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The Top Private Golf Courses in Johannesburg
1. The Country Club
Website: https://www.thecountryclub.co.za/
Address: 1 Napier Rd, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa
Contact Details: +27 11 710 6400
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Google reviews score | 4.5/5 |
Africabz.com reviews score | 4.6/5 |
Total reviews | 4.8/5 |
Score consistency | 4.5/5 |
Location | 4.7/5 |
Facilities | 4.8/5 |
Golf course | 4.8/5 |
Amenities | 4.8/5 |
Quality of service | 4.15/5 |
Attentiveness | 4.3/5 |
Attitude | 4/5 |
Value for money | 4.6/5 |
Pros
- Established business with more than 15 decades of experience
- Features world-class amenities
- Has three different golf courses available
- Well-maintained
- Transparent fees
Cons
- Reports on poor service
- Complaints about expensive and unsatisfactory food
The Country Club is arguably the most popular and surely one of the most prestigious country clubs in Johannesburg. The club started out in 1906, but it was just in 1968 that they included golf courses in their attractions.
Nonetheless, The Country Club is one of the first golf courses established in Johannesburg.
Beginners and experts alike prefer The Country Club’s golf courses primarily because they have hectares of well-maintained land. Golfers also appreciate that there are three different golf courses to choose from.
Each golf course features a different number of holes. The Country Club even has a Mashie course that’s perfect for kids and beginners.
It’s no secret that golf clubs aren’t cheap and another thing we appreciate about The Country Club is they’re very transparent about their rates. Entrance fees depend on age, sex, and whether you’re local or from overseas.
That said, there are a handful of complaints about the quality of service The Country Club’s personnel deliver. We’re told some guests experienced interacting with rude and unattentive staff.
Also, there are also complaints about the quality of the food served in relation to its expensive price.
We hope The Country Club can improve their services by training its staff and upholding a certain standard in delivering superb service.
2. Huddle Park Golf & Recreation
Website: http://huddlepark.com/
Address: Huddle Park Golf & Recreation
Contact Details: +27 11 640 6693
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Google reviews score | 4.2/5 |
Facebook reviews score | 3.7/5 |
Total reviews | 5/5 |
Score consistency | 4/5 |
Location | 4.5/5 |
Facilities | 4.25/5 |
Golf course | 4/5 |
Amenities | 4.5/5 |
Quality of service | 4.2/5 |
Attentiveness | 4.4/5 |
Attitude | 4/5 |
Value for money | 4.5/5 |
Pros
- Pet-friendly
- Affordable
- Offers several outdoor and indoor activities
- Open 7 days a week
- Hosts in-house golf championships
Cons
- Has smaller golf courses
- Poor maintenance
If you’re looking for a small crowd and intimate golf games, Huddle Park Golf & Recreation can be a good choice for you. They’re very versatile, which is why they’re also one of the most popular recreational parks in the area.
Aside from golf courses, Huddle Park Golf & Recreation also have nature trails, zip lines, and driving ranges. If you’re also interested in fitness activities, they also offer krav maga, fireball fitness, and four elements cross fit sessions.
The club prides itself on being able to provide activities for all ages and varying interests. We think it’s a great destination for families, a set of friends, and colleagues.
One of our favourite features about Huddle Park Golf & Recreation is they’re very pet-friendly! Many guests bring their dogs along for walks on the nature trail.
They also have long operational hours and are even open on weekends, which is great.
They feature two golf courses: the blue course and the mashie. However, take note that their blue course is currently under maintenance.
Although Huddle Park Golf & Recreation’s golf courses are smaller than those in bigger and more prestigious clubs, many find their courses perfect for beginners and those looking for a relaxing time.
They also host an annual in-house golf championship, which members can enter.
Lastly, we love that their membership and entrance fees are affordable. Their monthly subscription ranges from R 320 – 340, which is one of the lowest golf membership rates you’ll find.
Nonetheless, we are disappointed to hear a number of complaints about Huddle Park Golf & Recreation’s poor maintenance. We’re told that the courses are infested with weeds and the land is very bumpy, which isn’t ideal.
3. Glenvista Country Club
Website: https://glenvistacountryclub.co.za/
Address: Vorster Ave, Glenvista, Johannesburg South, 2091, South Africa
Contact Details: +27 11 432 3150
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Google reviews score | 4.3/5 |
Leadingcourses.com reviews score | 3/5 |
Total reviews | 4.4/5 |
Score consistency | 4/5 |
Location | 3.8/5 |
Facilities | 4.4/5 |
Golf course | 4.3/5 |
Amenities | 4.5/5 |
Quality of service | 4/5 |
Attentiveness | 4/5 |
Attitude | 4/5 |
Value for money | 4.5/5 |
Pros
- Open to non-members
- One of the top-rated greens in the country
- Easy bookings
- Also offers venue rentals
- Features a tennis court and a pool
Cons
- Reports on having rude and unprofessional staff
- Poor location
Glenvista Country Club is another popular destination for gold enthusiasts in Johannesburg. Since its establishment decades ago, the club has undergone major renovations and improvements.
Now, they’re still focused on development and maintenance, which speaks volumes about how much they value quality and consistency.
One of the things guests appreciate is Glenvista Country Club’s well-kept grounds. In fact, theirs is one of the top-rated greens in the country, following the standards of the U.S. PGA, which we find impressive.
