Westlake Golf Club Verified listing

Westlake is known as one of the most popular and sociable golf clubs in South Africa. Situated close to the False Bay coastline, overlooked by the Silvermine mountain range, it has had a full membership for many years, and thus sees an astronomical number of rounds played year on year by members and visitors. More than a million rounds over the last 20 years. Early in the millennium it once did 130 000 rounds in a two-year period. The secret behind its success is a membership model relatively rare in South Africa – a full membership subscription including all green fees. This encourages members to play as much as possible.

Westlake attracts visitors with its outstanding conditioning and a fun yet challenging parkland layout, one more demanding than the distance of 5 867 metres from the back tees suggests.

Golf has been played on this site, formerly a farm, since 1932, starting as a 9-holer on the adjoining mountain slopes. This was soon discontinued when the members bought the land, and the current 18-hole course opened for play in early 1936. One of Westlake’s early members was Otway Hayes, who earned his Springbok colours, won the SA Amateur (1939), and was inducted into the SA Golf Hall of Fame.

Impressively tall pine trees in strategic positions are a feature of the course, which lies next to the Silvermine mountain range and is vulnerable to the Cape south-easter. Narrow holes reward straight driving and accurate iron play.

The course has been strengthened over the years by design upgrades to improve holes, and a modern reticulation system that has transformed the overall conditioning. Behind the 18th green is a unique memorial fountain, opened in 1994, which commemorates past members.