Neighbourhood 16 FEBRUARY 2020
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
In the swing of things Life on contemporary golf estates is about so much more than playing a signature course, page 2
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PROPERTY FOCUS: GOLF ESTATES
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GARDENING TRUTHS
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MARKETPLACE
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PROPERTY NEWS
16 FEBRUARY 2020
Neighbourhood
Golf estate focus
Par for the course South Africa’s golf estates are evolving into lifestyle estates with so much more to offer WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK IMAGES: SUPPLIED & SHUTTERSTOCK
SILVER LAKES GOLF AND WILDLIFE ESTATE
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outh Africa has some of the most varied and scenic golf estates in the world with world-class golf courses designed by some of the biggest names in international golf. The consistent demand for secure gated estates and the luxury lifestyle afforded by them continues to be good news for golf estates but, as a recent New York Times article pointed out, long-term investors are looking at more than just the golf facilities when they buy into an estate, important as those are. The best investments are those that have a wider appeal and a wider pool of buyers when it comes to selling again, like estates that have lifestyle aspects attractive to non-golfers either within the estate itself or in the adjacent community. So nearby schools, healthcare facilities, and other leisure activities on the estate strengthen the investment value. Besides, of course, the attraction of living within one of these exceptional lifestyle enclaves.
ST FRANCIS LINKS
Pretoria
Silver Lakes Golf and Wildlife Estate
Wildlife, water features and fishing are just some of the attractions of Silver Lakes on the east fringes of Pretoria. One of the first estates of its kind in Pretoria, it’s a mature estate on 300ha with a Peter Matkovich designed golf course that has been awarded both for the design and for eco-friendly credentials. The golf club includes a golf academy, putting and chipping greens and a driving range. Other facilities on the estate include tennis, squash, swimming pool, fishing dams fished on a catch and release basis, and nature trails through the game reserve where duiker and other small game roam and prolific bird life is to be seen. With a small retirement village, the estate offers a secure and idyllic lifestyle for all ages, young families appreciating EDITORIAL TEAM:
PUBLISHED BY TIMES MEDIA PROPERTY PUBLISHING
Group Editor: Carla Redelinghuys carla@yourneighbourhood.co.za Senior Sub-Editor: Marana Brand Designers: Anja Bramley & Samantha Durand Visit yourneighbourhood.co.za
the nearby schools – from a Curro to the well-regarded Tshwane public schools – plus shopping and healthcare facilities within easy driving distance. Visit: silverlakes.co.za
Woodhill Golf Estate
On the south-east edge of Pretoria and established in 1999, Woodhill is known for its secure and peaceful lifestyle as well as its Peter Matkovich 18-hole golf course with lush fairways and immaculate greens. Popular with young families, kids can walk to school at adjacent Curro Woodhill College, and other schools, including the American International School, are close by. There’s a thriving junior golf programme at the club as well as well-maintained grounds, gardens and jogging trails. Visit: woodhillestate.co.za
Highland Gate
Outside Dullstroom on 700ha of highveld grassland Highland Gate is a stunning golf and fishing resort for a weekend home or to escape the city entirely. With an Ernie Els 18hole championship golf course, and clubhouse completed in 2015, it has something for all the family including fly-fishing, mountain biking, tennis, nature trails and bird-watching. Architectural guidelines to build a dream home are inspired by old Transvaal and farm styles, with various vacant stands to choose from in the three villages on the estate. Visit: highlandgate.co.za
Durban
Cotswold Downs
Retaining the country feel that once was a hallmark of Hillcrest, 220ha Cotswold Downs Golf and Lifestyle Estate evokes the UK Cotswolds landscape of villages with low density building of homes in stone and slate roofs in between indigenous grassland,
ADVERTISING SALES: Call us for advertising opportunities on 087 828 0423 Production: Lucea Goosen pretoria@yourneighbourhood.co.za Online coordinator: Chantelle Balsdon chantelle@augmentcreative.com
16 FEBRUARY 2020
Neighbourhood
PROPERTY NEWS
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PEARL VALLEY AT VAL DE VIE
forests, lakes and wetlands rich in wildlife. The championship golf course is designed by Peter Matkovich and recognised as one of the best in the region. The new leisure centre provides a fitness centre, squash and tennis as well as restaurant and bar, offering an enviable country lifestyle close to the schools and conveniences of Hillcrest and Durban. Visit: cotswolddowns.co.za
Joburg Eye of Africa
