Course Features
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Two championship courses |
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Host of the South African Open several times |
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Course is listed in the World Atlas of Golf |
Description
Royal Johannesburg and Kensington golf club is one of the most prestigious clubs in South Africa and boasts two 18-hole championship courses - the East Course and the West Course. Both have scenic, tree-lined fairways and gently rolling slopes.
The better-known East Course has hosted numerous tournaments, including the SA Open that has been held on the course seven times. The course was designed by the then club professional Robert Grimsdell in 1935, who pioneered early South African Golf course designs. The course has since been revamped and the greens altered slightly, but the original ‘parklands’ feel remains the same.
The West Course was previously the Kensington Golf Club’s course until the two merged in 1998 to become the Royal Johannesburg Kensington golf club. The course is slightly shorter at 6416m compared to the East Course’s 6846m. Although the holes are more forgiving, a minor misjudgement or over-eagerness could result in the ball finding one of the many hazards be it water, waste bunkers, rough or trees.
Playing the Course
After refreshments at the halfway house you will need to get back into the swing quickly, as you tee off to two 4’s that are presumed to be longest back-to-back par fours in the world. The 10th and 11th are a staggering 474m and 457m in length, and are stroke 3 and 1 respectively. The 10th is heavenly guarded by fairway bunkers on either side as well as bunkers around the green. A par is well earned on this hole.
The 11th is their signature hole and also the toughest hole on the course, stroke 1. This 457m hole with a dogleg right is played downhill towards huge poplars. Even big hitters will need a mid to long iron to clear the stream the fronts the green; a bunker also comes into play at the back of the green.
The par four is regarded as the West Course’s signature hole. A tributary of the Jukskei River runs all the way along the left hand side of the fairway and in front of the green. This is a challenging and beautiful hole where you’ll have to cross the water from the tee box and then pitch again onto the green. Distance is always a consideration where two lazy bunkers await at the back of the green.
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Course Information |
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Holes : 36
Par : 72
West Golf Course
Length Men : 6416m
Length Women : 5267m
East Golf Course
Length Men : 6846m
Length Women : 5441m
Course Rating : 71
Fees From : ZAR 200.00 |
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Club Rules & Regulations |
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 Appropriate golf attire required
No t-shirts or denim
Handicap required |
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Royal Johannesburg Course
Layout |
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Click on Royal Johannesburg map layout to enlarge |
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Location & Address |
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10 min from the airport in the Northern suburbs of Johannesburg |
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