A golfing gem in the ‘Slowveld’

A good case can be made for Mpumalanga being one of the most beautiful regions in South Africa. The spectacular escarpment that sweeps down through the Drakensberg Mountains into the Lowveld is indeed awe-inspiring, and of course the Kruger National Park is one of the most popular destinations for foreign and local tourists.

Nelspruit, the gateway to the Lowveld, although a thriving city, retains much of its country charm, due mainly to the friendly inhabitants. Things move at a leisurely pace here, and the region is affectionately known as the ‘Slowveld’.

An important date in the history of the town of Nelspruit is 1892, when the railway line from Pretoria, planned to snake its way to the sea via Mozambique, reached what was originally a farm owned by the Nel family.

This area had long been recognised as excellent farmland, with the relatively flat plains of the Crocodile River valley covered in fertile soil. The town was eventually founded in 1905, although it had been a place of some importance before then, when Paul Kruger temporarily moved the government of the South African Republic there during the Boer War.

There are still those who believe that somewhere in the region the fabled ‘Kruger millions’ are hidden, and more than a few treasure hunters have scoured the area hoping to stumble across the large stash of golf bullion.

Early days

Golf was played in the town after a club was founded by messrs HK Gibson and EPH Meintjies in 1929. The layout was originally a nine-holer with sand greens, and by most accounts this was a rather rough excuse for a course.

But the enthusiastic locals took to the game, and in 1939 new land was acquired and the course moved to its present location. Bob Grimsdell, who had cornered the course-design business and was rightly considered to be the ‘last word’ in golf course construction, was called in to design and supervise the building of the ‘new’ course, also a nine-holer, and in 1939 it was opened with much fanfare.

It would be almost three decades before Grimsdell was called back into service to extend the course to 18 holes, and a wonderful job he made of it. Of course he had a rather unique tract of land with which to work, with koppies and some truly magnificent trees.

When the full 18 holes were opened in 1968, it was declared to be an example of Grimsdell’s finest work – with one anomaly, it had no bunkers. Those that played the ‘old’ course will know that the fact that it was devoid of bunkers in no way detracted from enjoying the experience, as it had an abundance of other hazards; and particularly after good rains the thick rough and the trees that lined the fairways presented more than enough of a challenge.

It was in the same year that the Jock of the Bushveld tournament was first played – a festival of golf that has stood the test of time, and is still a firm favourite.Some 800 golfers from all over the country descend on the club for what is a week of golf partying, and Lowvelders definitely know how to party.

In 1998 Johnnic Properties bought the property adjacent to the club and as part of a deal that incorporated the course into the Matumi housing estate, the club acquired a new clubhouse, and the course was given a major facelift.

Peter Matkovich was commissioned to replace the cynodon greens with bent grass, and for the first time bunkers appeared on the course – 36 of them. The first three holes were rerouted to accommodate the estate, and as part of the deal the club was also given some much-needed course-maintenance equipment.

The regular visitors from ‘up-country’ might have cringed when news of the proposed estate was released, but they would have been relieved to discover that the homes were positioned in a way that did not impact negatively on the playability of the layout.

The course

The first-time visitor, after playing the opening hole, is likely to believe that this course is a monster. The 1st is a really strong par four of 433 metres with a narrow landing area, and the approach has to avoid a bunker to the right of the green and trees to the left.

But fortunately the holes that follow are not nearly as tough, and as the round progresses one can appreciate the classic bushveld feel of the layout – this course is home to magnificent indigenous trees; at least some 50 species.

Unusually, from the 2nd hole, the configuration is made up of a reachable par five, then a par three (a beauty measuring 210 metres), another par five and then a par three – not ideal in terms of getting a field moving, but this is a small inconvenience when one considers the quality of the holes.

The 6th hole is a fine two-shotter played uphill, followed by another par four played downhill that should require little more than a wedge approach. The front nine finishes with a pair of rather soft par fours, with the 9th featuring a controversial water hazard (a recent addition) to the right of the green.

The start to the back nine is made up of a pair of relatively gentle par fours – the first having a large marula tree to the right which can catch the errant tee shot, followed by a hole of only 315 metres where the longer hitters can leave themselves a short pitch to the green.

The 12th will get your attention – this par four has a donga running along the left side of the hole, and the large green is guarded by a bunker on the right. The approach is played uphill and requires precise distance control. The short 13th with its undulating green is straightforward enough, and offers a few good pin positions that could result in a three-putt.

The 14th, the only par five on the back nine, is a beauty – easily reachable, but it is also easy to run up a big number. A drive missing the fairway to the right will end up in a donga, and missing to the left will result in tree trouble. There is also a hazard beyond the green, so an overly aggressive approach can also lead to disaster. Two more par fours and one discovers a true gem of a short – a mere 120 metres played over water.

The 18th is a good finishing hole – the famous fig tree, estimated to be more than 200 years old, can bedevil the tee shot that is slightly pulled, and a lone mahogany tree can catch the ambitious shot played to a pin tucked into the back-right portion of the green.
Nelspruit Golf Club is one of those unpretentious facilities that is a pleasure to visit. The locals have formulated their own ‘big five’ golfing experiences in the region that is made up of Leopard Creek, Nelspruit, White River Country Estate, Sabie River Sun and honours for number five is shared by two nine-hole layouts, Pilgrims Rest and Malelane. Our advice is to play all of them – and you will want to return and play them again.

Picture 1

The finishing hole is a excellent two-shotter played uphill with the menacing but beautiful trees flanking the fairway.

Picture 2

The 9th makes for a pleasant finale to the front nine, and although the hole is only 316 metres long, the magnificent mahogany tree in front of the green and the new water hazard will demand the player’s attention.

Picture 3

The 366-metre 12th is one of the finest par fours on the course. The fairway slopes from right to left, and a donga runs along the entire left side of the hole. Par is always a good score on this hole.

Picture 4: The clubhouse

The clubhouse with its beautifully thatched roof has the feel of a bush lodge which fits perfectly with the course’s character.

Likes...

• This course has some of the most beautiful trees to be found anywhere, and the birdlife, which includes more than 250 species, is itself worth the price of the greenfee.
• The locals are exceptionally friendly, and when it comes to value for money, this golfing experience ranks with the best.

and dislikes

• The scandalous toll fees. No fault of the club, but a trip to the Lowveld from Johannesburg or Pretoria becomes an expensive exercise.
• The rhythm of the front nine is compromised by an unusual configuration from the 2nd hole, which features two par fives and a pair of par threes. The loop is then completed with a quartet of par fours.
• For those not used to the oppressive Lowveld heat at the height of summer, the course can become a furnace.

Fact File

Getting there: Take the N4 and on entering Nelspruit turn right into Ferreira Street. Continue straight until Wilhelm Street. Turn left and proceed to Matumi Estate.

Course: Classic bushveld parkland, par 71 (6 063 metres), blend of cynoden and kikuyu fairways, bent greens

Designers: Bob Grimsdell (1938 and 1967), revamp by Peter Matkovich 1998

Club Manager: Richard Rillema

Resident Head professional: Steven Lawrence

Club Captain: Peter Charls

Course Superintendent: Peter Bense

Golf Superintendent: George Msitini

Greenfees: Affiliated R245, non-affiliated R295

Contact: Tel: 013 744 0952/0957 Fax: 013 744 3660 E-mail: nelspgc@mweb.co.za