State Mines - Gauteng - South Africa

State Mines Country Club was founded in 1909 by the State Mines gold mining company and it's situated amongst the rather bleak mining terrain of the East Rand,where a 9-hole course was built for the use of employees on what had been the Modderfonte farm.The course eventually became an 18-hole layout which the membership took ownership of in 1970. Architect Rob O’Friel redesigned the greens at this golfing oasis in the mid-1990s.

The course lies in among the mine dumps, but it's hidden by forests of bluegum trees, lending it a remote feeling, and giving each hole an element of distinction and character. Its remote location gives rise to the moniker “hidden gem of the East Rand” and for many in the know, this Brakpan course is exactly that. A parkland layout that plays to a strong par of 72, it’s one of the better-conditioned courses in the region.

Although it’s not overly difficult, State Mines offers just enough to be challenging without disheartening you. Finding the fairway is the aim of the game on just about every course, but this one is a little more forgiving than many if you do stray from the short cut grass.

In general, a fairway drive leaves nothing more than a short iron into the par four holes, even those with a low stroke index. Some of the par threes are long, in excess of 175 metres, but counterbalancing this, three of the four par fives are reachable in two for many golfers.

A feature holes on the front nine is the short par four 3rd, played to a narrow fairway with trees on either side. A bunker protects the right flank as the hole doglegs in that direction and there’s a well-placed bunker to the left of the green, which is also guarded by a small pond at the front.