The ‘real’ thing

Long before Johannesburg’s northern suburbs were developed, the Wanderers golf course was designed and constructed by Bob Grimsdell on a treeless expanse of land some 10km north of the burgeoning ‘City of Gold’.

The early days

Construction began in 1937, and in 1939 the first 10 holes were opened. Although World War II raged in North Africa and Europe, the extra eight holes were added in 1942.

There have been changes made to the course over the years, for example, when the Wanderers cricket ground was constructed in the 1950s, the course lost its three original opening holes, but apart from this the fundamental routing has remained the same, and the tree-lined holes fit together beautifully on what by modern standards is a relatively small area. Nestling in Johannesburg’s northern suburb of Illovo, for more than 70 years this club has been considered to be one of Johannesburg’s premier golfing venues, and it will remain so.

The Wanderers will no doubt always be associated with the main Wanderers Club, and the golf club was indeed a sub-section of the famous sports club which at one time was the biggest in the world, with a staggering 14 000 members.

Roots

The name of the club was derived from the ‘wandering’ gold seekers that inundated the Witwatersrand when the precious metal was discovered. The club was for many years the hub of sporting activity in Johannesburg after its founding in 1888. The golf club split from the main club and is now autonomously run by the golf members, but its character remains the same – this is a ‘proper’ golf club with a wonderful parkland layout that has certainly stood the test of time.

The recipe that makes for a great golf club in a city must include the right location, and it doesn’t come much better than this. Obviously the quality of the course is important, as are the clubhouse facilities. The right management and membership are also critical, and the Wanderers club has all the boxes ticked, including its special sense of history.

Big names

The club played host to the PGA Championship from 1972 until 1995, and the list of champions of what was very much a South African ‘Major’ reads like the who’s who of the professional game during this period. Gary Player, Harold Henning, Dale Hayes, Bobby Cole, Mark McNulty, David Frost and Ernie Els have all triumphed here, as did Tom Weiskopf, who was one of many great American players to have competed here.

The impressive list of foreign pros also includes Lee Trevino. The PGA Championship when it was held here will also be remembered for being one of the best-supported events on the golfing calendar, and the atmosphere was like no other.

The membership of this club has always featured a number of sporting stars from other codes – the likes of cricketing legend Graeme Pollock, and Hugh Bladen, John Robbie, Terry Paine and others. The club has also produced its fair share of great amateur and professional golfers.

One famous golfing family, the Hennings, has been associated with the Wanderers for many years – Graham ‘Bones’ Henning was the club’s pro for a long time, and it was here that his son Nic learned his golf. Other Sunshine Tour professionals who play their golf at this club include Andrew McLardy, Thomas Aiken and Ulrich van den Berg.

Mark McNulty is another of the famous names that has been associated with this club.

Layout

Compared to modern layouts where bigger seems to be considered better and length has become all-important, this course proves that this is not necessarily true. This is a shot-maker’s layout, but importantly, every golfer, no matter how well they may be able to play the game, will enjoy their experience here.

It is understandable why this venue is much favoured by corporates for their golf days. Modern architects may claim to cater for everyone, but few courses are at once genuinely ‘user-friendly’ and can still claim to be a true test – the Wanderers is certainly one of these. As the club’s director of golf Lenn Flanagan points out: “The different challenges of the course is what makes it great – the player will never be bored playing; a range of shots is needed, and there is a strong emphasis placed on chipping and putting well. My favourite holes are probably the 7th, the 11th and the 17th – all excellent examples of risk-and-reward holes.”

From the championship tees this course measures 6 548 metres, and having a par of 71, this is by no means short. For normal club play the layout is some 350 metres shorter, but when the pins are tucked away the course is still no pushover.

Both nines begin with a par five, and somewhat unusually the back nine features three par threes – all fine one-shotters. Most pleasing is the lack of gimmicky holes or hidden perils, and the first-time visitor will not have to wonder where the correct line might be, and best of all, even the most wayward of shots is unlikely to result in time been wasted looking for balls.

Simply put, if players can hit the ball reasonably straight, and better still if they can shape their shots either way, the course will reward them. Try to overpower the layout and the trees and bunkering will take their toll. The course has a pleasing mixture of holes that make the best of the undulating terrain, and the sloping fairways certainly make golfers think as they stand on the tees – aiming down the middle and ‘letting rip’ is not an advisable strategy.

It was rumoured a few years ago that the Wanders Golf Club was to be sold to a developer, which would have meant that this club would have been moved. It is doubtful whether development rights to this precious real estate would have been granted, and thank heavens this deal never materialised. Golf in Johannesburg would be much poorer without this club, and may it continue to thrive for another 70 years.

Picture 1

The 7th hole is a par four that measures 441 metres and requires length and accuracy off the tee.

Picture 2

The 164-metre 12th is one of three excellent short holes on the back nine – one where the tee shot should favour the right half of the green, as both water and a bunker guard the left side of the putting surface.

Picture 3

The longest par three on the course is the 15th – 188 metres, but played downhill. Finishing long and left of the target will leave an extremely difficult chip to a green that is notoriously difficult to read.

Picture 4

The 9th is a fine two-shotter of 375 metres that was traditionally used as the finishing hole when the club hosted the PGA Championship. With a large blue-gum on the left and out-of-bounds on the right, from the tee the landing area appears tighter than it is, and the narrow green requires a precise approach.

Likes...

• The mix of tree-lined holes and the greens complexes – a shot-maker’s delight.
• The revamped clubhouse – modern and functional, yet retaining the feel of a ‘real’ golf club.
• Efficient and friendly service in every department.

... and dislikes

• The traffic getting to and from the club.

Fact File

Getting there: From the M1 travelling north, exit into Corlett Drive and proceed left towards Rosebank/Sandton. Turn right into Rudd Road and the entrance is on the right.

Course: Classic parkland, kikuyu tees and fairways, bent greens. Par 71, 6 548 metres.

Designer: Robert Grimsdell (1937), redesign of greens by Rob O’Friel (1999).

General Manager: Peter Hanley

Director of Golf: Lenn Flanagan

Course Superintendent: Jackie Seketane

Greenfees: Non-affiliated R270 Affiliated R207

Contact: Tel: 011 447 3311/2/3 Golf shop: 011 880 9682 www.wanderersgolfclub.com