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Mowbray Golf Course

  • Type: Parkland
  • Holes: 18
  • Par: 72
  • Club Shop: Yes
  • Tuition: Yes
  • Hire Facilities:Clubs, trolleys, caddies and drive carts (booking essential)
  • Catering: Bar, restaurant, halfway house
  • Practice Facilities:Putting greens, chipping green, practice range, practice net
  • General Manager: John Bold

RISING OF THE PHOENIX

At precisely 3.05 am on the 31st October 1993, an electrical fault in the bar at Mowbray Golf Club caused a spark that started a fire. Those of us who are familiar with the Cape will understand that the southeaster wind gusting that night fanned the flames to such an extent that, in only forty-five minutes, the club was totally destroyed.

The timing was particularly inopportune as the course had just been upgraded and was about to show its new face to both tournament players and the general public during the Bells Cup due to be held in January. However, out of all bad things, comes some good! A new R3,5 million club house rose from the ashes and in the intervening years both members and visitors have enjoyed not only the rebuilt clubhouse facilities, but also the excellent redesign improvements of what was already a challenging course.

Mowbray is a classic parkland course and improvements are ongoing with the complete upgrading of all the greens in 2006. These have been enlarged, lifted and subtle slopes have been introduced. Water hazards have been extended and a few new ones put in. A definite improvement was the introduction of drainage ditches along some fairways - that is, unless you land in them! As Mowbray is traditionally a very wet winter course, these ditches now ensure a much better year round standard. The numerous water features are home to a variety of bird life and, as is the case on many of Cape Town's courses, trees stand sentry on the lush fairways that have been narrowed by introducing some new fairway bunkers.

THE COURSE

1st Hole - Par 4 - Men - 269 m Ladies - 260 m

This hole doglegs right. Though it is short, it requires an accurate tee shot to avoid two bunkers set in the fairway on the right. Both are easily carried with a wood or long iron, but anything less than accurate will run out of fairway into trees on the left. The second shot is to a large, undulating green protected by two front bunkers.

2nd Hole - Par 4 - Men - 367 m Ladies - 314 m

The tee shot should be on the right-hand side of the fairway. The fairway is lined by trees on both sides and two fairway mounds, one on the right and one further left towards the green, can create problems with distance and any shot that is too big will find a third bunker to the back. Too far right and a sharp slope will take you towards an out-of-bounds.

Directions:

From Cape Town, take the N2 towards the airport. Take the Raapenberg/ Pinelands turn off (exit 10) and follow the turn left and then turn immediately right at the traffic lights. The club entrance is at the bottom of the hill.

Location: Centrally situated, at 1 Raapenberg Road, Mowbray

General Manager: John Bold

Postal address: P.O.Box 38003, Howard Place 7450

Phone: 021 685 3018

Fax: 021 686 6008

e-mail: info@mowbraygolfclub.co.za

web: www.mowbraygolfclub.co.za

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