Bellville Golf Club Review

Overview

Bellville is consistently in good condition, with well-maintained fairways and rough, and some of the faster greens in the Cape Town area. It's not the most spectacular layout, but it's a solid, challenging course — and a great option when the wind is up, as it's relatively well protected.

Front Nine

I love the start. The first two holes don't require much length off the tee, but they demand accuracy. Both fairways slope right to left, so a draw can get you into trouble quickly. Don't take driver out on the first tee — it will only get you in trouble. And on the second, aim right and fade some more; you can easily hit it over the left side of the fairway.

The 3rd sets up perfectly for a draw — ironically, after hitting fades on the first two, I never seem to get this one right. It's a par 5 that always seems to get the better of me.

The 4th is a mid-range par 3 with a helpful members' bounce on the left, but miss right and you may not want to go looking.

Then comes my favourite drive — not just on the course, but possibly in Cape Town. At around 330m, it's reachable and not just for the really long guys. With the fairway sloping towards the green, a good drive can run all the way up. That said, the green can be very tricky, and like the rest of the hole, it slopes away from you — you will see some balls going over this green.

The 6th is just a classic low-index hole — hit it long and straight.

The 7th is a downhill par 3. No surprises here, just get the distance right.

Next is the second par 5 of the front nine, normally too long to reach in two, but straightforward in how it plays: it goes left, left, and more left. Just cut the corner; there is nothing scary on the left-hand side.

The last hole needs an accurate drive, but the hole is short and you can hit a short iron into the green. The putt won't be easy, so try and use the short iron well.

Back Nine

The back nine starts tougher. The 10th typically leaves you with a long iron in, and the 11th is probably the most physically demanding hole due to the slope — this one will make you long for a cart.

The par 3 over water has claimed more of my golf balls than any other hole.

From the 13th onward, there's definite pressure to recover your round, and there will be easier scoring opportunities.

The 13th is straightforward — hit it long and straight. Do not go right: you will easily find it, but it might be hard getting back in play.

The 14th is quite short again. Just don't go OB right and you should be fine; don't be scared to miss left.

On the 15th, aim for the fairway bunker. If you miss it right, it should just run down to the fairway. Lay up — that green is harder to hit than you might think.

It's what you see is what you get on the 16th par 3. The longest par 3, but not by too much.

Then on the 17th, just go right — there is much more room than you think, and that ball can easily run 30m right after the first bounce. Hit it at the pine tree in the background. And make sure you lay up in the fairway; the green can easily be blocked by the ample trees.

The last is a short par 4 with a deadly green. I always hit driver, but you shouldn't. Just hit something safe and leave yourself a full shot into the green; a bit of spin will help you here.

Course Conditions

The course benefits from a steady water supply — something you can't take for granted in this part of South Africa — and it shows in the year-round condition.

• Greens: Fast and consistent
• Fairways: Well maintained
• Rough: Forgiving and playable

Bunkers: This is the main area for improvement. Sand consistency varies, with some bunkers firmer or thinner than expected. Some bunkers have surprisingly little sand for a course of this quality, and they remain the main area needing improvement. It's something the club appears to be working on, but for now, best to avoid them where possible.

Design & Playability

While the course has some strong holes, it doesn't always force you to think on the tee box. Most of the time, you can take driver and go.

I would have liked to see more par 4s where you need to consider leaving your driver — currently, it's really just the 1st and 18th. The par 5s are all typically just out of reach in two, adding to the challenge but taking away some of the risk/reward scenarios we all love to gamble on.

Verdict

Bellville is a solid, enjoyable course that you can rely on for a good round. The slope adds a unique challenge, the greens are excellent, and the overall conditioning is consistently strong.

If you stay out of the water and manage the slopes, you'll always have a chance at a good score.