Durban Country Club

Isaiah Ntshangase (Walter Gilbert) Rd,

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal 4000

  • Office

    +27 (0)31 313 1777
  • Pro shop

    +27 (0)31 313 1719
  • Fax

    +27 (0)31 313 1700
  • Golf pro

    Don Gammon (Golf Director)

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Tree-lined parkland. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.

  • Surroundings:

    Seaside and woodland.

  • Designer:

    Original design by South African golf professionals George Waterman & Laurie Waters (1922). Later modifications by English course designers Col. Stafford Vere Hotchkin (1928) and Bob Grimsdell (1950s).

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Metres
6104
5870
5249
Par
72
72
73
SSS or slope
72
71
72

Location

Latitude:

-29.827731

Longitude:

31.034156

How to get there:

4 km N of Durban

From Durban city centre drive north on the M4 (Northern Freeway). After 2.5 km take the Walter Gilbert Road exit. After 100 mtrs turn right at traffic lights and golf if on your right.

Durban Country Club

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.

Est. 1922

Stepping into Durban Country Club is to enter a natural and lush golfing oasis, seemingly far removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown Durban, which sits just three kilometres away. One of South Africa's most revered golf courses, Durban CC is both a beautiful and testing parkland layout, long remembered by those who play it.

Although the Indian Ocean is never more than 100 metres from the course's eastern boundary, you will not be spending any time gazing out to sea. Priority No.1 is keeping your ball on the "straight and narrow", and away from ever-present trees and bushes that encircle the course and line the fairways. Next you will need to negotiate your way around, or out of, the layout's substantive and very stylish greenside bunkering.

Water is only an issue on a couple of holes, but other "perils" lie in wait. The upturned "pudding basin" green at the par-3 12th for example, demands that your tee shot land on the green. Failing to hit the green leaves a testing pitch shot up a steep bank onto the green; overhit this second shot and its down the steep bank on the other side. And so forth!

Trying to cope with the fast and subtly breaking greens is also one of the enjoyable examinations laid down by Durban CC. If all the golfing challenges become too much, just stopping to appreciate the wide array of flora and fauna is always a treat here, monkeys and red bishops included!

Pick of the holes: the par-5 3rd, which starts narrow and seems to get ever-narrower as it approaches the green, is regularly listed as one of the world's best par-5s.

List of courses: KwaZulu-Natal

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.

Must book in advance. Handicap required

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes (weekdays/weekends): non-affilated R480/R600; SA-affiliated R400/R500.

Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2022].

Other information

Non-metal spike facility. Walking permitted and caddies available at all times. Golf carts available for hire (if pre-booked). White socks must be worn to accompany shorts.

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

Durban Country Club has regularly hosted the most prestigious South African golf tournaments, including recent events co-sanctioned with the European Tour (see our Tournaments section >by Venue >Durban CC).

The par-5 3rd hole has often featured in ranking lists of the greatest holes in the world, while the infamous par-3 12th is reputed to have claimed the scalp of a royal golfer. Differing reports suggest that HRH The Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) played here in 1924 and ran up a 17 at this tricky hole. More recent reports suggest Prince Andrew, Duke of York, managed a 14 here on one occasion.

From 1994 Durban Country Club owned and operated the nearby Beachwood golf course (located 6 km N of the Country Club course). Beachwood was later sold and is now independently operated.

Published ranking

South Africa's 24th best course (SA's Top 100 Courses, 2023).
World's former 97th best course (GOLF Magazine, 2015; not in subsequent editions of this ranking).

Where2Stay

  • City Lodge3-star

    Cnr Brickhill & Old Fort Roads, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

    +27 (0)31 332 1447

    Visit website

    Lush gardens, palm trees and a pool with a gazebo lend a relaxed, summer feel to this 160-room hotel, which is located only 2 blocks away from the main beach and 2 minutes from Durban’s CBD. It also has a mini gym and small meeting room for guest use.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Royal Durban; Durban CC; Durban CC (Beachwood course).

    • Golf within 30 km:

      Cotswold Downs; Mount Edgecombe I & II.

  • Hilton Durban4-star

    12–14 Walnut Road, Durban 4001

    +27 (0)31 336 8100

    Visit website

    The Hilton Durban hotel is located right next to the International Convention Centre, and provides the opportunity to swim in the outdoor pool, de-stress in the spa or laze on the beaches half a mile away. A modern, comfortable and surprisingly quiet hotel in the city centre.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Royal Durban; Durban CC; Durban CC (Beachwood course).

    • Golf within 30 km:

      Cotswold Downs; Mount Edgecombe I & II.

Find a course

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

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.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

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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