SA Express May 2013 magazine - Southafrica.to

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The Serengeti Golf Club has quite a few ‘firsts’
to its name. Not only is it the first 27-hole course in
Gauteng, but it is also the first course here to use cool
season grasses, meaning that the course remains
lush and green throughout the year. A variety of tee
options combined with careful consideration of daily
set-up can provide the sternest of challenges for the
most skilled players, while still creating an ideal
environment for new golfers to learn the game.
Among its accolades, Golf Digest awarded
Serengeti the Best New Golf Course title in 2010,
and the course was also home to the 2011 and 2012
SA Open Championships.
Although famous for its world-class courses,
Serengeti Golf & Wildlife Estate is also a new,
completely self-contained and secure residential
space in Gauteng, with everything inside its
perimeter that discerning owners and their families
desire. Given its excellent location and accessibility,
just 12 km from OR Tambo International Airport,
it is unlikely that a portion of land of this size – 780
hectares – will ever become available again for
residential property development.
Serengeti comprises of an 18-hole course,
named Masai Mara – which has a rugged grassland
and dunescape look and feel. There are a number
of unique features on this course, such as the
challenging par five, 8 th hole with its island green. A
second, nine hole course – named Whistling Thorn
– completes the offering and features classic design
elements and a plains-like feel.
Presiding over and linking the two golf courses is a
multi faceted clubhouse of over 6,500 m 2 . This venue is
not only aesthetically appealing, but also incorporates a
variety of facilities; including several lounges, bars, two
restaurants and banqueting facilities, as well as their
Golf Academy, Fitment Centre and Pro Shop.
The opening par five at Serengeti’s Masai Mara
course will test your golf skills properly. Playing at
just over 500 m, the tee shot is blind and the fairway
moves from the left to the right of the tee, where the
rough lies over the hill. Play a mid to long iron for
your second shot to be short of the substantial water
hazard. From here a well-hit wedge should give you a
great chance to add a birdie to your scorecard.
The signature hole at Serengeti, the 8 th , is a short
but striking par five with a water hazard running
down the right hand side of this testing hole. The tee
shot requires an accurate drive down the left hand
side of the fairway, because the fairway slopes from
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