There are golfers who believe that quality of a facility’s clubhouse is not that important, and that money spent on upgrading the buildings and its décor would be better spent on the golf course. The same individuals might suggest that there is no value in the professional spending money on shop fittings making the pro shop more attractive, and simply selling merchandise from cardboard boxes.
The value of a first impression cannot be ignored, but there will always be crusty members who believe that a club should have the bare essentials in the clubhouse, and any attempt to improve the image of their club is a waste of money.
Whether older, traditional clubs, estates or resorts, there can be no question that the general appearance of a clubhouse is very important, as are several other factors when judging is done for our 5-Star Golf Experience Awards proudly brought to you by Mercedes-Benz. Some of these are more important than others, and points awarded for the various sections reflect this.
It must be remembered that when selecting clubs for what we believe is a highly prestigious award, we look at the overall facility through the eyes of a visitor, but obviously the members of our premier clubs take pride in the appearance and how well the design and décor works.
No member, when entertaining a visitor, wants to have to make excuses for peeling paint, threadbare carpets or the lack of facilities. In research that has recently been done at a Johannesburg club, it was shown that many golfers, whether members or visitors, rate the importance of clubhouses, their facilities and the service provided, even higher that the golf course. Many golfers will accept a course that is in less than perfect condition, be this because of unfavourable weather conditions or other reasons, but they believe that there is no excuse for a clubhouse to be a state of disrepair of the service to be of a poor quality.
The clubhouse section on our score sheet, which counts for 10 percent of the total mark, takes the following factors into consideration: the entrance, reception areas and other public spaces, the golf shop, locker rooms, the clubhouse bar, restaurant, lounge, function rooms and other areas. But the clubhouse also affects the overall rating when the general ambience of the club is considered. It is in this section that the atmosphere, decor as well as the history of the club being reflected – with displays of trophies, memorabilia etc. which creates a sense of the club’s history.
Unless a clubhouse is particularly cramped, the actual size does not affect the rating, although it is generally accepted that the clubhouse and its facilities should be able to comfortably accommodate a full field of golfers. The actual architectural theme does not affect the rating as it would be unfair for the judges to allow their personal preference to affect the marking. But whether ultra-modern or classical, it is relatively simple to separate the merely good from the exceptional. The clubhouses that have scored particularly well are invariably very different – Leopard Creek takes a lot of beating, and in every department, including the “wow” factor, this impressive structure with its magnificent thatched roof is everything the most discerning golfer might expect, and it probably best described as being ‘Opulent African’. The Country Club Johannesburg, which has two courses, also rates highly – it has an impressive entrance and there is another practical entrance for golfers that leads to the pro shop, which is one of the best around. Add to this the other facilities, including its new pavilion, and it is easy to see why, in the true country club genre, this is one most highly rated. Royal Johannesburg and Kensington has recently made changes to its grand old clubhouse, and this club has managed to modernise its facility while still retaining the ‘specialness’ of this historic facility. A great example of how a previously rather gloomy atmosphere was transformed by some imaginative alterations has been seen at the Randpark club. This large and rather monolithic structure was given a facelift by opening up a veranda area which has made all the difference and the flow of golfers was greatly improved by the construction of a new, modern pro shop. But the most dramatic change to one of our most famous club houses was seen at Durban Country Club.
Again, the overall structure, with its instantly recognisable Dutch gables, was retained, but the interior was radically changed for the better. The pro shop, previously separate from the main building, is incorporated into a large, open-plan design on the ground floor, and the new upstairs bar area with adjoining patio now affords superb views of the course. When it comes to views from the clubhouse, there are many examples of truly world class facilities – Pinnacle Point with its dramatic coastline is one, and Simola’s stunning vistas of the Knysna River, lagoon and the famous heads is another that warrants special mention. Another clubhouse that offers spellbinding views of the course is the Lost City – the excellent finishing holes with their water features, and the backdrop of the Pilanesberg Mountains makes this rather special. For a true feel of a historic golf club, the likes of Royal Cape, Mowbray and Humewood come into the reckoning, as does Royal Durban.
The highest marks yet achieved by any club in this department has been Blair Atholl. One of our rating panellists, well-known PGA professional Kevin Stone, rates this as the best clubhouse in the country. “The two things that really strike the visitor is the veranda area, with the views of the finishing hole and the Magaliesberg Mountains, and the locker rooms – the best I have seen.” There is no question that this relatively new clubhouse has succeeded in creating an opulent yet relaxed feel, and the collection of Major championship trophies in the lounge is show-stopper.
The convenor of the 5-Star Golf Experience panel John Botha explains that while the traditionalist might query the importance of a clubhouse and its facilities, there is a strong case to be made for clubs investing in this area. “It is interesting to hear how golfers that have travelled abroad to play some of the world’s great courses often remark on the clubhouses – it is obvious that they make lasting impressions – good or bad. Whether because of their sense of history, at the likes of St Andrews, Augusta National or Royal Melbourne, or because of their exceptional facilities – and I think of Muirfield Village, Congressional or Riviera Country Club, clubhouses are important; they are, after all, the focal point of the club.”
