The Royal Port Alfred Golf Club
The Royal Port Alfred Golf Club is one of South Africa’s genuine links courses, carved out of indigenous coastal bush on fairly flat land overlooking the sea in the Eastern Cape coastal town of Port Alfred. The initial idea for the course came from Dr CE Jones-Phillipson in 1906. An application to the town council for an assistance grant of £50 was refused, but at a subsequent meeting of two doctors, two hoteliers and a Mr WH Vroom, each gave a sum of £20 towards the building of nine holes by convict labour. The golf course was opened in December 1907 and officially opened in April 1908. There were many changes to the routing of the course until 1915 when it settled into the layout played today.
In 1921 Prince Arthur of Connaught visited Port Alfred and named the holes – a tradition then particularly for links courses. In 1924 the club was granted royal status, one of only five in South Africa to receive this honour.
There is constant improvement at the course, a programme to enlarge the tee boxes is underway at the moment. The course is unusually laid out in two loops from the clubhouse, one of thirteen holes and the other of five. There are several feature holes on the course, not least of which is the par-four, stroke-two 5th, called Mullins. Coming after four opening par-fours, it is a challenge at 413 metres. The 12th, named Greenmantle, is also a solid par-four looking back towards the clubhouse and at just 338 metres is a straightforward drive and short iron to a typically flattish green protected by bunkers left and right. The grass throughout the course – on both fairways and greens – is cynoden – so traditional links bump-and-run shots become an important part of the golfer’s arsenal.
It is only on the stroke-one 16th, a monster into the prevailing easterly wind, that the green has noticeable slope to it, adding to the toughness of the hole. The tee must carry thick bush and be kept left away from further bush on the right. The par-fives are all reachable by longer players, depending on which way the wind is blowing. Being a seaside course, the wind is the greatest defence and you need to have your wits about you in order to hit the smallish greens and avoid the unforgiving bush. But there are few other challenges, making this a wonderful links experience at a club that is particularly friendly and welcoming.
The Royal Port Alfred has some 1 200 members, including 120 country members, most of whom are from England. During the Christmas holidays, the Club does some 300 rounds a day, which – considering the loops of 13 and five holes – must be a logistical nightmare! If you are going to be there in high summer it is advisable to book well in advance.
