Founded in 1892 – this
timing makes Royal Durban
Golf Club the third oldest
of South Africa’s 4 ‘Royals’
and the club also has the
unusual distinction of being
the only golf course within
a horse racing track on
mainland Africa become a fully qualified and almost full time
The region’s most important race meet – crowd’. Successful event management is a
the iconic Durban July and the horse racing ‘tricky’ enterprise and this professionalism spills
activities in general has to no small extent over into everything the club does, from its
helped to develop the golf course’s character. manicured golf course, welcoming clubhouse
course designer.
A regular stop for tournaments on the Sunshine
Circuit in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, the course
has hosted almost all of the region’s major events
and championships including the SA Open,
which is the World’s second oldest national
championship after the Open Championship.
A combination of a bygone elegance and
excellent facilities, the club’s friendly atmosphere
make Royal Durban and its pub a perennial
favourite with members, visitors and the ‘events’
and beautiful setting in the heart of one of
While not a links course in the true sense, this
Africa’s largest cities.
is very much a seaside layout over slightly
undulating terrain.
The traveller has an immense variety of
accommodation options to choose from with the
The look and playing characteristics have been 3, 4 and 5 star hotels and excellent B&B’s along
very much influenced by there being no tall trees the Durban beachfront up to the Berea, and then
on the course. The lack of trees is directly the out north through the leafy suburbs to the ever
result of the need not to obscure the racetrack, popular Umhlanga Rocks.
so the course’s links-like feel owes much to its
equine neighbours at Greyville!
No golfing trip to KZN will be complete without
a game over Royal Durban, the city’s ‘Grande
From relatively humble beginnings the course
Dame’ of golf.
and club really took off in the 1930’s with the
design and construction of the clubhouse (the
look of which remains much unchanged to this
www.royaldurban.co.za
day) and the building of a new layout in 1932
by the renowned Bob Grimsdell, who had now
DG SAIO 2020 | 37