Clovelly Country Club

With one of the finest golf courses in South Africa, Clovelly offers its members and visitors a memorable experience. Nestled in the pristine and tranquil Silvermine Valley close to Fish Hoek lies Clovelly Country Club. Clovelly - like fine Cape wines - improves steadily with age.

This reputation is founded on the warmth of Clovelly's "family" character, its outstanding facilities, and steps taken, such as opening the Club to all irrespective of race, creed or gender, to ensure that Clovelly truly reflects the high ideal of its motto: "Fraternitas Ludorum".

Used initially by a group of naval officers stationed at the nearby Simonstown base and a number of enthusiastic golfers from the area, the Clovelly Golf Links nine hole course was formed. It was several years after the Great Depression of the late 1920's that Clovelly was rescued from closure by two entrepeneurs Gus Ackerman and Michael Pevsner who purchased the property and in 1932 formed the Clovelly Country Club which was officially opened in 1934.

Gus Ackerman and Michael Pevsner's stated purpose was "that the aforesaid land shall only be used for sporting and other activities of the Clovelly Country Club from the membership of which no person shall be debarred by reason of race, religious denomination or creed".

Michael Pevsner was the first President of the Club and remained so until his death in 1941. Gus Ackerman became the first Chairman, a position he only relinquished in 1953 when he was elected Life President, until his death in 1966. His son Raymond has succeeded him in the President's chair.

The names Maurice and Phyllis Bodmer are also synonymous with Clovelly Country Club. Maurice joined the Club as a Professional in 1935, and Phyllis in 1947 as assistant secretary. Both retired after yeoman service in 1980. Probably the most famous game of golf played at Clovelly was in 1947 when Maurice Bodmer partnered Bobby Locke against "Slamming" Sam Snead and Norman von Nida in an exhibition match which was won 2 & 1 by Bodmer and Locke.

In 1937 Clovelly hosted the first "Trophy Of Light" competition for the National Council for the Blind which has subsequently become an annual event. Over the years the tournament has raised many thousands of Rands for this admirable organisation.

The Cape is the home of South African golf, and Clovelly ranks as one of the finest courses in the Cape Peninsula. Once only a nine-hole and mainly sand course, Clovelly was designed by Dr Charles Molteno Murray, one of the best known golf architects of his day. Advocate Bobby Lewin was responsible for much of the magnificent landscaping. Together they produced one of Southern Africa's most picturesque and challenging courses. Famous for its rolling, computer-irrigated fairways and undulating holes, Clovelly complements its rich coastal environment. Natural sand dunes about the course, which is blessed with water features and a wide variety of indigenous fauna - especially bird-life such as guinea fowl, pheasant, peacock and steppe buzzard - and flora, notably the variety of trees which line the fairways.

Clovelly's championship-quality greens (bent grass/poa annua mix) are among the finest in Southern Africa. Of moderate length (5 869m - Par 72 men & Par 73 ladies), Clovelly is unique in that it follows neither the links nor the American tradition in its design. It is a tight course by South African standards, and has a fine blend of testing holes, with the Silvermine River, and adjacent ponds adding much to their character.

Looking at the stunning course, one can hardly imagine it having been a series of sand dunes with a greenhouse as its rendezvous. A favourite course of Bobby Locke, each hole has a special distinctive setting, with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and the bay.