Why Cape Town should preserve its often historic golf courses

Mike Flax

December and January in Cape Town is a golfer’s paradise. With its sunny days and late sunsets, the weather is perfect for golfers from around the world. The city boasts a variety of world-class courses, each offering a unique challenge and breathtaking views that are drawcards for all golfers.

There has been a general golf tourism boost of late. The international golf tourism market is expected grow significantly from $24.6 billion to $41 billion in 2030. And South Africa is already positioning itself to capitalise on this growth.

The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa) recently launched a Golf Tourism Chapter within its structures. This year Wesgro also published a survey and analysis on golf tourism in the Western Cape, highlighting that the province is a favourite among golf tourists from Germany, the UK, the US, and Switzerland. Some of the factors tourists highlighted as motivations for their trip are the scenic courses, the proximity of courses to other tourist destinations, and what they call “unique cultural experiences”.

In a country in dire need of jobs, tourism offers a true economic boost.

The tourism industry creates many service opportunities, but also has a significant multiplier effect, meaning initial spending by visitors generates additional economic activity and job creation in other sectors.

In this context it is noteworthy that the demand for golfing facilities in Cape Town currently far exceeds supply. Not a single new golf course has been built in the city for the past decade. Considering this, the last thing Cape Town should do is to reduce its golf offering.

This would compromise an expanding income stream and job creation that comes from golf tourism.

As the realities of urban growth become pressing, cities often look to golf courses as a source of land for development. Large constructions and developments of all types in and around Cape Town are certainly important, however, they should not be pursued if what the city loses through it, outweighs what it will gain.

Expanding the local economy and combatting unemployment is at least as important as creating housing opportunities. This issue is once again a point of intense discussion, as the City of Cape Town recently announced they are considering demolishing the King David Mowbray Golf Club and raising a large mixed-use development on the green space.

The situation surrounding King David Mowbray shows why it is so necessary to think carefully about the city’s varied assets. And not only because there are spaces more fitting for mixed-use developments. The truth is, golf clubs are too often overlooked as significant economic drivers.

The economic value of a club like King David Mowbray is considerable. At least 25000 rounds of golf are played on its greens each year by visitors. This is, of course, apart from the services it offers to its 1500 local members, who come from all corners of the city.

As a destination the course is uniquely placed within the geography of Cape Town. Its central location is close to so many tourist attractions.

The course has easy access from the N2 and is only 10 minutes from the city centre. Also, very few courses can offer such a backdrop – a glorious mountain view, large ponds, indigenous greenery and wind-sculpted tree canopies. But apart from its unique characteristics, the course is also an asset as one option of an impressive city and provincial golf offering. A competitive election of varied golfing choices is needed to truly take advantage of the booming golf tourism market.

Even when tourists, who spend considerable amounts thanks to a favourable exchange rate, are removed from the equation, golf clubs have local economic value.

There are institutions that offer work, often also through restaurants and other hospitality functions. The King David Mowbray, for instance, employs 100 dedicated staff members and provides a livelihood to almost as many families.

What sets the Western Cape apart as a golfing destination is not only its scenery and favourable climate, but our country’s rich golfing heritage.

South Africa has given rise to legendary players like Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

Historic golf courses such as King David Mowbray are an integral part of this golfing heritage. The course was created by famed course-designer and golfing pioneer Bob Grimsdell. It has also hosted the prestigious South African Open several times. But what often moves visitors, is that the King David Mowbray Golf Club’s long past tells the story of unity and acceptance.

The unification of the King David and Mowbray Golf courses, and the incorporation of Cape Peninsula Golf Club members, brought previously disadvantaged communities together.

This golfing space was formed in 2016 as a monument to sport overcoming our divided past.

The former Mowbray Golf Club –with the course that now forms the centre of the King David Mowbray –has a proud history dating back more than 114 years.

The former King David Golf Club’s members were largely from the Jewish community – founded in the 1950’s, a time when Jews were not welcome at premier clubs. With the incorporation of Cape Peninsula Golf Club members in 2016, the new King David Mowbray Golf Club became a truly diverse community, bringing together players from a variety of racial and economic backgrounds – whether from the city bowl, or the Western parts of the Cape Flats, or the southern suburbs.

In fact, it encapsulates Cape Town’s unique recreational spirit: a passionate cross-cultural group enjoying activities together in a spectacular landscape.

Often what is missed in the debate about appropriate land use in Cape Town is that golf courses – as large spaces – are not necessarily the preserve of the elite, as is so often presumed.

These spaces are sometimes incorrectly considered to be the bloated white elephants of the urban landscape. They are, in fact, hard-working economic, heritage and environmental assets.

Disagreements about what to develop and when to develop it will always be part of a dynamic city such as Cape Town, but as the December surge of golfing visitors takes place, it is a good time to reflect seriously on the value of golf courses as unique economic drivers, tourist attractions, and job creators.

*Flax is the Chairperson of the King David Mowbray Golf Club.

Cape Times