August 1, 2007
By Ndaba Dlamini
WORK on the first world-class golf course in a Joburg township is expected to begin later this year.
The 90ha course will be built at a cost of R60-million between Pimville and the Goudkoppies works, east of the present, substandard Soweto Golf Course. It is thanks to a development deal between the City and Tiyani, a consortium consisting of Investec, Standard Bank and Shanduka.
Alan Dinnie, the project manager at the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), managers of the City's property portfolio, says the course will form part of a residential golf estate consisting of 238 units.
"The golf course will be an 18-hole Gary Player signature PGA tournament standard golf course that will be capable of hosting international golf tournaments. [It will have] a club house built to PGA standards, a driving range and a golf academy."
Stalwarts on the Soweto greens
Aimed at improving the sport, the academy will be operated by the South Africa Golf Development Board (SAGDB). It will offer subsidised coaching for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Retail and office
In addition to the golf course and the residential estate, four retail and office erven have been set aside and will be available for development by public tender once work on the course starts, according to Dinnie.
The new Soweto Golf Course hinges on the upgrading of Huddle Park, a mixed-use development managed by Tiyani, he adds.
"The golf course design has been completed by Gary Player Design and an application for township establishment was submitted in January 2006. The City has also reached an agreement with Sasol for the donation of land belonging to the oil company."
In 2005, the City and Gauteng province found that the existing Soweto Golf Course had to be moved to provide much-needed land for housing in Kliptown. This move was to be addressed in two phases, the first phase being the short-term relocation and modification of four holes to release a portion of land for social housing development on the western edge of the existing golf course.
It was completed in 2005 and the construction of houses is under way. The second, long term, phase involves the complete relocation of the golf course.
After talks between the community and the Soweto Golf Club, which operates the existing course, all parties agreed to relocate the golf course, on the basis that the existing golf course would not be turned into housing until the new course was ready for play.
"The golf course is expected to be playable by December 2008 if the development starts later this year. The golf course will be managed, maintained and operated by SATour and the SAGDB under a lease agreement that ensures public access to the course," Dinnie explains.
Another course, similar to the new Soweto Golf Course, will also be built by Tiyani Consortium on Mia Trust land north of Johannesburg. Like the new Soweto Golf Course, it will cater for under-privileged communities, according to Dinnie.
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