Page 26 - Landscape-Issue127

GOLF AND TURF FEATURE

An early autumn morning on the 18th green of the west course. Photo: M. Sampson

budget, limited resources, a small crew Name change possibly be retained in some way, perhaps
and in a very short space of time. However The re-opening of the West Course with the new lodge.
we delivered what the client wanted – coincided with a name change; the course
new greens, new surrounds and more will no longer be called Royal Johannesburg Acknowledgements
maintenance-friendly bunkers with a & Kensington but will revert to its original A section of this article was first published in SA
modern and updated look. The course held title of Royal Johannesburg. The words Top 100 Courses digital magazine. Subscribe
a special place for me as I was manager Kensington and Golf Club will fall away to it for free on the home page of their website,
there from 2014 to May 2022, and was (Kensington was added when the two clubs www.satop100courses.com
involved in the planning and execution of merged in 1999).
both renovations, special tournaments, The reason for the change was that the Additional information supplied by Shaun
events and awards received during that name was considered too long, and the Brits of Agrano Turf and Dino de Abreu of Novo
time. The west renovation was a great way logo was complex. The words ‘golf club’ were Landscape and Golf Course Architecture.
to end my tenure there, and it was a real omitted to align with the fact that Royal is
privilege for me to have been part of the now a lifestyle offering, with various facilities Photos by Josh Chisholm and Mark Sampson,
renovation on a course of that stature.” other than golf. The name Kensington will courtesy of Royal Johannesburg. n

The west course, 2nd hole. Photos: M. Sampson

24 Landscape SA • Issue 127 2023