ESTATE REVIEWS
SILVER LAKES
GOLF ESTATE
Silver
Lakes Golf Estate is situated 17 kilometres east of Pretoria, and 80 kilometres north of Johannesburg. It boasts a signature 18-hole Peter Matkovich-designed golf course and one of the best golf academies in South Africa.
The residential estate has 1,645 erven, of which only 34 are undeveloped. The estate has a strong community, with the country club hosting clubs for golf, birding, fishing, business, tennis, squash, running, wine, art, bridge, Pilates, yoga and dance.
Fifty hectares of land have been allotted to the game reserve section of the estate, and the 12 species of antelope, which now include the magnificent sable antelope, roam freely between the houses.
The ethos of the estate’ s community has a strong bias towards responsible living and conservation. All fishing is on a catch-andrelease basis, a‘ reduce, reuse, recycle’ programme sees glass, cardboard, tin and paper collected weekly, and a portion of the homeowner’ s levy is distributed to local charities.
Estate Living caught up with the new CEO of Silver Lakes, Henk Booysen, to find out more about this very successful estate, and the vision for the future.
EL: Tell us a bit about Silver Lakes. HB: Twenty-five years ago Silver Lakes was the first of its kind, and our team strives to continue to be recognised as a leader in the industry. Our vision is to maintain and enhance Silver Lakes as a world-class secure, safe, environmentally aware and good-neighbourly residential estate.
EL: What are your thoughts on governance, rules and best practice? HB: Our board believes in good corporate governance. We are in the process of updating all rules, the MOI, terms of reference and various best practices. Through our communications portal and monthly magazine, Intra Muros, we focus on different estate-related issues, and give guidance on being mindful of the rules and considerate of each other.
EL: Have you recently made any changes on the estate? HB: We’ ve spent millions in the upgrade of our irrigation system, Halfway House, new pro shop, convenience store and a wine shop. This is all part of our efforts to create that‘ wow’ experience for our members and visitors. We are now in the process of upgrading our three conference facilities to attract the non-golfer market. With the opening of 41 Wine Shop at the Clubhouse in 2017, the idea of starting a wine club really gained momentum. More than 40 residents have signed up to join this club,
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