Page 7 - LandscapeIssue-143

PROJECT

and rough areas and creating more
fairway space; they are wide and allow for
the ball to feed back towards the inner
part of the fairways and green surrounds;
• greens complexes are in general larger
than normal, with gently undulating
slopes. They were seeded with a Bent
grass called Super 7, a creeping variety
which has been genetically modified
to handle the humid coastal conditions
experienced in Ballito. It ensures a high-
quality putting surface.
The golf course spans the entire 300
hectare property and forms a buffer
between most of the M4 and N2 highways,
although these are not visible from most
of the holes. The design of the course
ensures that most of the homes sit well
above it, ensuring privacy for home owners.
A number of holes have views of the sea
and lakes, with three holes playing directly
onto lakes and a further three having water
features.
The 4th hole

Panoramic view of the 4th hole
The challenging topographical
undulations allowed the design to be
very creative, whilst working around
environmentally sensitive areas, of which
there are many on the property. This is
critical as it ensures that nature blends in
well with the course and the housing estate
itself.
Piet Pieters of Ernie Els Design says that
this is the company’s first project in KZN
and they are looking forward to offering “an
unforgettable golfing experience to players
of all abilities.”

Construction
The construction process took
approximately one month per hole,
followed by a grow-in period of four to six
months. Each hole was precisely crafted and
followed a strategic sequence to align with
irrigation lines, cart paths and landscaping.
Bonsai created from a fallen Spekboom tree This created a playable and well-balanced

Check us out www.salandscape.co.za Landscape SA • Issue 143 2024 5