15th Club

https://theafricanmirror.africa/sport/liv-golf-in-sa-phumlani-malukas-integrity-shot/

LIV GOLF IN SA: Phumlani Maluka’s integrity shot - The African Mirror AMERICAN sensation Bryson DeChambeau may have collected a cool US$4 million when the inaugural LIV Golf South Africa ended at the rain soaked yet packed to the rafters two Sundays ago, but he was not the only winner. The long-hitting DeChambeau, with his wire-to-wire lead, will be surprised to learn...

Yesterday, today and tomorrow of South Africa's golf in one picture. Veteran and legend Ernie Else shakes hands with amateur Judd Sundelsonn while defending champ Dylan Naidoo walks past them. Unfortunately all three missed the cut and won't play this weekend, but in my view, this was one of the pairings of tournament so far.

https://sundayworld.co.za/sports/more-sports/the-beauty-and-the-beast-come-together-at-sa-open/

The beauty and the beast come together at SA Open At 7am on Thursday February 26 the 115th Investec SA Open will get off the mark at the revamped and elongated Stellenbosch Golf Club.

A MIGHTY ROYAL CHALLENGE

IT is not everyday that you get to play the second longest, most difficult and arguably most beautiful hole of a course all at the same time.

While the jury is out as to whether the Par 4 Number 11 at Royal East is the signature hole - I argue it is - there is no debating that it is the most difficult hole and the second longest Par 4 on the course, only 27m shorter than Number 10.

From tee to green, it is not everyday that you will play a more demanding and yet aesthetically gratifying hole.

Off the box the fairway looks inviting and easy to make. In reality it demands lots accuracy and where you leave the ball, will define how you deal with your approach shot. If you go far left, uiur almost certainly have no chance to approach the green in regulation. A far right miss brings the trees into play.

Not that making the fairway makes finding the green in two a forgone conclusion. Far from it. Winter or summer, big hitter or not, you are likely to be left with a middle to long iron in, which is made even trickier by the fact that the green in front and to the right.

In fact, most players' troubles start here. Many are overcome by ego and despite the bleak prospects they insist on going for two when laying up could yield better results.

Although there is a bunker there, the best miss is left of the green. It leaves you with a better chance to go up and down for a par or a bogey depending on whether or not you laid up.

The vast green adds to the challenge. Landing in regulation doesn't mean a par is guaranteed. Whatever the outcome and whatever number you end up carding, this remains one of the most memorable and challenging holes of golf.

GREEN FEES: FROM R640
SERVICE: 🥇
PMG: ❎️
HALFWAY:🎖
CLUBHOUSE: 🏆
VALUE FOR MONEY: 🎯

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WHERE COWARDS NEVER CRY

AS you drive into this club, the first thing you see is the tee box of the Par 4 Number 9 to your left. This is the only time most players will drive it well, from their cars.

On the course, this hole is a monster. A sadist. A killer. A graveyard. The good thing is that it is not pretentious. It does not give you an impression of being easy and there for the taking.

Lying easily on the lowest part of the course, which itself is on a valley in the suburb of Moreleta Park, this hole is hard to play, hard to score and very treacherous.

It plays uphill from the box which means, even though it is not long - at around 358m - it plays longer than that, more so if the wind is against, which seems to be what the green keeper orders in regulation.

Finding the fairway is not too difficult, but many miss it trying too hard to stay left, avoiding going out of bounds on the right.

And being on the fairway is not half the story. Many Sunday golfers will stand over their ball and all they see is trouble ahead, which is true. If they have enough club, they will deliberately lay up to the right of the elevated green. Anything to avoid the dam guarding the green. Cowardly? Never. If anything, clever and rational.

But once the water is cleared, whether on the first or third attempt, a beautiful green just below the finishing 18th and with a view of the clubhouse, awaits one to take their score - good or mostly, not so good.

A true golfer's hole either to leave you feeling so good about yourself, or yearning to come back to try again.

And as you drive out of Wingate and you look at that hole again, you may just remember the epitaph it engraved on your scorecard: here lies a round that was promising, until this moment.

GREEN FEES: R350 - R1000
SERVICE: 🥇
PMG: ✅
HALFWAY:🎖
CLUBHOUSE: 🏆
VALUE FOR MONEY: 🎭

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