Nestled within the prestigious Zimbali Lakes Resort on KwaZulu-Natal’s north coast, the Zimbali Lakes Golf Course is a striking addition to the region’s golfing landscape. Designed for sustainability and seamlessly blending into the area’s natural beauty, this 18-hole course offers players an unforgettable experience. Wayne Krambeck, Senior Vice President of Operations at Zimbali Lakes, highlights the course’s defining features as its “breathtaking landscape and stunning views of the sea, lakes, and inland scenery.”

Course Design: Balancing Challenge and Playability

The primary objective was to create a course that catered to golfers of all skill levels. The design carefully considered the natural topography, ensuring an enjoyable yet challenging round of golf for all players. The collaboration between Golf Data and Ernie Els Design resulted in a layout that embraces the region’s undulating terrain while prioritising playability.

Key design modifications include:

• Bunker Optimisation: The number and size of bunkers were strategically reduced, making the course more forgiving while maintaining its aesthetic appeal.
• Multiple Tee Boxes: Each hole has a variety of tee options, allowing players to adjust for skill level, weather conditions, and coastal winds.
• Enhanced Fairways: Planted with Cynodon’ Royal Blue’, fairways were extended, limiting rough areas and encouraging better ball movement.
• Expansive Greens: Made from Super 7 Bentgrass, the greens provide a premium putting surface adapted to humid coastal conditions.

Stretching across the 300-hectare estate, the course acts as a natural buffer between the M4 and N2 highways, ensuring privacy for homeowners. Several holes boast spectacular views of the ocean and lakes, while water features on six holes add to the course’s scenic allure. The design also preserves environmentally sensitive areas, allowing nature to flourish alongside the course.

Construction and Sustainability

Construction followed a meticulous process, with each hole taking approximately one month to shape and a four to six-month grow-in period. A key sustainability initiative was retaining all excavated soil on-site for contouring, eliminating waste. The soft rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal’s landscape were carefully integrated into the layout, enhancing their natural beauty.

Landscaping plays a crucial role in the course’s aesthetics, with indigenous plant species complementing the coastal dunes and forests. Golf Data designed full concrete cart paths to navigate the hilly terrain, and natural rock from the area was used to clad bridges.

Irrigation and Future Outlook

A state-of-the-art Rainbird irrigation system, using recycled grey water from SIZA Water, ensures efficient water management. Additional water rights from the Tongati River provide an eco-conscious approach to course maintenance. No potable water is used for irrigation, reinforcing the resort’s commitment to sustainability.

The Zimbali Lakes Golf Course will open to the public for full-time play by early 2025. It will offer a world-class golfing experience that harmonises with nature while elevating the luxury of Zimbali Lakes Resort.