South Downs Country Club

Overview: The Mayfield Park layout uses 18 parkland holes and a par-72 scorecard in Mayfield Park, with smooth Bent grass greens and a club-tee measurement of 6,239 metres. The course has the balanced feel of an older inland layout, combining tree-lined holes with enough open ground for the wind and ground conditions to influence the shot. Its interest comes from the sequence of holes and the way the course asks for steady positioning over a full round.

History: Captain Lumsden laid out the course on a former Virginia farm. The first version had eleven holes and was in play by 1937; the remaining seven holes were added in 1939, creating the 18-hole routing used today. The club later adopted the South Downs name in the 1950s, while the early course history remains part of its character.

Did You Know? Gary Player played his first round at South Downs in 1949. That small detail links an ordinary-looking Highveld club course to the early development of one of South Africa’s most influential golfers. It also shows how important established local courses were in giving young players a place to learn long before they reached international stages.