Devonvale: the thinking golfer's everyday course

Overview

Devonvale isn't the longest course you'll play in the Cape, but I love the layout. It constantly tests the idea of just grabbing a driver off the tee — it makes you think about shot selection, and not just when you're trying to put one next to the pin. The course also has enough water to make you regret those bad club choices.

The course is far from the coast, and the wind won't completely blow you away — but whatever wind there is will hit you. There isn't much protection out there. Make sure to attack the par 5s; they really are there to score on.

Front nine

Hole 1. A straight-forward uphill par 4 to start. I'd love to know why they took away the fairway bunker that used to catch all my balls — take your driver and hit it long, it will be past all the trouble. The green is very slopey: leave it short and below the hole.

Hole 2. A short par 5, definitely reachable in two. It's 450m but downhill, and the wind rarely hurts here. Keep your drive straight and aim for the left side of the fairway — it'll bounce right. The green might look scary but it doesn't slope as much as you think.

Hole 3. Plays a bit longer, but the longer hitters can make it. Very easy to miss it on the left — they've moved the out-of-bounds markers really close to the fairway here. Be careful.

Hole 4. More direction than power. Get it past the corner and it's a short iron to the green. Longer hitters won't be able to take the big stick off the tee here.

Hole 5. Mid-range par 3. If you don't slice your long irons like I do, there isn't much to worry about — just that silly bit of water that always takes my balls.

Hole 6. Aim further left than you might think — the power line is a great line. From there it's straight forward.

Hole 7. An easy drive — and I can mess up any drive — but this hole isn't measured by your drive. It's the green that rolls off in all directions. Don't be sad if you pitched on the green and just rolled off.

Hole 8. One of my favourite holes. On a summer day with a bit of helping wind you can get on with your drive, but again it's the green that's the real issue here. Bank on a two-putt with the massive bank in the middle. Hit the right side of the bank with your approach and you can make a birdie.

Hole 9. The last on the front nine. It looks scary, but you have to attack the green. Do not miss it right — it's an impossible shot to chip over the bunkers and get it close. You have to hit it straight on this one.

Back nine

Hole 10. Straight-forward. On good days this is dry, downhill, and downwind — and you can just hit it, so do. Other days it plays longer, but you still just hit the driver. Nothing changes.

Hole 11. A par 5 dogleg right — their newest hole, and you'll see it has more bunkers than any other hole. Stay out of them and you can score well here.

Hole 12. Doesn't really require a driver. Hit something to get past the overhanging tree. The green is big — don't try to get fancy with the bunker.

Hole 13. Lucky number 13. It's short, but remember it's uphill, and don't get drawn into that front bunker. Hit it past the hole — there's lots of room long.

Hole 14. A ditch cuts the fairway in two; leave it short. The hole really isn't that long.

Hole 15. Leave the driver. I know I always use my driver — don't follow my example. It's a short par 4. Think before you pick up the big stick.

Hole 16. A 200m par 3 with a stroke index of 14. I don't get it. You won't either. Take your punishment and move on.

Hole 17. A 400m par 5. In tournaments the real golfers play a wood off the tee and play it as a par 4. Don't cut the corner too much — there are bunkers waiting — but a good drive makes this easily reachable.

Hole 18. Really depends on the wind. If it's against you, this uphill hole can be a beast. If it's with you, a straight drive can set up a birdie opportunity. Walk to the green and check out the greenside bunkers — they can catch you out.

Course conditions

The course is really solid. I find it hard to complain about anything. It isn't a top 10 course, but I don't think it's trying to be. It's the course you want to play every week as a member.

• Greens: medium pace and consistent
• Fairways: well maintained
• Rough: forgiving and playable
• Bunkers: well maintained and consistent

Design & playability

I love it when a course forces you to think about the right club off the tee on most of the par 4s — and Devonvale gives you so many options on so many of them. The par 5s all make you think you can reach them, which adds a bit of spice when your fourball starts seeing some eagle putts.

Honestly, I love the layout. It's too short for tournament play, but for an everyday club it's perfect. If it were a little closer to me, this would have been my home course.

Verdict

The course isn't remarkable, but for the casual golfer I can't think of a much better experience. It's solid on all fronts, and it makes you feel like a slightly better golfer than you really are when you narrowly miss your eagle putt. Don't get me wrong — it can still really punish bad shots — but it gives me as a casual golfer the chance to reap the rewards when I play well. This is a personal favourite for that reason.