Page 26 - Intra Muros September Issue 2024

The Clubhouse and Golf Course were
officially opened by Clem Sunter, chairman
of the Anglo-American Corporation of
South Africa’s gold and uranium division,
at a ceremony that took place on 10 July
1993. The first manager of Silver Lakes
was Mike Passmore from Glendower
Golf Club. Martin de Beer was appointed
general manager. Ampros appointed a
managing company, Club Corporation
of America, to manage the golf course
and Clubhouse. The company sent Mike
Pebble Beach Drive in 1993
Stevens to manage these facilities.

The first get-together of Silver Lakes
residents and stand owners took place
on 3 November 1993 at the Clubhouse. A
light supper was served for the princely
sum of R20 per person. This was followed
by bi-weekly ‘family evenings’ where
residents met each other over a plate of
First house built in Armours Close Farmhouse
delicious home-cooked food. Since then,
various events and functions have taken
Coming up with a name Pebble Beach Drive was officially opened place in the Clubhouse and on the golf
At Ampros the decision of naming their by Danie Hough, administrator of the then course.
new venture was not easy and was Transvaal, in August 1992. At the opening,
debated on. The name Lombardie was Peter Gardiner from Ampros said: “Despite the Golf tournaments have taken place there
discussed, but the Lombardy area close to fact that the golf estate idea is a relatively new and the stunning facility has hosted many
Silver Lakes already existed at that stage. concept in South Africa and that Silver Lakes is a wedding, baptism and birthday, as well
Silver had been mined on the nearby still in its development phase, the advantages as corporate events. The HOA of the
farm, Willows Acre, as part of more than of such a lifestyle are catching on fast as nearly estate have also devised a programme
50 individual silver and other metal and 200 stands have already been sold.” of inclusive homeowners’ events such
mineral mines surrounding Pretoria. as Valentines Day, Mother’s Day and
That’s how the estate derived the Official opening and subsequent Father’s Day celebrations. Youth Day
silver part of its name. The other major events and Spring Day celebrations are also a
element of the landscape of the original On 14 August 1992, the Silver Lakes favourite, when homeowners gather with
farm were the dams, pools and ponds, Homeowners Association was formed, with their families to enjoy fun activities and
or ‘lakes’ by South African standards, Jimmy Metcalfe the first chairman. to socialise.
formed by the tributary of the Pienaars
River running through the estate.
The beginning of the golf course in 1992
It was agreed that the name Silver Lakes
was a good fit. After that, the brand
identity had to be formulated and Ernst
de Jong was commissioned to create
the Silver Lakes logo, which is still in
use today. The logo portrays the green
landscape, the water, the golf flag and
the ball.

The marketing of the residential stands
began in 1991 and construction of the
first houses started in January 1992. The
construction of the Clubhouse began in
June 1992.

24 | INTRAMUROS SEPTEMBER 2024