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THE COURSE

The 18-Hole Golf Course at Gowrie Farm

Golf as it is meant to be played

Play the course as you find it  |  Play the ball as it lies | 
Play by the rules and in the spirit of the game

Our golf course is a testament to the timeless beauty and heritage of golf. Pietermaritzburg attorney and golf-course enthusiast Guy Smith drew on classic design principles to create a course loved by traditionalists. Running over undulating terrain with bent-grass greens, the course is reminiscent of the links of Scotland and of American courses such as Pinehurst and Merion.

TRADITIONAL BY DESIGN Eighteen holes. Eighteen different conversations with the land.

Five principles sit at the heart of the course:

  • Tees, which are close to the ground
  • Fairway shapes are dictated by the natural features of the land
  • Push-up greens with interesting run-offs
  • Bunkers which are tucked in close to the greens
  • Fairway bunkers which dictate a player's choice of option from the tee

The result is a traditional course that remains enjoyable for the average golfer while making a good score hard-earned for the low-handicap player.

SCORECARD
COURSE GUIDE
Gowrie Farm Device Gold
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course Golf
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COURSE GUIDE MAPS & TIPS

VIEW FULL GUIDE
Gowrie-Farm-Golf-Course-Hole-1

PAR 4 1 Si.9

ANTICIPATION
A dog-leg right that calls for a shot of about 220m. The best line is close to the bunkers on the right. Beware, there is one bunker on the right that you cannot see. The wetland is reachable from the tee for the medium to long hitters.

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PAR 3 2 Si.15

JABULANI

The hole lies in front of you, be long rather than in the bunkers.

 
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PAR 4 3 Si.3

OVER THE ROAD

There are two options from the tee. The long hitter can carry the penalty area with the waste bunker. It needs 210m carry from the white tee. The second option is the safe route to the left, leaving a long second to a raised green with the road hole bunker on the left edge of the green.

 
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PAR 4 4 Si.11

MOSES
This is a short risk and reward hole. For the safe shot, hit 200-210m at the two mounds. The big hitter can go for the green but watch the two bunkers 30m from the green which are tucked into the mounds. This is a narrow green so choice of club for the second shot is important.

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PAR 4 5 Si.7

THE WALL

A fun hole taken from the famous 13th hole at North Berwick. This hole demands an accurate drive, as close to the wall as you dare. The ideal drive is between 230m to 250m from the white tee over the left edge of the fairway. This will leave you with 100m to 120m to a green that slopes away from you, so playing to the front or short of the green is the correct length.

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PAR 3 6 Si.17

GONG ROCK

Named after the gong rock in the valley. This is a tough par 3, calling for an accurate tee shot. The green runs off at the back left. The ideal shot is to pitch on the front third of the green with a little draw. From the purple tee, a shot short right is a clever, safe line. For those playing from the purple tee, there is a drop zone at the edge of the fairway.

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PAR5 7 Si.1

LONG

This par 5 plays into the prevailing wind with ‘OB’ all the way down the right. Two bunkers, 240 and 250m from the white, wait for the pulled drive. The cross bunkers extend from 95m to 130m from the green. If you are laying up short of the green, it’s better on the left as the shot in has to deal with a two tiered green.

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PAR 4 8 Si.5

NHLOZANE

The hole lies out in front of you. The big hitter may take on the corner of the dog leg, leaving an 8 or 7 iron to a large green with bunkers both left and right and 40m short of the green.
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PAR 4 9 Si.13

DUNCAN PRICE

A risk and reward hole that the big hitters can reach. The conservative or wise golfer can play short of the bunkers, leaving 75-80m into a narrow green.

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PAR 5 10 Si.10

CHRISTOPHER BROWN

This par 5 can be reached in two, with the wind behind you. Beware of the bunkers on the right off the tee.

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PAR 4 11 Si.2

THE GAMBLER

A strong hole well bunkered off the tee and front left of the green. A safe second is to the right of the green.

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PAR 3 12 Si.18

THE FOLIE

A cheeky short little hole which some of the members refer to as the ‘shortest par 5 on the course’. Don’t go over as the water comes into play.

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PAR 5 13 Si.6

PAXTON

A tough test from tee to green. A good position to hit is your second to the left of the fairway. When playing to the green, it is better to be short of the flag.

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PAR 3 14 Si.16

LWANDILE

A pretty little hole par 3 where all the trouble is visible from the tee.
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PAR 4 15 Si.8

THE BARON

A medium length par 4 which, for the shorter driver, can leave a blind second hole. With the second shot, rather be short right than over the green.

Gowrie-Farm-Golf-Course-Hole-16

PAR 4 16 Si.12

LAL & PAULINE

An interesting tee shot that allows one to either carry the wetland or play short of water, thiswill leave the golfer 125m to a narrow green.

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PAR 3 17 Si.14

STRATH EDEN

This hole pays homage to the 11th at the old course. Be careful of Newman’s bunker which sits on the left half of the green.

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PAR 5 18 Si.4

VENNS ALLEY

An exciting finishing hole that, in matchplay, can be lost with a 4 or won with an 8. The long hitter can get onto the green in two. Most golfers will have to lay up short of the water and play to the stake which is 100m from the centre of the green. Enjoy a fun hole that demands 3 good shots.

INSIDER TIPS FROM COURSE DESIGNER GUY SMITH

Our 18 hole golf course presents a distinctive and rewarding challenge, and is possibly very different from those that you normally play. Course architect, Guy Smith, has shared valuable tips on how to make the most of this exceptional layout.

01.

Don't obsess over the scorecard

The first bit of advice is don't obsess over the score. Play against friends, not the scorecard. A good way to do this is to play matchplay. You will then remember the good shots and not dwell on the blowouts.

02.

Get to know the course

Don't be intimidated by not always knowing where to hit your drive. Like first meeting your partner or friend, you've got to get to know them, same applies to many of the holes at Gowrie Farm. The more you play, the more you'll learn and the more fun it'll be.

03.

Embrace new shot strategies

Don't play like you do at most courses. Instead of automatically taking your 60-degree wedge for the short shots, try something different: a putter from 50m, or bump and run it up the slopes with a 7 or 8 iron. For the shot into the green, look carefully into the distances, as the correct shot may be to the front of the green rather than aiming at the flag.

04.

Enjoy every shot!

Enjoy every shot! It's more fun than just dragging your 60-degree wedge around the green or throwing your irons close to the pins.

05.

Soak up the scenery

Take in your surroundings. Watch the crowned cranes fly overhead, enjoy the cattle strolling slowly by, listen to the birds and look out for the reedbuck. Enjoy the simplicity of the course, the way the fairways hug the natural contours, and the way the slopes on the green follow the land. Savour it all because it’s part of the game.

GOLF AT GOWRIE FARM

When you play at Gowrie Farm, you become part of a timeless tradition, with each shot a testament to the enduring spirit of golf. Here, the game is pure, demanding, and authentic.

EXPLORE GOLF