Royal J&K (East)
Royal J&K (East)
Royal J&K buggys
Royal J&K entrance
Royal Johannesburg
& Kensington
‘Big’ and ‘large’ are not terms that necessarily fit well when
associated with a top class golf club and would, in most
instances, be the type of descriptions that most clubs
would want to steer well away from.
However they describe perfectly the big influence that
Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club has and
continues to have on golf in South Africa, especially in
Gauteng, and how its shadow looms large across the
history of game in the region as whole.
Royal was formed in 1890 (making it the second oldest
Royal club in the country), but only settled in its current
location in 1909, where the original West course was
designed by Laurie Waters.
In 1929 the British designer Hotchin then effected an
extensive re-design with the club professional Bob
Grimsdell carrying out the construction work. It was also
Grimsdell, in 1933, who designed a built the second layout
– the East Course 1939 – to extend the club to 36 holes.
The club received its ‘Royal’ moniker following a visit by
the then Prince of Wales (the future and somewhat illfated
Edward VIII) who played a game on the West course
and became the club’s patron, subsequent to which King
George V added the title Royal to the club’s name.
The club has hosted a number of the most important
tournaments on the golf calendar from the SA Open and
PGA Championships to the Joburg Open (co-sanctioned
event on the European Tour) and a host of the region’s top
amateur Championships.
The club has also received a number of significant awards
over the years.
The most recent of these were its East Course layout
being voted as the Best Course in Africa and the Best
Course in South Africa in 2018, by the prestigious
International World Golf Awards.
The two courses, (the West designed in 1927 and the East
course in 1939), are superb both in terms of conditioning
and layout.
Volume 5 • Issue 52
49