SA Golf Trader - Mar/Apr 2021, cover picture: Durban Country Club

Vol. 104 • MAR|APR 2021 • www.sagolftrader.co.za

Durban Country Club is situated in the heart of Durban and is no stranger in the golfing world. Enriched with history, the golf course saw Gary Player’s first South African Open success in 1956 with a score of 286.

Gracing the cover of our Mar/Apr 2021 edition - Durban Country Club

He returned in 1969 (having won the title another five times in the interim) to score a 273, which included a then record round of 64 (the course record now is 62, held by John Bland).

In 1998 Ernie Els won his third South African Open at the club, opening with a 64 that left him in a position of dominance that he was not to relinquish. The course has hosted 17 South African Opens in total, more than any other club in South Africa, and was the proud host of the Centenary SA Open in 2010.

2020 was a year for change and going in to 2021 the Durban Country Club Team prepares for 2022 and 2023. A historical milestone for Durban Country Club as the Clubhouse (2022) and the Golf Course (2023) celebrate their Centenary Years!

DCC has recently been nominated as candidate for the Global award as one of the world’s great golf courses 2021.

A bit of history...

Towards the end of the First World War serious consideration was first given to the establishment of a Country Club in Durban. Country clubs were beginning to proliferate in other parts of South Africa and as Durban was already achieving a reputation as the leading seaside resort, it seemed imperative that such an amenity be attained – for residents and visitors alike.

Pressure was also mounting for the establishment of a second golf course in the town due to the problems facing the Durban Golf Club (now Royal Durban). The Durban Golf Club situated on a low-lying swamp at Greyville, with the race track running around it, was repeatedly subject to flooding, which often cancelled out all golf.

A final straw was when floods made this course virtually unplayable for the 1920 South African Golf Championships and it was feared that Durban would not be asked to host the event again in 1924.

George Waterman accepted the challenge of building the course and was assisted in this endeavour by fellow professional golfer Laurie Waters – a four times winner of the South African Open. The difficulties these men faced were immense.

All earth-moving had to be done manually. Giant sand dunes were flattened, dense bush and trees chopped down and carted away. Durban Country Club was officially opened on December 9, 1922.

After the Mayoress had formally declared the golf course open, course designer George Waterman had the privilege of driving the first ball down the fairway of what is now one of the most famous golf courses in the world.

Tel: +27 31 313 1777 |Pro Shop: +27 31 313 1716 www.durbancountryclub.co.za