 months we have been asking golfers to rate Golf Club Facilities on this platform at the same time as they rate the Conditioning of courses they play.
We wanted to know what golfers thought of seven other integral parts of a South African golfing experience: the halfway house, the 19th hole, practice range, pro shop, locker room, service, and the pace of play.
The Club at Steyn City stood out head and shoulders as the only club in South Africa to receive a “Best in Category” mention in all of these facilities. To achieve that it had to earn 4 stars out of 5 in each of the seven categories.
The golf club is an impressive feature of the expansive Steyn City residential lifestyle estate in Fourways, Gauteng. Opened in 2014, its elegant looking modern clubhouse boasts innovative architectural features. It has a roof garden, there is bold use of glass, and golfers have undercover parking. Built on a rise above the Jukskei River, the outside deck offers a magnificent view over the championship Nicklaus Design golf course.
Other clubs to shine overall were Country Club Johannesburg and Leopard Creek, scoring 4 stars apiece in 6 different facility categories. CCJ shared two of the category honours, Best Locker Room with Steyn City, and Best Halfway House with Blair Atholl, while Leopard Creek was judged to have the Best 19th Hole, and Best Service alongside St Francis Links and the Gary Player Country Club.
Royal Johannesburg & Kensington, and Bryanston Country Club, earned 4 stars in 5 different categories, while Fancourt Links, Eagle Canyon and Pecanwood were next with 4 stars in 4 different categories. Clubs with 4 stars in 3 different categories were Blair Atholl, Fancourt, Gary Player CC and Lost City at Sun City, Highland Gate, St Francis Links, Serengeti, Steenberg and Stellenbosch.
Below are the winners and runners-up in each category, plus those member clubs, resorts and estates which scored 4 stars in a category. Our lists do include clubs which are ranked outside the Top 100.
BEST 19TH HOLE
Leopard Creek and Champagne Sports Resort scored 4½ stars out of 5. Both have after-golf areas, indoor and outdoor, with magnificent course outlooks, but Leopard Creek takes the honours from the Central Drakensberg resort with its views of both the ninth and 18th greens.
BEST AT MODERN MEMBER CLUBS (4 STARS)
Bryanston, Houghton, Leopard Creek, Mbombela, Modderfontein, Randpark, Royal Johannesburg & Kensington, Southbroom, Stellenbosch, The Links at Fancourt.
BEST AT OLD FASHIONED MEMBERS CLUBS (4 STARS)
George, Humewood, Kimberley, Parkview, Royal Durban, Schoeman Park and Umdoni Park.
BEST AT GOLF ESTATES (4 STARS)
Ebotse, Katberg, Oubaai, Prince’s Grant, St Francis Links, Steenberg, The Club at Steyn City, Woodhill.
BEST AT RESORTS (4 STARS)
Champagne Sports Resort, Gary Player CC, Lost City, Pinnacle Point, San Lameer, Simola, Zebula.
WINNING LOCKER ROOMS
The Club at Steyn City and Country Club Johannesburg tied for first place with 4 stars. Both provide luxurious, modern, spacious and comfortable changing rooms.
BEST AT MEMBER CLUBS (4 STARS)
Bryanston, CCJ, Leopard Creek, Royal Johannesburg & Kensington.
BEST AT GOLF ESTATES (4 STARS)
Blair Atholl, Club at Steyn City, Eagle Canyon, Olivewood, Serengeti, Steenberg.
BEST AT RESORTS (4 STARS)
Gary Player CC, Lost City.
OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Gary Player CC, Leopard Creek and St Francis Links received 4½ stars out 5.
BEST AT MEMBER CLUBS (4 STARS)
Bryanston, Country Club Johannesburg, George, Glendower, Kyalami, Leopard Creek, Royal Johannesburg & Kensington, Stellenbosch, The Links at Fancourt.
BEST AT GOLF ESTATES (4 STARS)
Blair Atholl, Club at Steyn City, Dainfern, Eagle Canyon, Els Club Copperleaf, Olivewood, Pearl Valley, Pecanwood, St Francis Links, Serengeti.
