Donalda

The golfing element at the Donalda Club commenced with a nine 9-hole layout designed by Robbie Robinson and professional Jimmie Johnstone in 1961. The course was later extended to eighteen holes before Tom McBroom redesigned everything in 1994, rebuilding nearly all the greens.

He returned early in the new millennium to renovate the bunkers before being called in again in 2013 to convert all the greens to bent grass.

McBroom was quoted as saying at the time: “we have created subtle internal contours through the use of soft crowns, muffins and subtle transition slopes within the green complexes, as well as adding some bold contours that really capture your eye and make reading a putt more challenging.”

The course is laid out in the Don River Valley, with many of the fairways running alongside the flowing waters of this meandering river. Strategic demands favour finesse over strength and subtlety over power.

Today, Donalda measures around 6,500 yards from the back markers, playing to a par of 71 (36 outward, 35 inward), with holes arranged in an out and back fashion. Feature holes include short par fours at the 8th and 13th, along with the final par three at the 136-yard 14th.