Part of a larger residential estate, the Erinvale Golf Club enjoys some nice views of the Heldelberg Mountains and even the Cape coastline, but is a fairly unremarkable layout that has done well to achieve the acclaim it has.

Designed by Gary Player’s company, the course suffers from a slightly confused identify with its distinct parkland feel blurred by introduced links elements such as Player’s odd slat-faced pot bunkering. Further confusing the issue are countless ponds beside the rolling greens, together with the encroaching housing they pretty much destroy any links characteristics this course might have had.

The bunkers themselves are incredibly deep in places, which is unusual for estate golf in South Africa. The mix of styles and the location of some traps are hardly ideal as well. The ponds seem to have been added to encourage play away from the residential areas, with one unfortunate hole also having a road to contend with and as a result left with water  on one side and a huge bunker on the other to try to keep the golfer straight.

Erinvale is pleasant enough to play, the 15^th hole is good and the 17^th famous for its difficulty but otherwise there isn’t much new or exciting here.