Royal Johannesburg (East)

Royal Johannesburg (East) Review

Item: Royal Johannesburg (East)
Rating: 5
Author: Alex Frolish

by Alex Frolish•February 26, 2024

Some golf courses feel special, and I get those special vibes as I walk towards the 1st tee of the East course at Royal Johannesburg. Stitched into the fabric of South African golfing history, this golf course is one of the finest and most revered in all of Africa, its championship pedigree adorning the walls of the clubhouse for all to see.

I have played the East course on three separate occasions over a number of years and I have enjoyed it more each time. Mature trees line the fairways, interesting green sites are abundant and there is not a single weak hole out here. The opening hole is probably the kindest on the property, a reachable par 5 that rewards those that hit the ground running with a fine opening tee shot. That is where the generosity ends however and for the main part, the rest of the course provides an exacting test.

The ground here is rolling, falling deceptively steeply towards the water that cuts through the middle of the back nine, meaning many of the holes have an element of elevation change. Strategically, the bunkering has a huge effect, particularly from the tee and many of the tee shots demand a level of accuracy that is befitting of a course that has hosted so much tournament golf. The accuracy required is compounded by the speed and sloping of the greens which are like glass and punish you when you find yourself in any position where spin control or the angle of approach is compromised. The par 4’s in particular excel, posing a consistent test with the run of 4’s on the back nine combining to make the returning nine one of the more testing homeward stretches I have played in some time.

The opening nine is where your score will be made, with the opening half bookended by two birdie-able par 5’s. The run 2 thru 6 is where the finest holes on this side reside. The 2nd and 5th are downhill par 3’s with very different characters, the former demanding a solid strike with a long iron while the latter being short and played over a lake that eats into the angled green, meaning the hole plays very differently depending on the flag position. It is a toss up for whether the 3rd, 4th or 7th plays as the hardest par 4 outbound. The tee shot on the 3 is awkward with OB lurking, the 4th is long and played uphill making it a stern test of ball striking and the 7th boasts an unsighted approach to a difficult green. The par 5 6th also deserves a mention, boasting an approach over a lake with a green that slopes dangerously back towards the water.

The contrast between the opening of the front nine and back nine couldn’t be more stark where there is no welcoming handshake. Two near 500 yard par 4’s begin the returning nine, the second (the 11th) of which is probably the signature hole on the course, with the beautiful downhill tee shot followed by another difficult and lengthy approach across water to a green that slopes towards you. That design feature deserves further mention as it is subtle but very effective. If you are conservative on the approaches where danger is close at hand (such as 6 and 11), you are usually left with a devilish chip or putt back towards the hazard you have just negotiated. Often, playing conservatively here only pushes the can down the road for you to negotiate the dangers of the hazard with a subsequent shot.

Royal Johannesburg (East)

Getting there

Royal Johannesburg (East)

Getting there

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