Pie in the sky

It might have something to do with the arrival of summer rains and the vanishing of hollow-tining scars but at this time of the year invitations to visit and play various courses start to drop in the in-box.

There are two reasons for me getting them. 1. I occasionally write about golf and courses and 2. I am a member of SA Golf Digest’s Top 100 adjudicating panel.

Neither, of course, qualifies me to be an expert on what constitutes a good or bad course and, as I’m always explaining to Stuart McLean, the dedicated editor of SA Golf Digest whom I believe is a little mad to take on the task of rating courses, I play so seldom and love playing so much that I have never really come across a course I’ve truly disliked.

But rate them Stuart does and round about this time of the year those who have ambitions to appear/move up/top the list decide its time that those of us on the panel play their course to ensure a fairer rating.

And, invariably, they’re disappointed because when it comes to one’s attitude to one’s own course beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder.

Over the years I have decided that it is almost impossible to rate one course against another because the variations in terrain, topography, region, scenery, weather and finances are so vast – a thought that was brought home strongly when I pulled up the Top 100 list and realised to what extent the old order of golf has changed and how far flung and remote the top courses have become.

One thing’s for sure – to be a true judge you would have to be a. extremely wealthy and b. have a lot of time on your hands.

For instance, one of the enticing invitations to experience a new course came from forever affable Jeff Clause; of Fancourt, Pezula (Sparrebosch) and now St Francis Links.

Now Jeff, and his wife Liesl, are old pals and the most hospitable of hosts plus I have heard nothing but praise for Jack Nicklaus’ layout, which apparently puts to bed the old argument that South Africa does not have a genuine links, but for me a trip to the Eastern Cape would be out of the question at the moment.

Why? Well I would have to find the time, fly to Port Elizabeth, hire a car to get to St Francis Bay and absorb other, inevitable, expenses. With summer holidays and the like to think of I just can’t do it.

And it was then that the other names of top courses started to jump out at me.

Durban Country Club. Adore the place, still think it’s my favourite but I can’t remember when last I played it.

Leopard Creek. No1 on the list for a few years now. I’ve played it twice; over the same weekend four years ago.

The Gary Player Country Club at Sun City. The last time I played it was two years ago in the traditional Last Round competition which marks the closing of the course so that it can be prepared for the Nedbank Challenge. However it was a thoroughly miserable occasion because we played a scramble (the most hideous of formats) and the course was set up so short that I actually had a go at driving par fours!

The Links at Fancourt. The last time I was there was when Ernie Els still staged his annual invitational and I was on the list.

Arabella? Played it three times; the last four years ago. Pearl Valley? Played it once; three years ago. Wild Coast? Can’t remember when last I made my way to the South Coast. Elements? Never even been there which also goes for Pinnacle Point and Legends.

By now I’d made a print-out and got out a coloured marker and was staggered by the number of courses in the Top 100 I’ve either never been to – Sishen, Hans Merensky, Fish River Sun, Princes Grant (made a speech there once but didn’t play), Oubaai, Champagne Sports, Zebula, De Zalze, Glen Vista – or not played in a long while, George, Simola, Maccauvlei, the Fancourts, Humewood, Erinvale, Royal Cape, Clovelly, Irene, ERPM … to name but a few.

Thanks to my job I’ve played more courses than most but I was nevertheless astounded by how many I’d missed out on.

I resolved to at least try to play those I can drive to (and play at an affordable rate!) but I’m more convinced than ever that it’s impossible to say: this is the best course in South Africa.

In the end it’s like wine. The price or rarity does not make it the best for you but whether you like and enjoy it – and can afford it. If that happens to be your home course then, for you, it’s better that Leopard Creek!

And with that, sorry I have to go now. The guys will be waiting on the tee at Parkview.