The Course

Observatory Golf Club Course Description

 

Hole 1 - 415m par 4 - Stroke 4

With a slightly elevated tee box a good drive will leave you 150m to a well bunkered green the left side should be avoided as a steep bank slopes away from the green but a relative easy hole to start on.

 

Hole 2 - 502m par 5 - Stroke 18

This par 5 is somewhat deceiving it looks easy enough but the fairway narrows in the centre protected by a large willow tree on the left, so the emphases is on a good drive down the right hand side of the fairway. The approach shot is a risk shot with a storm water ditch protecting the right hand side should you go for the green in two.

 

Hole 3 - 416m par 4 – Stroke 2

Dog leg left and uphill you start over a dam and storm water ditch a good drive will leave an easy approach over a stream running through the start of the dog leg going up the hill. Depending on your choice of the tee box, you will have anything from 200m to 150m in to the pin.

 

Hole 4 - 181m par 3 – Stroke 8

A great Downhill par 3 with a large green protected by a stream and one bunker on the right this hole offers a good opportunity for a par or better.

 

Hole 5 - 370m par 4 - Stroke 12

Also a great uphill short par 4 dog leg to the right, from the tee box you need to clear a stream the fairway is protected by large pines on the right of the fairway the long hitters can go for the green but do not stray left or right or you will end up with a bogey.

 

Hole 6 - 337m par 4 – Stroke 6

Also a great uphill short par 4 dog leg to the right and a fast sloping green will challenge your putting skills. From the tee box the fairway is protected by a large pine slap in the middle of the fairway and providing for a difficult 2nd shot. The long hitters can go for the green you will have a wedge to the green but do not stray left or right or you will end up with a bogey.

 

Hole 7 - 507m par 5 - Stroke 16

This hole offers a panoramic view of Joburg and is the highest point on the course take a moment and enjoy, this hole is not as easy as it looks and a great par 5 the fairway is wide and and flat to start with then slopes down to a water hole and protected by a creek on the left you need to lay up your 2nd short of the water leaving an easy wedge to the green, looks easy but fade and you’re out of bounds in order to go for this green in two.

 

Hole 8 - 189m par 3 – Stroke 10

Not too many problems on this par three, two bunkers protect the front of the green and the boundary fence 10 metres from the right of the green, club selection are important but a an easy par is on the card!

 

Hole 9 - 494m par 4 - Stroke 14

Not a hole for the unfit, a good drive will leave you a three wood into the green or a ball out of bounds on the right, the left is protected by sloping rough on this uphill par five, be careful not to go through the green on your approach shot, in general a good hole to make up a shot or to.

 

Hole 10 - 430m par 4 – Stroke 1

This one is strait to the hole the fairway narrows to the green the green is long and narrow with bunkers front and left and out of bounds to the right as well, a well placed 2nd will make your day.

 

Hole 11 - 141m par 3 - Stroke 13

A short hole with a large bunker protecting the full front and left side of a large green surrounded by large pines, if your short you’re in. A par three with many pin placement options club selection is important here.

 

Hole 12 - 393m par 4 – Stroke 7

Do not be fooled by this hole, it looks straight forward from the tee but a bad tee shot will put you in lots of trouble. The green is small surrounded by bunkers and a steep slope on the left with out of bounds on the right.

 

Hole 13 - 342m par 4 - Stroke 5

If you like a narrow fairway this is your hole, the right hand side of the fairway is protected by a long bunker almost the length of the fairway embankment on the left. The green is elevated and small but leaves an easy 2nd to the green.

 

Hole 14 - 478m par 5 – Stroke 17

A blue gun lined slight dog leg to the right a narrow start from the tee box, your drive needs to be strait clip a tree and you I trouble but a good drive will leave you with an easy 2nd into the green a birdy hole for most.

 

Hole 15 - 120m par 3 - Stroke 11

This par 3 starts high commonly known as the Pulpit you play down to a small well bunkered and raised green, place you ball just off the green and you will need a great chip to recover.

 

Hole 16 - 331m par 4 – Stroke 15

These par 4 offers good results for well-placed shots a dog leg to the left and water on the right a good drive and wedge to the green and you’re in for a birdy.

 

Hole 17 - 386m par 4 – Stroke 3

A long narrow tree lined fairway, you have to hit a good tee shot the green is slightly elevated and is not easy to hit.

 

Hole 18 - 387m par 4 – Stroke 9

A nice hole to finish with, not too much trouble from the tee a wide fairway a large green with only one bunker guarding the right makes for a good birdy opportunity on the last hole especially slop bang in front of the “19th”.

 

 

Note

Greens-007Bend/Poa mixture

Fairways-Kikuyu

Bunkers-Silica(USGA SPEC)


The Score Card