This centrally-situated historic Cape Town club (founded in 1911) has Devil’s Peak as a scenic backdrop, plus a challenging parkland layout that has an interesting mix of different holes, undulating in places. It has been one of the consistently best-conditioned courses in the city for many years, and is popular with local golfers. It’s busy, with over 50 000 annual rounds.
The course has changed its routing over the years, due to a 10-8 split on its nines. The old eighth hole, a strong par 4, recently became the 18th. Curiously, the finishing holes on each nine conclude on each side of the clubhouse, rather than in front of it. An unusual feature is that the tees of three holes – Nos 1, 6 and 11 – are immediately in front of the clubhouse.
Rondebosch has at times lived in the shadow of its neighbour, King David Mowbray, which lies a pitch shot across the busy N2 highway separating the two. Whereas Mowbray has held SA Opens and men’s SA Amateurs, Rondebosch has instead hosted the SA Women’s Open and SA Women’s Amateur, in recognition of the club’s exceptionally strong women’s section. The club uniquely had a female club captain, Erica Lefson, former president of Women’s Golf SA.
The Black River runs through the edge of the course, splitting three holes from the rest. The par-3 second is played across the river, and the par-4 eighth is a wonderful risk-reward short par 4 with the river bank hard up against the left edge of the fairway from tee to green. The par-5 ninth is one of the best golf holes in Cape Town, a big curving dogleg to the left around the boundary fence. There’s a water hazard on the right off the tee, and the second shot has to be played across a deep culvert that runs at an angle across the fairway.
