SAGES SENIOR GOLFERS

Heron Banks

Danie Obermeyer explains how he designed Heron Banks Golf Course Successful golf course design is site specific and an astute designer utilises the topography of the site. This implies that the original contours of the site should be used as much as possible to its optimum potential avoiding “fighting” the contours. One of my main design principles is to look at the natural drainage of the site, which to a large extent will determine the type of golf course I envisage. The Vaal River runs along the northern boundary of the site at Heron Banks. Immediate to the south side of the Vaal River were natural wetlands (in some areas up to 150 meters wide) created over many years of the river flooding its banks. In contrast to the latter, the southern side of the terrain was distinctly different and more like a typical Highveld terrain. It was clear that year and years of rain had moulded the site to create it into quite a contrast. Further it was clear that at some point in time the flooding of the Vaal River along the northern side of the site became controlled this is evident from the natural Highveld vegetation re- establishing itself immediately adjacent to the river.

Map

Heron Banks Golf Course
73 Minnaar St, Vaalpark, Sasolburg, 1948

Maccauvlei

Maccauvlei Golf Club was established in 1926. The original architect was George Peck. The finishing touches were credited to Major S.V.Hotchkin in 1929, one of an illustrious trinity of British course designers, who was responsible for Humewood in Port Elizabeth.

Maccauvlei became known as the only ” Inland Links” golf course in the world, and was referred to as the “queen of inland links”. It was a real seaside course though no sea was visible. If you wanted a bunker all you had to do was dig a hole. Maccauvlei hosted four South African Open Championships in the 1920’s to 1940’s.

Although the front nine has several memorable holes, it is the closing holes on the back nine which are its piece de resistance. It has been said that the six-hole stretch from 13 onwards is as good and as lovely as anything that this golf-rich land of ours can offer ( Phillip Galgut, Compleat Golfer Nov 1997). One of the most famous holes on the course is the par-4 17th, with its giant bunker sloping up from the fairway towards the green, and in its day reputed to be the largest in the world.

Today Maccauvlei still holds its own in the top 50 courses in the country, and according to Golf Digest offers the best “play” value versus cost per round among these top courses. Golfers can enjoy their game in peaceful and natural setting of trees and various wildlife including a variety of birds.

Map

Maccauvlei Golf Course
Old Sasolburg Rd, Viljoensdrift, Vereeniging, 1930