A pioneering residential golf and lifestyle estate in southern Joburg, Eye of Africa adopted a conservation approach setting aside 350ha of untouched Highveld grassland. It’s home to the first Greg Norman golf course design in SA and a wide variety of community amenities from parks and play areas to hiking trails, restaurants, tennis courts and swimming pools. Its residential offerings span from freehold stands to apartments and cluster homes designed as smaller neighbourhoods within the estate. This area south of Joburg is developing rapidly with the new Mall of Africa and a number of schools opening, but it still feels like country living. Visit: eyeofafrica.co.za
Cape Town
Pearl Valley at Val de Vie
Pearl Valley is an exclusive golf estate within the wider Val de Vie lifestyle estate, which was rated by New World Wealth as the top residential estate in SA from 2015 to 2019 and encompasses world-class equestrian and polo facilities as well as golf. The Pearl valley Jack Nicklaus signature golf course is consistently rated among the top five in SA. Nicklaus himself said of it, “Surrounded by mountains, this is one of the most spectacular settings in which I have designed a golf course.” Close to the golf course and recently launched is The Acres, which features several 1ha gentlemen’s estates as well as one-acre and 700m2 stands, for those looking for expansive country living
alongside the convenience of luxury lifestyle offerings such as the spa, hotel and restaurants on the estate. Close to Paarl and within easy distance of Stellenbosch, there’s an excellent choice of schools, including Bridge House, making it a lifestyle choice for families wanting secure country living with all the conveniences at hand. Visit: valdevie.co.za
Port Elizabeth St Francis Links
A residential golf estate on 450ha of natural dunes just outside St Francis Bay, St Francis Links enjoys views over the Indian Ocean and a backdrop of mountains to the north. The gated community is designed on a Natal farmhouse architectural theme with plenty of privacy and quiet for homeowners. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Links course is perennially rated among South Africa’s Top 10. Gary Player, on a recent visit, said it was the best balance of residential and golf course positioning he had ever seen. With a fine clubhouse, hotel, leisure centre with gym and covered pool, it has become a popular holiday destination, both for golfers and non-golfers enjoying the beach, surf, river and nature on offer on this beautiful stretch of the Eastern Cape coast. While the area has a laidback holiday vibe year-round there are enough schools and healthcare facilities between St Francis Bay and nearby Jeffrey’s Bay for full-time family living, with Port Elizabeth just over an hour away for tertiary education and city convenience.
COTSWOLD DOWNS GOLF AND LIFESTYLE ESTATE
Visit: stfrancislinks.com
BROOKFIELD AT ROYAL
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PROPERTY NEWS
16 FEBRUARY 2020
Greener, together Come see why we are… WORDS: EDITORIAL TEAM
IMAGES: SUPPLIED
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abulously positioned at the top of Waterkloof Heights, Greenhill Estate offers 360-degree views and energy-efficient, sustainable living in an exclusive, secure lifestyle estate. Conceptualised and developed by the Green Housing Company, the estate features insulative advanced tech buildings ensuring that the contemporary-styled homes will require minimal (if any) heating and cooling, and solar energy generation also offers the potential for residents to live with zero power costs and independent of the issues surrounding the supply of commercial energy.
Highlights
Greenhill Estate boasts the following features: • 24-hour robotics and off-site security • indigenous, water-wise gardens • stunning views • easy access to Pretoria and the N1 • smart homes with fibre to the home (FTTH) • living right in the city
Our approach
Working from the roots up, our constructions feature foundations with air pockets, insulated concrete form (ICF) walling, double glazing, and advanced insulated roofing. This improvement in acoustic and thermal insulation means that the homes we build are 500% more insulated, 500%
stronger, and twice as acoustically insulated as our closest competitor. Our renewable energy generation backed up by state-of-the-art high-capacity batteries, and our indigenous gardening combined with a comprehensive water management system, enables us to offer a completely grid independent living solution. Perhaps even more importantly, our product is predominantly made in South Africa, which contributes to job creation while conserving foreign exchange. And, from a broader economic perspective, it also means that we’re not bound to fluctuating exchange rates, nor do we ever have project holdups due to stock being held up at customs. Our engagement with local government and Eskom at the highest level means that we’re constantly informing stakeholders of every aspect of the green building process. What this ultimately means is that eco homes are opening up to more people in South Africa at grassroots level. We offer a complete and sustainable housing, power and water solution with more than 10 years’ experience. We’ve moved way beyond our initial proof of concept to being able to state proudly that we’re the market leaders in sustainable green housing in South Africa.
