Interesting origin of Leopard Creek

Leopard Creek has a long history since Johann Rupert turned into reality. And its origin is very interesting.

The South African billionaire businessman had always loved golf and the African bushveld and when he discovered the ideal location where he could combine his two great passions, he called in South Africa’s foremost course designer, Gary Player, to help him develop, as the estate’s centre piece, an 18-hole golf course that today is seen as being among the best in the world and is currently ranked above the Gary Player Country Club as the No 1 in South Africa.

The duo set out to build a course which friends and business associates could play and enjoy every bit as much as the game’s greatest modern professionals such as Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

And to all intents and purposes, they succeeded, for Leopard Creek has received nothing but praise since it opened its doors in 1996 as ‘an exclusive club for like minded individuals sharing common values, membership being by invitation only’ – the words are from the club’s official website.

Innovative architectural and landscaping have ensured that the estate’s golf course and its lodges blend in harmoniously with the environment while the area’s natural lakes and small streams have been diverted through the development to enhance its scenic appeal and create interesting golf features (discount golf clubs meanwhile).

Remodeling of the course took place with the dawn of the 21st century, with the bulk of the changes coming on the greens which were converted to bent grass and where sub-air systems were installed.

With much of the course bordering on the world famous Kruger National Park, golfing hazards at Leopard Creek can be quite a bit more hazardous than on other courses for much of its waters are home to hippos and the creature for which the adjacent river is called – the crocodile.

Situated near Malelane in the heart of Mpumalanga, Leopard Creek features typical bushveld koppies that overlook the course from the east, providing an ideal backdrop for a magnificent lay-out with a near perfect temperate climate that offers year-round comfort, convenience and, of course, cheap golf clubs, ping g15 driver for instance.

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Golf course design rules

You may a good golfer, and I firmly believe that you are quite familiar with the course design. But to some newbie golfers, do they really know something about golf course design?

Golf course design has a huge impact on your game,it’s as important as golf equipment to your game. Unlike most sports, in which fields of play are sharply regulated, golf has very few hard and fast rules regarding the course itself. While a championship course must have 18 holes, those holes may come in any shape, difficulty or order.

Rating A Golf Course
The course rating measures the difficulty of a course for a scratch golfer (defined as a golfer whose average score matches par) playing under normal conditions. The rating takes into account the length and difficulty of obstacles found on the course. A higher rating indicates a more difficult course.

The slope rating measures the relative difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer (defined as a golfer whose averages one more stroke than par per hole) and a scratch golfer. Slope ratings are computed using a specific formula and range from 55 to 155. A high slope rating means a course may be more difficult for bogey golfers.

Other Factors in Golf Course Design
Topography — Rolling, hilly courses can provide awkward stances and can create challenges when estimating distances. Also, the level of physical effort is greater if the terrain of a course features moderate to severe slopes.
Fairway Width — The width of fairways can vary greatly from course to course. If accuracy off the tee is a challenge for you, consider courses that feature wide fairways or mild of fairway hazards.
Water — A course that brings water into play on many of its holes can be physiologically challenging. If you find yourself freezing up when faced with a water crossing, you may do better to look for a “drier” course.
Greenside Hazards — The average golfer loses most of his strokes around the green. If you have trouble with your short or sand games, you may want to look for a course that features a more open style around the greens.

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EAST LONDON GC is always the best

The East London Golf Club course is a very attractive proposition at the best of times.

 About the course:

This Jekyll and Hyde, part links, part parkland par-73 layout which rambles through the coastal dunes, flanked by the wooded leafiness of Marina Glen and overlooking Nahoon Beach, is generous, enchanting and beautiful on a sunny day, but becomes a true test of skill and patience when exposed to the wind.

Tight fairways, elevated tees and postage stamp greens litter the front nine while wider landing areas, deep valleys and undulating putting surfaces set up the challenge on the back nine. From the par-5 first until the blind tee shot at the 18th, each hole on this risk and reward course is unforgettable and demands strategic planning and control.

During the 2009 edition of the Africa Open, Masters Champion Angel Cabrera and five-time European Tour winner Richard Sterne moved the course record to 62 and 61 respectively in perfect weather conditions. But the vistas of the beautiful coastline played second fiddle to the challenge of keeping the ball in play when the wind strengthened on the final day.

In spite of the tenacious grip the ongoing drought has held on the Eastern Cape this past year, course superintendent Cameron van Niekerk is confident that the course is ready for the challenge.

“The drought has undoubtedly left its mark, but we are delighted with the progress we’ve made in getting the course prepared,” said Van Niekerk.

“Unfortunately, due to the lack of moisture, there are a few areas where the rough that hasn’t come up as expected, but the players can look forward to fairways that are really tight and the greens will be even tougher this year.”

Van Niekerk was also involved with the reconstruction of the championship tee at the third, as well as the bottom tee boxes at the 13th and 17th, but says the yardage gain was marginal.

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Blend in some subtle course refinements and a €1-million purse and it is easy to understand why a strong field will be chasing success at the Africa Open from January 7 to 10.

Now carrying the banner of the third European Tour co-sanctioned event on the Sunshine Tour’s annual calendar, East London Golf Club brings the promise of inspiring feats, rousing shot-making and a contest to savour.

“As one of South Africa’s oldest and proudest facilities, we are delighted that the Africa Open has made its home here,” said general manager Brenden Fourie.

Meanwhile, East London Golf Club has always provided an exciting and exhilarating venue(cheap golf clubs as well) and we relish this incredible opportunity for the club to extend our hospitality and to showcase Buffalo City and the Eastern Cape to our international visitors.”