East London Golf Club

Overview: East London Golf Club occupies a dramatic strip of Eastern Cape coastline above the Indian Ocean. The 18-hole routing combines links and parkland qualities, moving through hills, dunes and indigenous bush rather than imposing a uniform shape on the site. Wind changes the value of each line, while the tumbling fairways and elevated greens create approach angles that are rarely obvious from the tee. The result is a coastal course with a strong sense of place and a surprisingly varied rhythm.

History: The club was founded in 1893 and moved to its current Bunkers Hill site in 1923. George Peck laid out the course, after which Colonel S.V. Hotchkin remodeled and completed the design. That combined authorship explains the blend of natural coastal ground and formal strategic detail. East London has hosted the South African Open six times and was the first venue for the Africa Open, which later became a European Tour event.

Did You Know? The downhill par-four 12th runs through a valley lined with indigenous bush toward a raised green with views over the shore and Nahoon Reef. The course also supports rich birdlife and small buck, including the Knysna turaco. Hotchkin’s original drawings are still displayed in the clubhouse, keeping the course’s design history visible.