The Woods at Mount Edgecombe Country Club stands proudly among South Africa’s premier 18-hole championship golf courses, celebrated for its immaculate conditioning, strategic design, and natural beauty. Originally established in 1936 as the Huletts Country Club, the course carries a rich heritage. Designed by legendary golfer Sid Brews and extensively upgraded in 1992 by acclaimed architect Hugh Baiocchi, The Woods today blends tradition with modern standards, meeting full USGA specifications, A rare distinction among South African courses.
The course continues to delight and challenge. The uphill 13th forces golfers to shape their play around a lone tree that dictates strategy, while the closing stretch—17 and 18—provides no respite. The penultimate hole requires accuracy to an elevated green, and the final par-4, with water lurking beside its sloping green, ensures the round ends as it began: with focus and precision.
With every fairway framed by mature trees, every bunker sculpted with intent, and every hazard placed to challenge both mind and nerve, The Woods is more than a golf course—it is a stage. It has hosted champions, welcomed generations of golfers, and remains a benchmark of excellence in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Woods is a handicap-friendly course designed to accommodate players of all skill levels, from beginners taking their first swing to seasoned professionals
The Woods is home to a thrilling trio of holes known as its “Amen Corner.”
14th Hole:
The first hole of Amen Corner is a classic risk-and-reward par-5. The fairway offers room to attack, but the real challenge comes on the approach: a green closely guarded by water. Long hitters may try to reach in two, but one miscalculation can unravel the scorecard. Strategy and precision are everything here.
15th Hole:
The 15th demands pure execution. This par-3 plays entirely over water to a green that feels perched above the hazard. Club choice and commitment are critical—there is no margin for error. It is one of the most memorable and unforgiving holes at The Woods.
16th Hole:
The final chapter of Amen Corner begins with a tee shot that must carry a dam to reach the fairway. The second shot is no easier: a precise approach to a well-protected green. Powerful and exacting, the 16th is a true test of nerve and shot-making, perfectly concluding this signature stretch.
Where The Woods on Estate 1 offers a classic parkland heritage, Estate 2 is home to its bold and modern counterpart: The Lakes. Developed in 1994 and opened in 1997, this premier course is defined by its rolling terrain, indigenous bush, and dramatic water features, creating a golfing experience that is as scenic as it is strategic.
The Lakes unfolds across a landscape shaped by elevation changes and the expansive Pani Dam, which not only serves as the estate’s water reservoir but also dictates much of the course’s strategy. Fairways climb and dip with the natural contours of the land, forcing golfers to carefully consider every shot, while bushveld vegetation frames the holes with a distinctly African character. Water hazards come into play throughout the round, ensuring moments of beauty and tension in equal measure.
The design philosophy behind The Lakes was simple but effective: to create a course that is challenging yet fair — where a serious golfer can test skill, while a social golfer can still enjoy the game. Overlooking the dam, The Watershed Café restaurant adds to the experience, with sweeping views and the occasional sight of fish eagles gliding overhead.
While every hole carries its own intrigue, several stand apart as defining features of the course:
8th Hole:
Classic risk-and-reward par 5. The narrow fairway arcs around upper Pani Dam leaving the player with the choice of the safe iron off the tee, or to cut the corner of the dam leaving a mid – short iron into a well protected green
9th Hole:
The stroke 1 plays a demanding test for both tee shot and approach shot. With The Watershed Café and Pani Dam lurking alongside can distract the golfer from the test they are about to face.
Where Competition Meets Community Mount Edgecombe Country Club has hosted several high-profile tournaments, including the 2023 SA Men’s Amateur Strokeplay and the 2016 Sun Sibaya Challenge. These events demonstrate that Mount Edgecombe Country Club provides a stage capable of challenging South Africa’s best golfers.
Alongside headline events, the club maintains a busy calendar of activity. Open days, vibrant charity events, corporate golf days, and a strong league presence across men’s and ladies’ teams all contribute to a thriving community. The ladies’ membership, one of the most prominent in KwaZulu-Natal, plays a particularly significant role in shaping this culture.
Both courses provide outstanding venues for tournaments and golf days. The Lakes, with its dramatic water features, offers a bold and modern challenge, while The Woods delivers a classic parkland test. With professional facilities, experienced event coordination, and tailor-made packages for corporate, charity, and social golf days, every event is designed to run seamlessly and leave a lasting impression.
Designer(s): Sid Brews (1935), Hugh Baiocchi (1992 redesign)
Par: 70
Course Lengths (by Tee):
Course Rating & Slope (White Tees): CR 70.1 | Slope 123
Holes: 18
Fairways: Lined with trees and carpeted in Royal Blue grass, creating a true parkland-style setting
Greens: Bent and Paspalum grass, built to USGA specification
Signature Stretch: “Amen Corner” – Holes 14, 15, 16
Designer(s): Daysen, De Villiers & Van der Merwe | Upgraded by Matkovich Design
Par: 72
Course Lengths (by Tee):
Course Rating & Slope (White Tees): CR 70.4 | Slope 121
Holes: 18
Fairways: Royal Blue grass landscaped on the rolling terrain, framed by indigenous bush
Greens: Bent and Royal Blue grass mixture, built to full USGA specification
Water Features: Central Pani Dam and numerous guarding hazards
Signature Stretch: Hole 8 and 9 alongside Pani Dam
On-Course Experience:
(Please note: no outside food or alcohol is permitted on the courses)
Prize-Giving & Function Facilities:
