Strand Golf Club is not one of the most talked-about venues but it is an impressive little jewel, writes MARK SAMPSON.
The area in which Strand Golf Club is situated was first noted in the late 1600s by a corporal of the Dutch East India Company. The five kilometres of white-sand beaches and the amphitheatre of large, picturesque mountains were just part of the appeal.
Through the ages it underwent several name changes from the original farm name of ‘Vlooibaai’ until it was given the name ’Strand’ in 1937. It grew in status to become a popular beach resort and now a thriving town in its own right.
The history of the original course layout on the dunes of False Bay is a little sketchy, but the current course was created in 1994 by Golf Data. It can best be described as parkland, with ample mature trees, primarily gum, and numerous water hazards. Being coastal the wind is very much in play, making the slightly short layout a lot more testing than expected.
It has several unique aspects which include a putt-putt course sandwiched between the driving range and 9th hole. Part of the back nine is accessed through a tunnel under one of Strand’s busiest roads to play holes 11 to 17.
Strand is a municipal course and as such does not benefit from monthly levies from landowners or large yearly membership subs. The conditioning of the course is therefore a testament to the team at Strand.
The front nine, with tree-lined fairways, plays a lot tighter than the back. The bent- grass greens are some of the best in the area and putting is a joy.
The front nine starts in the face of the south-easter so if the wind is up, prepare to take a few extra clubs.
Turning back with the wind behind you, the par-five 2nd is a genuine birdie opportunity. At 408m it is very short but uniquely it has two large trees set in the middle of the fairway.
The par-four 4th is only 214m, making it another genuine birdie opportunity. The fairway is narrow and protected by a small bunker right. A crosswind does make the fairway a difficult target with out of bounds down the entire left side. It has the second-smallest green on the course with bunkers front and back.
If the south-easter is blowing, the stroke-two 6th can be a real monster. At 369m into the wind a good drive will still leave you a long way out. If you don’t favour the right side of the fairway a chute of gum trees may well be in the way of your approach. The green is surrounded by bunkers and with a long-iron in hand, into the wind, finding the surface is a great achievement.
The next three holes really define the front nine with large trees directing play.
A 302m par four, 149m par three and the closing hole of 293m are not long, but finding the fairway and allowing a direct line to the green is the game play.
Enjoying the well-priced no frills, no fuss halfway house, you begin to appreciate the value for money to be expected at Strand golf course. The presentation of the course under such tight budgets cannot be over-emphasised.
The back nine is a lot more open than the front and large waste bunkers, populated with trees, and several water hazards come into play. With the absence of trees on a number of holes and more forgiving fairways one can expect the scoring to be better on the back nine.
The par-four 10th is a strong opening hole of 368m with a water hazard on the left and waste bunkers right, so accuracy off the tee is needed. The large green, 39m deep, slopes strongly from back to front and is the final piece of the puzzle on this tough stroke three.
Holes 11 and 12 are straightforward par fours of 356m and 344m. The 13th is the signature hole of the course which is as delightful as it is dangerous (see below).
Holes 14 to 17 are very open with barely a tree in play. They also give the best views of the Hottentots Holland mountain range in the surrounding area. A very picturesque part of the course.
The par-three 173m 14th is a strong contender for the signature hole, set beside one of the water hazards. Most likely playing with a crosswind, with water left and three bunkers right, the green is an elusive target.
Some relief follows with the 321m par-four 15th and 444m par-five 16th both having wide-open fairways with very little trouble in play.
The closing two holes are where many a good round has met its demise.
The par-three 17th plays 159m off the club tee but can be stretched to 174m from the pro tee. Playing entirely over water and into the south-easter it is a treacherous hole and very much underrated at stroke 13. Greenside bunkers between the green and water are well placed, and anything pushed to avoid the hazard will find one of several gum trees. At 36m deep, the large green has numerous slopes that need to be negotiated.
The 18th is a real knee-knocker. Its length of 473m is only one of many defences contributing to the stroke-five rating. A water hazard to the right is in play off the tee and if the fairway is found, it is decision time. Laying up has its own challenge as the fairway narrows dramatically 120m out and turns sharply to the right. A long, narrow green has water left and four sand traps surrounding the rest of it. Whatever iron one has in hand, it still makes for a tough shot. It would have to rate as one of the strongest finishing holes in the country which resonates with the old adage of risk and reward.
Strand has hosted numerous tournaments through the years and at the Western Province Amateur Championship in April nothing but praise was heard from the 105 players competing. Rising star Daniel Bennett from Silver Lakes Country Club posted a 19-under-par total to take the strokeplay win by one shot from Altin van der Merwe. They were the only two players in the field to sign for four rounds in the 60s. Bennett joins an illustrious group of players to lift the trophy, including George Coetzee, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Hennie Otto, Justin Harding and Retief Goosen.
The large clubhouse has all the amenities you would expect, with a small pro shop supplying balls, gloves and tees. The half-way house is also small but packs a punch with a large outside area. A downstairs pub area for a quick drink or a large upstairs lounge pub area are available for hosting golf day functions or any big event.
Strand golf course is one of the most unassuming courses in the country. A course that very seldom is heard of or even discussed when the annual golf trip comes up. That all changes the second you visit it for the first time.
Aside from the playability of the course, the location and general surroundings, the clubhouse and friendly staff will all come as a welcome surprise. It has the tagline as the friendliest club in the country which rings true not only for the experience but also the price tag at which the experience comes.
If there ever was a course to add to your bucket list this certainly is one of them.
SIGNATURE HOLE
13th hole, par four, 330m
The signature hole at Strand Golf Club is not very long as far as par fours go, but don’t be conned because there is ample danger. Running south to north, it generally plays with a cross wind. Along the left side is a water hazard which eventually runs across the fairway 45m from the green.
The first goal off the tee box is to ensure you stay out of the water hazard, although it is advisable to try to find the left side of the fairway, which requires some bravery off the tee.
At about 200m from the tee the fairway becomes a lot narrower, so aiming for a safer 190m drive is probably the best play on this hole. The further up the fairway you land the more you close out the green as there is a large gum tree encroaching on the right side. Going for the 190m option will allow you to open up the green and leave you approximately 130m out which is a manageable distance for most.
At 27m deep and only 13m wide, the green is not an easy target. It has two levels, the bigger flat back portion divided from the more severely sloping front area by a strong ridgeline. If the flag is at the front, bear in mind how much spin is on the ball as it is inclined to spin back quite severely. At the Western Province Amateur Champs in April, the speed got up to 11.3 on the Stimpmeter.
The green is also protected by two bunkers on the right side. The approach therefore needs to be carefully planned, taking into account wind direction and pin position. With such a small green the best option is to go for the larger landing area. If the wind is up, a lower, more punchy shot would be ideal to counter the wind and reduce spin. If you are left with a downhill putt on the front portion, be sure to use soft hands.
GREENFEES
Visitor greenfees
Affiliated: 18 holes R310 9 holes R220
Non-affiliated: 18 holes R610 9 holes R370
Junior: 18 holes R110 9 holes R80
Carts: 18 holes R390 9 holes R270
GETTING THERE
From the N2 between Cape Town and Somerset West take the R44 Broadway Boulevard towards Strand (West). Drive for approximately 1,800m and take a right onto Coast Road and the course appears on your left. The entrance is 700m down Coast Road on your left.
ROAD DISTANCES
Cape Town: 46km
Gqeberha: 711km
Bloemfontein: 995km
Johannesburg: 1,388km
Pretoria: 1,446km
Durban: 1,625km
ADDRESS
Beach Road, Strand, Cape Town, 7140
CONTACT DETAILS
Pro Shop: 021-854-3309
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.strandgolfclub.co.za
– This article first appeared in the June 2023 issue of Compleat Golfer magazine.
