The best just got better

The business of ranking golf courses is a prickly issue. While golfers love nothing better than to compare different layouts, and to expound the virtues of a particular course versus another, it fair to say that it comes down to two separate lists.

The first can be made up of those courses that best deserve their titles as true championship tests, and the others that, for whatever reasons, are an individual’s ‘favourites.’

Often golfers will place very different courses on each of these lists, and while admitting that a certain course is unquestionably a better examination of a player’s ability, they would rather play another because it either suits their game, it might be more user-friendly, or they simply have fond memories of playing there.

I can honestly say that Durban Country Club’s course is both my personal favourite, and one that I would always place near the top of my ‘best’ list.

It is, of course, no secret that this club has always had a certain uniqueness about it – the noble clubhouse, a striking sense of history and that beautiful course with her many moods.

Layout

The layout can be fierce or benign, both thrilling and intimidating, and just when it seems that there are no answers to the questions that are asked of the player when the wind is up, the grand old lady can suddenly become generous with her favours.

It is not surprising that I can claim to be in good company when I say that this is a course that ranks with the best not only in South Africa, but the world.

For some years there was talk of the course being revamped or modernised, which caused some consternation among us sentimental fools who believe that some things are best left unchanged.

I must also admit to being somewhat concerned when it was first announced that the clubhouse would be completely refurbished. I had visions of some spiky-haired, new-age interior designer running amok, transforming what was a pleasant, if rather tatty, interior into something better suited to a Swedish massage parlour.

As it turned out, the final result was not nearly as shocking as I and others might have envisaged, and I must grudgingly admit that the facelift has transformed the place, without it losing its classy-yet-understated elegance.

When it was decided that the course would ‘go under the knife’ for its cosmetic ‘surgery’, some might have held their breath, because this was not any old golf course that was going to be messed with.

Radical re-contouring, newfangled greens complexes, and efforts to stretch the course would have been akin to fitting ‘mag’ wheels and welding fins and aerofoils onto an Aston Martin. Fortunately, the old classic was rather sent to the coachbuilder to have a few minor dents and scratches removed, and polished to a high gloss.

Golf Data was entrusted to spruce up the course, and it did need some work. The bunkering had over the decades become degraded, and the greens were certainly due for an overhaul and some minor profiling.

It was also decided to change the strain of grass on the greens and surrounds to MiniVerde, an Ultra Dwarf Bermuda (cynoden), which is ideally suited to Durban’s latitude and climate. This imported grass is also reputed to have superior tolerance to high levels of salinity in water, and to be disease resistant.

It is also known for its dark green colour, which fits perfectly with the indigenous coastal flora that flanks the fairways.

A man who knows this course better than most, and who has certainly been able to play the layout better than most during his long and illustrious amateur career, is David Suddards, who is also a past captain of the club. “The changes to the course have been subtle, but they have resulted in a vast improvement,” he tells us. “The addition of some bunkering, and the particularly the upgrading of the fairway bunkering, has undoubtedly been a good idea, and our members have responded very positively,” he adds.

Re-profiling areas on the putting surfaces has also resulted in more pin positions being available, also something that needed attention.

Visitors to the country club will also notice that the 16th hole’s green has been remodelled to feature a narrower entrance, and while this was always a contentious hole that never quite seemed to fit, it now does.

Expectations

So what can the visitor to Durban Country Club expect? Firstly, it will soon become apparent that CEO Ann Robbie and her team are on their toes, and all the staff members are friendly and efficient.

The modern pro shop is also staffed with knowledgeable and welcoming people, and director of golf Jason Bird ensures that everything runs smoothly.

Even the most jaded golf tourist will experience a sense of occasion when visiting this club, and playing this course will always be a special treat. I defy anyone to stand on the first tee and survey the landing area without feeling a slight quickening of the pulse. And if the fearsome north wind is blowing, so much the better – this is pure golf, without gimmicks.

Best of all, as good as that opening hole is, you know it is going to get better, and indeed the next few holes are beauties.

Bobby Locke loved this course, as did the Brews brothers. When Jack Nicklaus played here against Gary Player in an exhibition match, he lauded the course, and it has always been a favourite of Player’s.

Mark McNulty, Nick Price, Ernie Els and any other champion that has ever played here has a deep respect for the layout, and although it can never be accused of being unfair or too difficult, it will always sort out the champions from the pretenders.

More importantly, the high degree of playability means that the high handicappers can find a way to play the course without having to hit their ‘Sunday bests’ and be forced to carry the ball vast distances.

I refuse to single out particular holes for special mention, because although some may well be better than others, they are all special.

The three fundamentals that make for a great golf course are location, design and conditioning. As a city course, they do not come much better.

You will not find breathtaking views as at Pinnacle Point, nor will ever feel miles away from civilisation as you might at Elements or the Gary Player Country Club. It doesn’t matter. Not even the wail of a police siren can detract from the sheer joy of playing this course in rain or shine. Even when its conditioning has left somewhat to be desired (and it did suffer a bad patch a few years ago), one still had to love the timeless design.

There can few better 19th holes, where one can sip on a post-round drink looking down on the 1st and 18th holes. You might mull over where you went wrong – that misread of the wind or that wrong club selection. You could always decide to book a lesson with John Dickson, a highly regarded coach who is based at the club. One thing is certain, you will always want to come back here.

I have on occasion been asked by golfers who have never played this course just what I think of it. I have a standard answer: if you love golf, you will love this course.

Picture 1

The par-three 2nd hole requires an accurate, firmly-struck medium-iron, and when a brisk wind is blowing in any direction, the putting surface can become a very elusive target.

Picture 2

The par-five 8th is certainly reachable in two under normal conditions, but as at the 3rd hole (a far better par five), a misdirected drive or second shot can result in disaster.

Picture 3

The famous 12th, a par three that acquired the name of ‘The Prince of Wales’ after HRH made a complete hash of it, is a fearsome prospect for any player that is having a particularly bad day, but normally requires only a short-iron and a couple of putts.

Picture 4: the clubhouse

DCC’s famous gabled clubhouse is a major landmark. The grand old building was spruced up at a cost that far exceeds the total construction bill for most clubhouses, but most believe the money was well spent.

Likes

• The course is a classic example of a fair test where good shots are rewarded and poor shots penalised.
• The revamp to both course and clubhouse – both done without spoiling the look or feel of what is an historic golfing institution.

... and Dislikes

• The structure near the 10th tee that passes as a halfway house, but which does not fit with the country club’s aesthetic.
• The casuarina trees – which are gradually being eliminated.

Fact File

Getting there: From N3 heading towards Durban, take N2 North/Stanger. Take next exit (Umgeni River) and turn right at traffic lights. Travel through multi-level interchange, and before next intersection take left slipway into Smiso Nkwanyana Road. At traffic lights turn into Masabalaya Yengwe and then first left into DCC.

Course Classic duneland/parkland. Par 72, 6 157 metres. (Opened 1922)

Teaching pro John Dickson

Club Captain Lachlan Gourlay

Greenfees Affiliated accompanied by member – R290, affiliated without member –

R450 Nonaffiliated – R 585

Contacts: Pro shop: 031 313 1716 Clubhouse: 031 313 1777

Website: www.dcclub.co.za