The Sunshine Tour’s Vodacom Origins of Golf series heads to Devonvale Golf & Wine Estate for its second event this season.
Situated just outside the picturesque Stellenbosch in the heart of the Cape Winelands, Devonvale, which is surrounded by mountains and vineyards, certainly lives up to its slogan of Fun to Play.
Designed by local Western Cape architect Ken Elkin, this Championship parkland course was constructed over a former quarry and around a large dam in the centre of the course which feeds the irrigation system, meaning Devonvale doesn’t need to make use of potable water.
The layout is arranged as two returning nines, with two par-threes and two par-fives on each loop.
This tree-lined course with curving fairways, dogleg holes and tricky greens offers interesting challenges for all golfers, with water coming into play on three holes – the par-three ninth with its green high above the slope of the dam, and the par-five 11th and 17th.
Feature holes include back-to-back par-fives at the seconf, which looks down on the dam, and third holes, along with the par-four seventh. The 17th is the shortest par-five but the green lies just to the right of an intimidating water hazard.
The round is finished off on one of the most difficult holes, a par-four which plays uphill to an elevated green with bunkers on both sides.
DID YOU KNOW?
- This is the second Sunshine Tour event to be held at the course, with the first being the Devonvale Championship in 2003 won by Hendrik Buhrman.
- Vernon Basset Jnr has won the Club Championships the most times – six in total.
- Devonvale Golf & Wine Estate was ranked 99th in South Africa’s Top 100 Courses this year, a climb of one place from 2022.
