The Members of Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club have approved major upgrades, which will take place over the next 5 years
At the 125th Annual General Meeting of Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club the members approved the Special Resolution to implement a 5-year plan for the Club. The Vision will deliver a beautiful property development of some 430 plus upmarket apartments and retirement units through surplus land tranches on the outskirts of each course, a state of the art Boutique Spa, Fitness Centre, Kids Club, along with several other replacements and upgrades like new lockerooms and car park. Additionally both of these wonderful Courses will be revamped in 2017 (East Course) & 2018 (West Course).
‘The Board & Management have spent endless hours and nearly 2 years developing this detailed plan and we are ecstatic with the approval, the response from members and the golf community. It is the enthusiasm, passion and support of our members, which enabled us to make the commitment to this plan for our great Club. We have needed to upgrade our courses and implement a vision for a while, developing the right plan for approval had its set backs but has led us to a better plan for the future. Knowing that the times of dictating terms and conditions in a sellers market are long gone. The consumer has more choices than ever before, golf and nongolf, to decide where they will spend their money and time. It’s a buyer’s market and we needed to implement a plan that would compliment our great course layouts, put us back on the map as a destination and most importantly be sustainable long into the future’ Said Christopher Bentley, CEO of the Club.
The Course upgrades will include new bunkers and resurfaced bent grass greens, the Club will also take the opportunity to make some adjustments where needed, include additional water storage, adding new tees to make the East Course easier for the amateur while still maintaining its championship challenge for the professional Golfer. The new bunkers will include the necessary drainage work with state of the art liners to prevent contamination of the sand, be more aesthetically pleasing on the eye by having slightly rolled down grass faces and making them shallower while not loosing the integrity of the design, at the same time the Club will endeavor to make these changes with lower maintenance costs.
Its planned for the East Course to be closed for a period of 5 months in 2017 starting in July and then the same timing will be followed for the West Course in 2018.
While the upgrades of the courses are vitally important, and the Club wants to remain predominantly about Golf, the plan has also taken advantage to include additional facilities to better suit the modern day golfer.
Lifestyles have changed and continue to do so; we have entered an era where golf is not enough. Men are not the only breadwinners and spending quality time with one’s children is more important. Families want to do things together, visit destinations and have something that appeals to them all. We have taken the steps to implement facilities that will hopefully attract and satisfy the far more discerning and lifestyle-orientated consumer with a Boutique Spa, Fitness Centre and Kids Club which will also be part of the offering to those purchasing apartments in the development.
There is no doubt that Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club’s courses are wonderful layout’s, especially the East Course which has hosted numerous Championships over the years. Nestled in the heart of Johannesburg, the Club will protect its “grand old lady” parkland design, which there is no question is one of the best in the Country, and now with approximately R40m in value to be spent in its upgrades, the courses are marked to set new benchmarks within Gauteng Golf and be replaced into the top South African Courses.
‘We will work hard to ensure the products remain cost friendly to the consumer once complete and strongly believe the upgrades on our courses with the additional facilities will put our Club back into the top echelon of Clubs in our country, and hopefully attract more members, rounds and families to enjoy this wonderful Club’ Said John Hare, Club Chairman.