We make the bold claim that we’re greener than the rest. By way of our comprehensive approach, we’re proud to say that we offer the market an all-encompassing green housing solution.
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YOUR
THINKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. 100% OF THE TIME. ON SHOW 24 HOURS A DAY. TO VIEW IN WATERKLOOF, PRETORIA. LET US BLOW YOUR MIND. 98 Matroosberg road, Waterkloof Heights, Pretoria www.tghc.co.za mobile. 081 736 6165 office. 012 111 0110 Financiable solar solutions
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PROPERTY NEWS
16 FEBRUARY 2020
Plants gone wild Gardening myths, busted WORDS: EDITORIAL TEAM
IMAGES: SUPLLIED & SHUTTERSTOCK
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ot everyone is blessed with green fingers. But just because your mere gaze turns a can’t-die plant into a withering heap of leaves, doesn’t mean you can’t have a garden to be proud of. To that end, the whiz team at Lifestyle Home Garden gives some advice.
You shouldn’t water your plants at night
This one is… TRUE Watering during the cooler periods of the day is best – whether that be at dawn or dusk, when the sun is not too hot. This allows water to be absorbed at a more efficient rate, as opposed to evaporating too quickly. Watering in the heat of the day is also not ideal, as when the soil is hot, water can easily become heated and damage plants around it. Watering too late at night is, however, not recommended, as soil and leaves don’t have time to dry off, and this may result in fungal diseases developing.
Neighbourhood
Beer is a good way of getting rid of slugs
This one is… TRUE Beer is as tempting to our slimy friends in the garden as has always been believed – they’re drawn in by the smell and will drown in small dishes of beer buried at soil-level near the plants affected. We’re unsure if they prefer stout or pale ale, but we do know this is definitely no myth!
You don’t need to water drought-tolerant plants
This one is… FALSE Even drought-tolerant plants require water, but far less of it. Water them in seasons when there’s no rain, and during rainy periods avoid giving them additional water. “Drought tolerant” simply implies that the plant can go for lengthier periods of time holding onto its own water supply. These plants usually store water in their leaves, stems or roots and are able to withstand heat and drought far easier than plants that are not waterwise.
Gravel at the bottom of a container aids drainage
This one is… TRUE Gravel or broken pot shards create an aerated space at the bottom of pots where soil cannot sit and remain water-logged. It’s common practice to place gravel, pebbles or stones into pots to lead excess water away from soil which may have received too much water. This effectively prevents roots in the pot from becoming water-logged and rotting. Another hint is to put sponges in the bottom, which adversely, helps to absorb and hold on to water, effectively keeping the plant moist.
Bonemeal and compost are essential when planting
This one is… TRUE Adding bonemeal as a way of introducing phosphorous is an excellent idea to promote root formation in new plants. Adding compost, manure, rotted organic materials and other natural matter is a great way of increasing soil organisms and microbes, ultimately improving soil health. Adding this duo when preparing soil for planting is the best way to proactively work towards healthier soil and plants.
Indoor plants need direct sunlight
This one is… FALSE Indoor plants benefit from indirect bright light, but direct sunlight will scorch and burn them. Most indoor plants herald from more sheltered jungle-type environments – under the canopies of trees in forests. So, emulate that environment to the best of your ability by placing them near windows but not where they will get burnt.
Natural is better
This one is… TRUE In all regards, using organic, natural, heirloom, non-synthetic, indigenous… anything natural is a better solution. Nature will respond better to what is natural in every respect. Plants and seeds produced from heirloom seeds will display the same characteristics as the parent plant, whereas hybrids have been cross-pollinated and may produce sterile seed or revert back to one of the parent plants. Organic pesticides will do their job, but without killing beneficial insects in the process and without doing further harm to the environment. Natural is always better.
GOLF MEMBERSHIP
Become a golf member at Silver Lakes Golf Club in 2020, one of the top 10 most Eco-Friendly Golf Courses in the world.
Be part of the difference Join as a Silver or Gold golf member during February or March 2020 and receive a complimentary Silver Lakes branded Cap and Golf Towel until stock lasts. T’s and C’s apply. Contact us for package options and privileges clubreception@silverlakes.co.za l 012 809 0281 l
www.silverlakes.co.za
AGENTS ARE EXPERT PROBLEM SOLVERS
Negotiating is a tricky business and contracts can be problematic. Are you familiar with legalities or how to ensure that a contract protects you? Registered estate agents are licensed professionals with experience of moving transactions forward smoothly.
Another good reason why you should use an estate agent
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