Save a Million Shots Click here for a review of the Blair Atholl Golf Course
The Top 25 Golf Courses in the World 2008 Click here to read about Blair Atholl
Having designed over 200 top golf courses throughout
the world, Gary Player Design has received numerous
awards. In fact the top 3 rated courses in South
Africa all bear the Black Knights' signature.
Having had his home here for almost 25 years, Gary
is obviously passionate about Blair Atholl and has
spent much of this time visualising the layout of
the championship course which is ideally characterised
by the natural elevation combined with the rolling
hills and ravines sloping down to the Crocodile
River.
With construction of the golf course complete, Gary Player has indicated that Blair
Atholl will be one of the finest golf courses in
South Africa as well as in the world. The Course opened to rave reviews in April 2007.
The golf course has been designed
in such a manner that the routing has allowed for
eleven water featured holes. Whether alongside the
Crocodile River or natural dams, these holes have
unique aesthetical appearances and Gary Player has
created wonderful features enchancing the playability,
shot value, variety and resistance to scoring. The
design, both challenging and rewarding, will allow
for the testing of scratch players, yet still ensuring
enjoyment for handicapped golfers. The course length
will be in excess of 7700m from the back tees and
at present be the longest course designed in South
Africa. The design has the course playing as a single
loop, with halfway house set over the Crocodile River
after the 8th hole. Being a single loop, all bar the
18th and 1st, do not have any hole running side by
side, making the experience unique for the golfer.
Selecting a signature hole will be difficult
as there are so many potentially great holes with
design features and existing natural features.
Some of these features include a hundred and fifty
year old water canal that weaves its way through the
course, through the 3rd tee complex, behind the 8th
green, alongside the 9th tee and supplies the main
dam in front of the 17th green, tee and behind the
1st green. The Crocodile River that meanders adjacent
to the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 16th holes hosts a
large community of different sedges and water plants
that supports and abundance of bird life. Magnificent
views of the oldest mountain range in the world, "The
Magalies", and the Cradle of Mankind await players
at the elevated points. A variety of massive trees
can be found throughout the routing and part of the
design is to add thousands of large, new trees.
Several grass species are presently
being tested on site, and are available for viewing.
These grasses include a variety of cynodon transvelensis
(indigenous), namely the seeded varieties like Black
Jack, Riviera, Sydney, Bermuda Triangle and the like.
These fine textured cynodons are being tested for
fairways and tees. These tests include density, colour,
pitch mark ball disturbance, ball roll, fertilizer
and water usage, pest and fungal disturbances, divot
recovery as well as over seeding methods for winter.
Kikuyu has been outlawed throughout the property and
special control methods are also being tested for
the eradication and maintenance thereof. All in suite,
topsoil mixture also forms part of the trials to determine
drainage and growth potential. The correct selection
of grasses is critical to working with our environment
to maintain a balanced ecology and enhancing the present
eco system, as well as ensuring a perfectly conditioned
course throughout the year.
The greens will have the most advance
aeration system installed, (Advanced Aer), to help
with the maintenance, quality and consistancy of the
putting surface. This benefits players by having less
surface maintenance done through spring and summer
treatments like hollow tinning, topdressing and curative
spraying. Finally, the management of maintenance routines
for everyday mowing will have the objective of being
of no inconvienience to the player.