We love that Glenvista Country Club features 18 holes, which golfers can enjoy. Each golf hole has a different difficulty level too.
Glenvista Country Club is also preferred by many golf enthusiasts because they accommodate non-members. Interested golfers can just book a time and pay an entrance fee, though this is subject to the availability of the course.
We also appreciate how convenient it is for guests to set a reservation. All you need to do is fill out the form available on their website.
Aside from its golf courses, Glenvista Country Club also features a tennis court and a pool, which are available for use by members. On top of that, they also offer venue rentals for big and small occasions, which is a great perk.
We are a bit concerned after hearing grumbles from previous guests about the club’s poor and reportedly unsafe location. We’re told some visitors got robbed during their stay, which is just appalling.
Also, we’re disappointed to hear that some of the previous guests have complaints about some of Glenvista Country Club’s staff being impolite and unattentive.
4. Killarney Country Club
Website: https://www.killarneycountryclub.co.za/
Address: 60 5th St, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, 2198, South Africa
Contact Details: +27 11 442 7411
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Google reviews score | 4.4/5 |
Golfpass.com reviews score | 4/5 |
Total reviews | 4.6/5 |
Score consistency | 4.5/5 |
Location | 4.7/5 |
Facilities | 4.7/5 |
Golf course | 4.7/5 |
Amenities | 4.7/5 |
Quality of service | 4/5 |
Attentiveness | 4/5 |
Attitude | 4/5 |
Value for money | 4.7/5 |
Pros
- Features a long list of top-notch amenities
- Spacious and features several holes
- Food is often complimented
Cons
- Difficult to reach out to
- Complaints about having snobbish and unhelpful staff
Next on our list is Killarney Country Club, a well-known full-service country club that’s highly-sought after for its relaxing ambience and world-class amenities. They’re also one of the bigger and more lavish country clubs in Joburg.
The first thing we love about this club is its inclusivity. Killarney Country Club features an 18-hole golf course, bowling greens, tennis and squash courts, and a spacious gymnasium to cater to varied interests and different ages.
Killarney Country Club also rents out venues for different occasions. They also have a Terrace restaurant and bar, which is often complimented for serving delicious food.
In addition, these facilities are top-notch and designed to provide guests with world-class experience.
Killarney Country Club’s golf courses follow a Robert Trent-Jones design. The course also prioritises driving accuracy, which is why it’s narrow and park-like.
They feature 18 holes, some more challenging than the rest. We do appreciate how each is designed to have generous greens, which is great for those playing in the fairways.
If there’s anything we think Killarney Country Club needs to improve on, it’s the quality of their service. First, there are multiple grievances from previous guests about their encounters with snobbish and unhelpful staff on the grounds and even at the restaurant.
We’re told the Marshalls aren’t very friendly nor respectful of the golfers. We’re also disappointed to hear that a few guests experienced discrimination by race.
Lastly, there are also minor complaints about how difficult it is to get ahold of a representative of the club for inquiries, which isn’t ideal.
5. Glendower Golf Club
Website: https://www.glendower.co.za/
Address: 20 Marais Rd, Dowerglen, Edenvale, 1612, South Africa
Contact Details: +27 11 453 1013
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Google reviews score | 4.6/5 |
Leadingcourses.com reviews score | 4/5 |
Total reviews | 4.6/5 |
Score consistency | 4.5/5 |
Location | 4.6/5 |
Facilities | 4.5/5 |
Golf course | 4.7/5 |
Amenities | 4.3/5 |
Quality of service | 4.15 |
Attentiveness | 4.3/5 |
Attitude | 4/5 |
Value for money | 4.6/5 |
Pros
- Has been around for 85 years already
- Offers challenging courses
- Features a well-stocked pro shop
- Well-maintained courses
- Delicious food
Cons
- Complaints about having caddies with poor attitudes
- Costly
Last but not least, we have Glendower Golf Club. They’re one of the first golf clubs built in Johannesburg, having been established around 85 years ago.
Throughout the years, their courses have undergone major changes. In the 80’s, all 18 greens were redesigned and rebuilt to get rid of water hazards, add tee positions, and new water features.
Because of these renovations, Glendower Golf Club has risen in prominence as one of the most beautiful – and most challenging – golf courses in the country.
In fact, the Compleat Golfer identified them as the best course in Gauteng and ranked 4th best in South Africa. So if you’re looking for a challenge, we recommend you try out Glendower Golf Club’s courses.
Even a short visit at Glendower Golf Club would let you realise the management’s dedication to maintaining the courses, and we love that.
Glendower Golf Club also offers accommodation and golf lessons. They’re also quite popular for serving delicious food, and guests really appreciate the reasonable menu prices.
Many of their previous guests also recommend Glendower Golf Club’s pro shop. We love how it’s well-stocked with a wide range of golf equipment and golf apparel.
Take note, though, that as this is a prestigious club, entrance and membership rates can be a little over budget. However, considering the unique courses they offer, we think it’s worth the shot.
Nonetheless, we did hear multiple grumbles about the poor attitudes of some of Glendower Golf Club’s staff while assisting guests, especially the golf caddies. We’re told they can be arrogant and unhelpful, which are red flags for us.