Estate Living Magazine Issue 30 Smart Environments June 2018 | Page 11

The estate is almost 22 years old, so
it was essential to identify a strategic plan
that addressed changing demographics and
lifestyle expectations"
it necessary to cling onto the original vision for the estate when
the marketplace, the homeowners, and their expectations, have
clearly moved on. An estate is like any business in that it needs to
be allowed to evolve in order to keep pace with or stay ahead of
market expectations. All of these factors make it necessary to be
prepared to move forward at all levels and especially in terms of
strategy, concept and delivery. In this continuing and evolutionary
process, enhancement, adaptation and reinvestment are essential
ingredients to ensure that communities age gracefully while
remaining relevant.’
The ‘newer’ Pecanwood, which is a work in progress, has changed
a number of its key service providers so as to offer cohesion in
terms of its vision. It’s not just a new brush that is sweeping
clean, but a whole new team of new brushes all sweeping in the
same direction.
Par for the course
This has seen a dramatic improvement in the estate in general
and the overall conditioning and presentation of the golf course.
The overall impression is at a new high, and all the niggly
housekeeping elements are being given the attention they need.
In preparation for hosting two of South African amateur golf’s
more important events – the SA Stroke Play Championship and
the Seniors Inter-Provincial Tournament – the clubhouse and its
surrounding garden areas were given a comprehensive uplift.
Pecanwood’s golf course is almost back to a level with which its
designer Jack Nicklaus would be proud. The layout is not long by
international standards, and the higher altitude of the Highveld
makes the ball travel further than at sea level. These factors,
combined with the superb conditioning, led to a new record low
score being posted by the winner of the 2018 SA Stroke Play,
Oliver Gillberg from Sweden.
It’s a layout that requires good strategic sense and control,
rather than just strength and length. This is typical of many of
Jack Nicklaus’ course layouts, which is unusual if you consider
that Nicklaus was, in his prime, one of his generation’s longest
hitters.
The standout holes would be the signature par-3 13th with a
tee shot played along the edge of the Hartbeespoort Dam with
the Magaliesberg as the backdrop across the water. There are a
number of other memorable holes including the par-4 14th and
15th holes, which are known locally as the ‘super bowl’.
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