The Country Club Johannesburg
 The Country Club Johannesburg – Woodmead Course (Hole No. 17) | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Established | 1906 |
| Type | Private |
| Total holes | 36 |
| Website | https://thecountryclub.co.za/ |
| Woodmead | |
| Designed by | Fred W. Hawtree (1968) |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6803 meters |
| Course rating | 75.2 |
| Rockland | |
| Designed by | Martin Hawtree (1992) |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6813 meters |
| Course rating | 74.8 |
The Country Club Johannesburg (CCJ) is a 36-hole golf complex located in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
Established in 1906, it is known for its rich history, well-maintained facilities, and diverse range of activities and amenities for its members. The club operates two main locations: the Auckland Park and Woodmead.[1] Both offer a variety of recreational, sports, and social activities.
History
[edit]The idea for the club was proposed by land developers John Landau and Charles Cohen to attract residential buyers to the newly formed area of Auckland Park.[2]
The club was officially established on 17 November 1906, and the Auckland Park Clubhouse opened on 22 December that year.[3] At the time, William Kidger Tucker, then the Mayor of Johannesburg noted the event's "great social significance for Johannesburg, the Transvaal colony, and South Africa". The Rand Daily Mail praised the club's grounds, describing them as far more than "picturesque". The club officially opened with 400 members, and within a year, membership doubled. By 1930, the club had over 2 600 members.[4]
The original clubhouse was built on the site of the Lindeque Farm, which included a wooded area of 30 acres and an additional 18 acres adjoining.[4] The club's facilities initially included squash courts, tennis courts, a swimming pool, croquet lawns, and a cricket pitch. Polo and hunting were also popular activities among the expatriate community.[2]
In the 1960s, the club faced potential expropriation when the government planned to establish an Afrikaans university on its grounds, which would eventually become RAU (Rand Afrikaans University) and later the University of Johannesburg. To preserve the club's legacy, the committee decided to sell the land used for the golf course but managed to retain the Auckland Park Clubhouse and its surrounding area. This decision led to the acquisition of farmland in Woodmead, where a new golf course and club were developed.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Country Club Johannesburg". thecountryclub.co.za. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
- ^ a b "History of the Country Club Johannesburg". The Parktown Association. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
- ^ a b "Country Club Johannesburg". thecountryclub.co.za. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
- ^ a b Content, Print (2024-09-29). "History of the Country Club Johannesburg". Northcliff Melville Times. Retrieved 2024-10-10.