BEST AT RESORTS (4 STARS)
Fancourt, Gary Player CC, Highland Gate.
THE NO 1 PRO SHOP
Southbroom was the only one to receive 4½ stars out of 5. The KZN South Coast club may be ranked No 92 in the Top 100 but its pro shop, owned and managed by long-serving (24 years) golf director Derek James and his wife Sheena, has an outstanding reputation for great personal service, friendly welcomes, advice, interesting items for sale, and the quality of goods and apparel on display.
Joint runners-up were Country Club Johannesburg and Royal Johannesburg & Kensington, both high quality on-course shops.
BEST AT MEMBER CLUBS (4 STARS)
Bryanston, CCJ, Maccauvlei, Royal J&K, Southbroom, Wanderers.
BEST AT GOLF ESTATES (4 STARS)
Centurion, Dainfern, Eagle Canyon, Pecanwood, Silver Lakes, Steyn City, Woodhill.
BEST AT RESORTS (4 STARS)
Fancourt, Lost City.
FINEST HALFWAY HOUSES
Blair Atholl and Country Club Johannesburg were undisputed joint winners, with 4½ stars out of 5.
Blair Atholl’s uniquely situated open-air halfway house in the middle of the course on the banks of the Crocodile River is a delightful experience.
CCJ offers an elaborate and well-priced dining experience in a spacious room, with a wide choice of ready meals coupled with convenience and speed.
Two other fabulous halfway houses in terms of setting and food are those at Leopard Creek and The Links at Fancourt
BEST AT MEMBER CLUBS (4 STARS)
Bryanston, CCJ, Knysna, Leopard Creek, The Links at Fancourt.
BEST AT GOLF ESTATES (4 STARS)
Blair Atholl, Club at Steyn City, Steenberg.
BEST AT RESORTS (4 STARS)
Champagne Sports Resort.
*Only 9 clubs received 4 star ratings or better.
PRACTICE RANGE KINGS
Pearl Valley and the Els Club Copperleaf received 4½ stars out of 5. Both estates have spacious ranges with both width and length, and good short game areas. Pearl Valley was adjudged the No 1 range for its superior presentation and service levels.
BEST AT MEMBER CLUBS (4 STARS)
Country Club Johannesburg, Hermanus, Houghton, Leopard Creek, Randpark, Stellenbosch, The Links at Fancourt.
BEST AT GOLF ESTATES (4 STARS)
Club at Steyn City, Eagle Canyon, Eye of Africa, Pecanwood, Serengeti.
BEST AT RESORTS (4 STARS)
Fancourt, Highland Gate.
BEST PACE OF PLAY
Sishen Golf Club in the remote Northern Cape town of Kathu was No 1 in a category where 25 clubs earned 4 stars.
BEST AT MEMBER CLUBS (4 STARS)
Country Club Johannesburg, Goldfields West, Humewood, Irene, Kambaku, Killarney, Kimberley, King David Mowbray, Leopard Creek, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Royal J&K, Sishen, Soweto, Victoria, Wanderers, Wedgewood, West Bank, Worcester.
BEST AT GOLF ESTATES (4 STARS)
Club at Steyn City, Katberg, Pecanwood, St Francis Links, Vaal de Grace.
BEST AT RESORTS (4 STARS)
Highland Gate.
BEST OVERALL
The Club at Steyn City was the only club to receive 4 stars in each of the 7 Facilities.
17 clubs received four stars in three facilities and more.
FOUR STARS IN 7 FACILITIES (2)
The Club at Steyn City.
FOUR STARS IN 6 FACILITIES (2)
Country Club Johannesburg, Leopard Creek.
FOUR STARS IN 5 FACILITIES (2)
Bryanston Country Club, Royal Johannesburg & Kensington.
FOUR STARS IN FOUR FACILITIES (3)
Eagle Canyon, Fancourt Links, Pecanwood.
FOUR STARS IN THREE FACILITIES (9)
Blair Atholl, Fancourt, Gary Player CC, Highland Gate, Lost City, St Francis Links, Serengeti, Steenberg, Stellenbosch.