Port Shepstone Country Club – A Hidden Jewel

Port Shepstone Golf Club or Country Club is a jewel of a course, nestled away on the south coast of Natal in South Africa. A coastal course semi protected from the sea breeze. Don't be fooled though, the wind can affect a ball to extreme when playing the second nine.

This course is semi unique in South Africa, in that it has two totally differing nines. The first half, played amid beautiful indigenous trees, of vintage age. The second nine, open and exposed to the sea elements, where a strong wind can play havoc with a good score card. I had the privilege of being the Green Keeper of the course for a time period not long ago, where perfection and attention to detail a must.

The standards required, set down by the committee, entirely for the players enjoyment and pleasure. The course now maintained by the local Professional, in magnificent condition, being readied for the upcoming Nomads National competition, 2012.

For those of you who are playing, accuracy the key. Down the centre on the first and second allows for an easy approach, hit your second long on either and you are in the difficult areas. The third, a hole with dense forest on the right, if you can find your ball your lucky, the left places you behind huge trees making the second shot difficult. The third, with a raised two tiered green, requires an exact shot. So play for the centre off the tee, and pray you know your distance for the second shot.

The fourth tee box, built on the old railway embankment, (this was the old access to the town from the North) you're met with one of the most picturesque views on the course. Directly in front of the tee box is a huge tree, fly it and stay in the fairway and your reward, a shot at the green, not an easy one with danger to the right.

Five, a steep climb to the top, take a few clubs with, the wind here needs local knowledge, with a small tricky green as a target, great if you can hit it. Six and seven, out and back, narrow fairways with a rich reward for accuracy.

Eight a good short hole, the green is below the old railway embankment and being among all the tall trees, the wind very hard to read. A small green with a few tough bunkers as surrounds.

Up once again to the most stunning of tee boxes, the ninth, built on the railway embankment. This, the beginning of the span across the river, makes a wonderful tee box. The magnificent view down the fairway stunning, if you tend to slice, you're in trouble, the mangrove next to the river will eat your ball and very seldom spit it out. A tight hole so keep it straight and long if possible.

The club house beckons, well stock pub and great grub, sustenance for the next nine.

The tenth barrels down next to the river with mangroves all the way, tight green but normally rewarding. The eleventh, with the newly raised fairway and plenty of water, requires accuracy and length or just good accuracy, and if the wind is against you, get out the wellies.

The twelfth, beware the water but normally not that difficult a drive, the second to the green is where the trick is. A small green not easy to hit if the wind is blowing, the open area small, still a great hole that leads to the thirteenth. This is a risk and reward hole, got the length, try the short cut over the cricket field, too short and you are out-of-bounds. This hole a dog leg left (no a curve left would describe it better) calls for accuracy and placement. Small green to hit, after curling your way around the cricket field, but don't be long.

The fourteenth a shot par three danger to the left, right and dead if long. Choose your club wisely and hit it straight. The fifteenth an easy looking hole, don't be deceived, the water beckons from all sides, not so much left, but here, you need a straight shot, the correct distance. The green is big but the second shot in, long, good luck you will need it.

The sixteenth, when standing on the tee box, the green can just be seen, slopes and out-of-bounds, and a small green, surrounded by water, makes this the most difficult hole. The seventeenth a short hole which might need a high iron or a low one depending on the wind. Water water everywhere but none you wish to drink, small green with a bail out area right for the disinclined. The eighteenth back to the club house, a top class hole, with a big green protected by bunkers but a great way to end a round.

The club filled with wonderful members, a pub big enough for a crowd and the friendly greetings that meet you, make your visit a memorable one. Happy golfing on the best golf course on the south coast of South Africa.