East London Golf Club

East London is one of the oldest courses in the Eastern Cape, dating back to 1893. The club moved a number of times before settling in its current location in 1923, with the course designed by famous architect, Colonel Hotchin. We received a warm welcome. The cafe area being busy with members breakfasting and making use of the facilities. EL is a typical members' golf club - busy, active and competitive. The clubhouse has some special memorabilia too- from original design sketches to holes to records of club, national and professional tournaments. The course has 2 distinct halves - the front 9 runs in marvellous Dunescapes close to the Indian Ocean with the back 9 much more parkland in nature. The run of holes from the downhill par 3 2nd to the short par 4 6th are spectacular, with contoured fairways and well guarded greens. The best hole on the front 9 is however the 9th. A 470 yard par 4 where the tee shot needs to carry a fairway ridge and catch the downslope to bring the green in range. That achieved, the long slightly uphill second shot is played to a green surrounded by dense vegetation. Without doubt, one of the strongest par 4s you'll find anywhere. The 12th is an excellent par 4 running up to a long narrow green that backs on to the ocean atop a large dune. Thereafter, the parkland feel takes over, the best of the closing run of holes being the long par 4 14th. Despite over 100mm of rain in the preceding 24 hours, the course played well. The greens have a fully justified reputation as some of the best in ZA - and they lived up to that reputation being surprisingly firm and vert quick. Value for money? £23 a round says it all, with recommended caddie fees of about £12. East London deserves its reputation as one of the best courses in South Africa. It's a must visit if you're in the area, and I'd go as far as to say it's well worth a detour if you aren't. I can't wait to go back and see it when it's firm and fast.

Today I also found the driving range and played a very good round: Par 73 in 86 strokes.

Vandaag voor de 2de maal gespeeld op deze prachtige baan. Hierdoor ook goed gespeeld omdat de baan nu beter bekend was vanwege een paar blinde slagen.

Prachtig gelegen golfbaan en goed onderhouden.

Prachtige baan. Fairways greens Lay out perfect. Mooie uitzichten, ronduit genieten. Niet overal was routing even duidelijk en helaas een wintergreen zonder dat dit gemeld was of op reebox stond. Ontvangst in pro shop was hartelijk. Daarna bij caddymaster en clubhuis zeer matig en dan spreken we nog niet over half way house waar men nauwelijks de mooite nam van hun stoel op te staan en waar hygiëne ver te zoeken was. Jammer want deze schitterende baan verdient meer! Voor Afrikaanse begrippen was de baan ook echt niet goedkoop en dan mag het niet met deze gastvrijheid afgedaan worden. Dag later Olivewood gespeeld! Hier was baanonderhoud door een wormen explosie minder doch gastvrijheid top!