The Goat Track

Who is lifting the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale? 🏆👇

The final Major of the year is here, and we are locking in our predictions. If you’re a South African golf fan, you already know the vibe—we are backing our local boys through thick and thin, but the competition is stiff this week.

T is laying down his official power ranking order for the Saffa contingent in the field, while JDV is bypassing the local favorites to back Colin Morikawa for the win.

Is a South African due for a massive weekend on the links, or is Morikawa’s iron play too precise to ignore? 🇿🇦

Drop your predictions below:
1️⃣ Who is finishing as the Top Saffa this week?
2️⃣ Who wins the whole damn thing?
Listen to the full episode of The Goat Track Podcast right now to get our complete Major preview and deep dive. Link in bio! 🎙️⛳️

Michael Hollick talks about the power of self-belief in his maiden victory in Germany.

The 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills is legendary, but Sunday was pure psychological warfare.

By the final round, a combination of brutal winds and baking sun turned William Flynn’s masterpiece into a literal parking lot.

How bad did it get?

78.7: The field's scoring average on Sunday, nearly 9 strokes over par, securing its spot as the hardest weekend round in modern U.S. Open history.

29: The number of players who carded a score in the 80s (including Ernie Els turning in an 80 from the final group).
0: Players broke par on Sunday.

It got so extreme that they were forced to hand-water the 7th green between groups just to keep balls from rolling off the putting surface entirely. Retief Goosen’s 11 single-putts on Sunday to edge out Phil Mickelson remains one of the most clutch, underrated grinding performances in major history.

Was this crossing the line, or is this exactly what a U.S. Open should be? 👇

Welcome to Royal Durban Golf Club, one of the most unique golfing canvases in South Africa! Established in 1892, this historic gem sits entirely within the infield of the Greyville Racecourse right in the heart of Durban.

It’s completely flat, entirely exposed to the coastal wind, and features thick, penalizing Kikuyu rough that will test every single club in your bag. No trees, no elevation changes—just pure, raw golfing character and a deep sense of history.

But whether you beat the course or it beats you, the real magic happens after the final putt. Royal Durban’s 19th hole is legendary for its warm KwaZulu-Natal hospitality, rich tradition, and the perfect cold pint to cap off a memorable day on the fairways.

Hit save for your next KZN golf trip itinerary!

Have you ever braved the Greyville wind at Royal Durban?

In this episode, we sit down with Golf Digest editor and the mastermind behind the South African Top 100 courses ranking system, Stuart McLean.

We pull back the curtain on the entire ranking process to discover exactly who assesses the courses, how the scoring categories are structured, and how panelists separate a great overall experience from a course’s true architectural ranking.

Stuart also opens up about the future of the evaluation system, the complex reasons why some clubs choose to opt out of the rankings entirely, and wraps up by sharing a few of his absolute favorite golf destinations across South Africa.