As the oldest club in Johannesburg still functioning on its original premises, Observatory Golf Club stands out. The club was initially founded in 1912 as a 9-hole course before being formally created in 1914 with the current 18-hole layout. Of course, for a club with such a long history, upgrades and changes to the layout have been ongoing over the years.
These days, the lush course’s narrow fairways and smaller greens provide an extraordinary cerebral challenge for golfers. John Robbie, a well-known South African talk radio host, recently declared Observatory to be a “magnificent course that offers true value for money,” and Observatory Golf Club certainly lives up to that claim. Despite being a fine course by any standard, Observatory isn’t interested in playing games of golfing opulence, only great games of golf.
The par-five 7th and the par-four 10th are the two holes that stand out for their beauty and views of Johannesburg, respectively. You should survive if you keep your head up in this situation. The next time you’re nearby, swing by Observatory Golf Club for a round and put it on your list of must-play courses.
The fact that the play is free and available to the public will please visitors. To avoid disappointment, it is strongly advised that you reserve your hotel or other lodgings in Johannesburg as well as your tee times in advance.