LAST year the Somerset East Golf Club reached the grand old age of 118. With its attractive club house, willing and always available caddies as well as a benign climate, it is indeed a mecca for any dedicated golfer.
According to J.J Botha, current president, the club has about 60 players, although not all of them are regular players. He mentions that nowadays it is becoming financially more difficult to maintain the club house and golf course in perfect condition.
Botha mentions that in order to keep financially stable, the golf club house and course is hired out to institutions who arrange fundraisers of their own.
The Somerset East Golf Club is one of the oldest golf clubs in South Africa. On March 20, 1897 the first Golf Links was formally opened by Prof. R. Mc William, chief of the Somerset Scottish Association. The ground was stony, hard and bare and the greens were gravelled. At first there were nine holes and some years later these were increased to eighteen.
In 1945, just after World War II, the municipality agreed to lease 25 morgen of lush ground in Bester’s Hoek at the very foot of the Boschberg. Professional, Johnny Robertson of Port Elizabeth, designed the present course.
It is a beautiful course in lovely surroundings of which the members are justifiably proud. Even the great Gary Player, on a visit to the town many years ago, commented that it was one of the best small town courses he has seen.
Lafras Moolman was fortunate to become Club Champion in 2017 which was the 118th year of the existence of the Somerset East Golf Club.