The resurrection of the Blue
Course at Huddle Park in
Johannesburg has been one of the
triumphant stories of South African
golf. Closed down, neglected and
overgrown, this former championship
layout which borders Royal Johannes-
burg & Kensington was rehabilitated
by businessmen David Bagg and Gor-
don Brews, grandson of Sid Brews.
Six years ago Huddle Park was a
dangerous place to visit. Plans to de-
velop the large property had fallen by
the wayside, and it was in decay. The
old clubhouse had been vandalised,
and squatters were living in the build-
ing and the maintenance sheds.
Bagg, Brews and resident teaching
pro Mike Kletz had the vision to uplift
the grounds, and the Blue Course
reopened in November, 2013 as a
pay-and-play facility. It has become
not only a popular Gauteng golfing
venue, but a great family-friendly as-
set for the Linksfield community. The
attractive treed property close to the
N3 highway offers trails for cyclists,
runners and dog walkers, plus Acro-
branch tree top activities for all ages,
and trout fishing. The rebuilt club-
house is busy with functions, there’s a
Crossfit gym, while golfers have a pro
shop, driving range and Par-3 course.
The range doubles up as a venue for
drive-in movies on some weekend
nights!
The Blue Course was an original
Bob Grimsdell design, and all that
they did was restore it to its former
status, not give it a modern upgrade.
New greens and bunkers were built,
and the last four years have seen the
course mature. Bagg’s son Jason is
the greenkeeper, working with Hugo
Joubert.
While Huddle Park is a pay-and-
play course, averaging 36 000 rounds
a year, it does have a membership
which has grown to 400, and book-
ings are essential for play on week-
ends and public holidays. The week-
day green fee for affiliated golfers is
R140, and R215 at weekends, and
R180 and R275 for non-affiliated.GOLFDIGEST.CO.ZA / JANUARY 2018 / 61MUST PLAY COURSES | PRESENTED BYMemorable hole: The Blue Course is built
on undulating terrain, so there’s a surpris-
ing number of uphill and downhill tree-
lined holes which provide excellent variety
to the layout. The downhill 14th is a great
risk-and-reward par 5. A long drive sets
golfers up for a second shot over a water
hazard to the green.
Golf Manager: Shaun van Tonder.Didyou know?
Fact1/TheSAPGAChampionship was
held on the Blue Course in the early1970s
before it moved to the Wanderers. In its
heydayHuddleParkhadthree 18-hole
courses, owned and run bythe Johannes-
burgMunicipality.
Fact 2/TheGolfSchoolofExcellence
(TGSE) is based at Huddle Park.
Fact3/HuddleParkhostedtheSuper
Sport Ladies Challengein January 2017
onthe Sunshine Ladies Tour, wonbyKim
Williams witha seven-under totalof209.
Ithasheldqualifiersfor the Joburg Open
and Mauritius Open.COURTESY HUDDLE PARKHUDDLE PARK – CENTRAL GAUTENG