Fairways & Beyond

GOWRIE FARM GOLF COURSE

Ben Karpinski explores how the combination of tradition and imagination has created a golfing experience to remember at this KZN course

Gowrie Farm, in the sleepy KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, is a delightful Scottish links-style golf course. How it came to be such a thing, though, and what it now represents, brings with it one of the most interesting South African golf stories.

Guy Smith, a local attorney from the Pietermaritzburg region is the man this is based around. After playing a key role in the development of Prince’s Grant Golf Estate with Peter Matkovich, Smith wanted to turn the land we know as Gowrie Farm into a course of his own making.

The motivation was simple. It wasn’t about making a flashy resort-style golf experience, or maximising estate property sales with the course as a hook. He wanted to created a course where golf could be played the way it was meant to.

This stemmed from his love for the great traditional American layouts. To learn from them he made numerous trips to the US in the lead-up to creating Gowrie, once spending a week at Pinehurst and the Donald Ross museum to get a greater understanding of what made the magnificent course so timeless. These trips were followed by visits to Scotland, where he was equally impressed and drawn in by the natural charms of the country’s many iconic links golf courses.

SPOTLIGHT ON...

Guy Smith creating a pure golf experience.

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SPOTLIGHT ON...

Guy Smith creating a pure golf experience.

Scottish links golf wasn’t just an inspiration for Smith and his team from an aesthetic point of view. He also feels the way golf is played there should be adopted as part of the Gowrie experience.

“Much of golf nowadays veers away from traditional matchplay settings, and is too focused on score and Stableford formats. It detracts from the experience of playing a course one shot at a time and appreciating the natural surrounds,” says Smith.

When it comes to getting a feel for the course, it starts by being one that is best walked. To promote this, the greens and tees are close to each other. This is rarely the case with most modern courses, especially in estates, which are based around golf cart use as a result. Although this is fine with most recreational golfers, especially those who like to play with a cooler box of beers in the back, Gowrie wanted a more traditional flow.

“You may encounter some blind shots at Gowrie, with some hidden run-offs and bunkers to catch you out. Again, some aspects that may be missing from the modern game, but they encourage a player to use their imagination, and at times play a variety of shots to make their pars,” adds Smith.

Some may think that creating something as obviously traditional as Gowrie Farm may be out of touch with contemporary golfing experiences. If anything, though, this approach means Gowrie will always have its own identity and appeal. And as more people get to experience this and enjoy it, the more attractive it will become as a golfing destination.

Guy Smith sat down with GolfRSA during the 2024 Nomads Gowrie Farm U-15 Challenge and revealed how he realised his dream of building a classically designed 18-hole championship golf course in the KZN Midlands.

FACILITIES & AMENITIES

Everything you need to know about what’s on offer at Gowrie Farm.

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FACILITIES & AMENITIES

Everything you need to know about what’s on offer at Gowrie Farm.

Golf facilities include a driving range, putting and chipping greens, halfway house, bar, locker rooms and showers, club hire and limited golf cart hire. The pro shop specialises in the classic collection of Cutter and Buck, as well as Rhode Island and their own Gowrie Farm private collection.

Gowrie Farm also caters for corporate and group golf days, and can accommodate up to 12 fourballs. Services include staff to assist with scoring, company branding on the course and a lunch/dinner venue (seats 80).

Off the course, there’s an abundant birdlife with over 180 birds having been identified on Gowrie Farm. There are also four well-stocked trout dams, all managed by Wild-Fly. Use of these dams is restricted to home owners, a select group of fishing members and guests staying at Gowrie Lodge.

The Farm Table restaurant on the sunny, glass-encased verandah serves breakfast and lunch, which includes kids’ meals and light snacks.

ACCOMMODATION

Gowrie Farm Golf Lodge: Above the magnificent stone clubhouse at Gowrie Farm Golf Lodge are five luxury en-suite bedrooms with stunning views over Clubhouse Lake and the golf course. These rooms are bed and breakfast accommodation. Of the five double rooms, two are suites with queen-sized double beds. Three of the rooms are fitted with two twin beds. Each room is beautifully appointed and has flatscreen TVs.

18th-HOLE ROOMS: There are also six luxurious rooms alongside the clubhouse and set above the 18th green with sweeping views over the lake and golf course. Of the six rooms, two are luxury suites with their own lounge and kitchenette. These self-catering suites are able to accommodate two children on the generous sleeper couch in the lounge area. They are offered on a bed and breakfast basis, so the rate includes a country breakfast. The remaining four rooms are standard bed and breakfast rooms with en-suite bathrooms.

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel: (0)33 266 6294 or 081 033 1558

Email: info@gowriefarm.co.za

Website: www.gowrie.co.za

With natural, defining undulations and existing water hazards from original farming needs, Smith felt his Gowrie property just off Nottingham Road would be an ideal place to create the kind of golf course he loved.

With limited equipment and resources, the initial course was mostly developed by his sheer passion for the project and desire for the natural elements to play their part. Twelve push-up greens were created and fairways were laid along the contours, with signature links-styled bunkers knitted into the landscape from there.

To access the 12 greens, 18 sets of tees were created for a layout that provided a great variety of holes. Although this set-up gave Gowrie a unique appeal and praise from all golfing quarters, the feeling was always that it needed to be expanded into a true 18-hole layout for it to reach its true potential.

Smith teamed up with investment partner Roger Newman and SA golfing great Dale Hayes to take this next step. He did this with ample consideration, to ensure that what existed at Gowrie could be completed with the spirit of the course being honoured.

The bulk of the additions appear on the front nine of the layout. After playing the original 1st hole away from the clubhouse, you then play the old 11th as it was, before embarking on seven new holes.

MEMBERSHIP

Gowrie Farm Golf Club members comprise homeowners and 180 outside memberships.

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MEMBERSHIP

Gowrie Farm Golf Club members comprise homeowners and 180 outside memberships. Outside people may apply for membership in the following classes: family members, which will include husband, wife and children under the age of 26.

All memberships include free golf.
No greenfees are applicable to members.
To apply, contact: proshop@gowriefarm.co.za
or (033) 266 6348.

download membership form

Gallery below

GROWTH IN NUMBERS

Check out the full view of phases one and two at Gowrie Farm.

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Most notable being the par-four 5th, where a low stone wall runs along the left of the hole before cutting across the fairway short of the green. It probably isn’t something you’ve seen on a course before, but is a definite reference to Scotland’s old coastal links courses where age-old stone structures pop up.

The 9th hole then brings these new additions to a thrilling end with the risk-and-reward drivable par four. By sheer distance it may seem inviting, but with a significantly raised green you have a delightful “natural” obstacle to test any level of golfer holing out from there.

The main feeling of this upgrade is that Smith and his team haven’t just added more holes to Gowrie Farm to get to 18. They have well and truly finished what was started, and with it added a golfing experience for all who visit this unique part of South Africa to enjoy.

GOWRIE FARM GOLF COURSE/RUSSELL BELTER

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