Rietspruit Road,
Midrand, Gauteng
Office
+27 (0)11 512 0204Pro shop
+27 (0)74 308 0472Fax
+27 (0)11 512 0269Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Jacques du Toit (Head PGA Professional; Class AAA PGA Pro).Academy
du Toit Golf Academy (dutoitgolf.com).The Course:
18 holes. Open parkland. Undulating terrain - several slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Residential and rural countryside.
Designer:
A Gary Player Signature Golf Course
-25.934370
28.123133
22 km N of Sandton Centre (Sandton is in northern Johannesburg).
From the N1 highway in Midrand, between Johannesburg and Pretoria, take exit 118A (Samrand Ave) and head west on Samrand Ave. After 1.4 km turn left into Rietspruit Rd. After o.8 km turn left at Blue Valley/Gary Player sign board. After 200 m turn right into Gary Player Blvd. Golf is in front of you.
Blue Valley
Blue Valley Golf & Country Estate is located in Midrand, half-way between Johannesburg and Pretoria. This relatively recent golf and real estate development is home to an expansive Gary Player layout, full of interesting holes and plenty of challenge. Beyond the course the ever-present housing development and open rolling hills dominate the views.
Although the scenic side of Blue Valley is more "residential" than "open savannah", there is no doubting its credentials as a challenging and absorbing championship layout.
On this big dimension relatively open course, there is plenty of elevation change, substantive earthmounding and copious amounts of attractive bunkering - all creating many dramatic and testing holes. With water in play half of the time, and a few semi-blind tee shots to make, you'll need your A-game to score well here, especially if the wind is blowing.
The downhill par-4 1st and 10th holes will test your approach work, with both played to a water-protected and shared double-green. With further water in play elsewhere, and several heavily bunkered holes such as the par-5 5th, careful course management will serve you well.
The closing stretch from the par-3 15th provides a pleasant reminder of the open links of Britain and Ireland (and South Africa!), on which the "Black Knight" notched-up many of his impressive championship victories. What Blue Valley lacks in "natural vistas", it makes up for in terms of an exciting layout, well worth a visit if you are in the Gauteng Province.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends; more restricted on Saturdays. Closed Mondays.
Must book in advance. Handicap required
Non-metal spike facility. Golf carts available for hire. Caddies available.
Good
Blue Valley is owned, developed and managed by the Malaysian-based Mitrajaya Group. Building and occupancy of the 1,500 homes planned for the estate appears to be progressing well, with most of the houses and villas alongside the golf course already completed.
14th Street, Noordwyk Ext. 20, Halfway House, Midrand 1685, Gauteng
+27 (0)11 318 1868
Visit websiteThe 177-room Protea Hotel by Marriott Midrand is situated in a beautifully landscaped garden setting, halfway between the bustling cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Culinary delights tempt the palate at the Palm Terrace Restaurant, while sundowner cocktails and al fresco breakfasts can be enjoyed on The Terrace.
No
Blue Valley; Kyalami.
Dainfern; Zwartkop; Pretoria CC; Woodhill; Wingate Park; Centurion; Gardener Ross; Blair Atholl; Country Club Johannesburg (Woodlands & Woodmead courses); River Club; Bryanston; Wanderers; Killarney; Houghton; Royal Johannesburg & Kensington (East & West courses); Glendower; Modderfontein.
96 Sterling St, Samrand, Midrand 1685, Gauteng
+27 (0)12 657 0110
Visit websiteThe 112-room Protea Hotel by Marriott, Samrand is a luxury budget hotel, located halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria. It offers convenience and value for money, with air-conditioning and deluxe en-suite bathrooms in all the rooms. An exclusive residents bar and lounge is ideal for informal meetings and sundowners.
No
Blue Valley; Kyalami.
Dainfern; Zwartkop; Pretoria CC; Woodhill; Wingate Park; Centurion; Gardener Ross; Blair Atholl; Country Club Johannesburg (Woodlands & Woodmead courses); River Club; Bryanston; Wanderers; Killarney; Houghton; Royal Johannesburg & Kensington (East & West courses); Glendower; Modderfontein.
The Masters: The 88th Masters Tournament at Augusta National sees LIV golfer Jon Rahm defend his title against the world’s best. Pressing hard will be world No.1 and 2022 champion Scottie Scheffler and world No.2 Rory McIlroy (April 11-14).
Chevron Championship: the women’s major championship season gets underway for the second year at its new Carlton Woods home outside Houston, Texas. World No.2 Lilia Vu defends (April 18-21).
Nelly Korda: records a perfect start to 2024 with five wins out of her last five starts on the LPGA Tour. Winning the Chevron Championship also brought the second major championship win of her career.
Scottie Scheffler: narrowly missed out on matching Nelly Korda's five wins in five starts, when he placed second at the Houston Open. Either side of that, he won The Arnold Palmer, The Players, and then The Masters and The Heritage.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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