Royal Cape Golf Club Explained

Golf Facility Name:Royal Cape Golf Club
Location:Cape Town,
South Africa
Establishment:1885
Type:Public
Holes:18
Tournaments:Cape Town Open
Cape Town Ladies Open
Website:royalcapegolf.co.za
Designer1:Charles Murray
Par1:72
Length1:6,121 m
Rating1:70
Pushpin Map:South Africa
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Mapsize:150

The Royal Cape Golf Club in Cape Town, South Africa was established in 1885 and is the oldest golf club in Africa.[1]

History

Royal Cape is South Africa's oldest and traditionally most prestigious course, set to the backdrop of Cape Town's Table Mountain and Devil's Peak.[2] The club began on the 14th of November 1885, established by Lt Gen Sir Henry D'Oyley Torrens only days after he arrived in the Cape Colony, soon to serve as acting Governor. A rough first 9-hole course was completed on Waterloo Green at the Wynberg Military Camp and presented the first monthly medal contest in 1886, won by the Torrens himself with a gross of 94.[3]

The club was granted Royal status by King George V in 1910 in commemoration of the visit of the Duke of Connaught, who represented the king at the opening of the first Union of South Africa parliament.[3] [4]

Course

The 6,121 meter course is a par 72 parklands style course built on relatively flat terrain, exposed to the Cape Doctor, the Cape's famous persistent and dry south-easterly wind that blows on the coast from spring to late summer (September to March).[2]

Tournaments hosted

In addition to the Cape Town Open (since 2012) and the Cape Town Ladies Open (since 2015), the club has hosted a number of high-profile professional and amateur tournaments. In 1910, the club played host to the South African Open Championship for the first time and hosted the tournament ten times between 1910 and 1996. Past winners include Gary Player, Ernie Els, Mark McNulty and Trevor Immelman.[5]

Professional

YearTournamentTourWinner
2002 Mark McNulty
2001 Ernie Els
2000 Trevor Immelman
1999 Nic Henning
1996 Ernie Els
1990 Trevor Dodds
1983 Charlie Bolling
1965 Gary Player
1953 Jimmy Boyd
1936 Clarence Olander (a)
1929 Archie Tosh
1923 Jock Brews
1914
1910 George Fotheringham

Amateur

YearTournamentWinner
1994 Bradford Vaughan
1985 N. Clarke
1953 R. Brews
1936
1929 C. Hunter
1923 W.C.E. Stent
1914 S.M. MacPherson

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Royal Golf Clubs . Golfalot . 26 February 2022.
  2. Web site: About Royal Cape Golf Club . SA Venues . 26 February 2022.
  3. Web site: Royal Cape Golf Course - Cape Town . African Sky . 26 February 2022.
  4. Web site: Royal Golf Courses . Your Golf Travel . 26 February 2022.
  5. Web site: SA Amateur & Open . South African Golf Association . 26 February 2022.