Kyalami

Kyalami is perhaps better known in sporting circles as the race track used for the South African motor racing Grand Prix when it was held there between 1967 and 1993. The golf course near to the race circuit goes back even further in time though as it was originally constructed in 1955 to serve the golfing needs of the Jewish community in the Johannesburg area.

Laid out on a gently undulating landscape, the course at Kyalami Country Club is a fine example of suburban parkland golf, with generous fairways and clever bunkering throughout. Several ponds and creeks come into play to keep things interesting, especially around the closing holes on the back nine.

Two of the most memorable holes on the card involve water and both are long par threes, played at either end of the course. The 195-yard 3rd will test your golfing mettle early on, when you’re just getting warmed up, then the 222-yard 17th will determine whether you’ve started to mentally tire late in the round.

Kyalami hosted three consecutive editions of the South African Women’s Open during the 1990s: Laurette Maritz won her second title in 1996; Mandy Adamson claimed the first of her two Open victories in 1997; and Barbara Pestana lifted the trophy for the first time in 1998 (retaining the Open the following year at Rondebosch when the tournament moved there for two editions).