Durban
The Royal Durban Golf Club is unique as it is probably the only golf course which is placed at the middle of a race track. n Cashiers, North Carolina is named after General Wade Hampton III a popular figure who made his mark during the American Civil War.
History of the course
Royal Durban is a links type golf course and is one of the very few golf courses to be sited in the middle of a horseracing track. The Club was established in 1892 as the Durban Golf Club. The Club was granted “Royal” status in April 1932 following a visit and a round of golf from the then Prince of Wales in 1925.
The course was rebuilt in 1932 and the layout was designed by Bob Grimsdell who qualified as a course architect at Colt & Allison of London, Paris & New York.
The course is known for it's punishing rough as it is the only defense it has, (apart from the prevailing Southerly winds) as large or bulky trees and bushes are not allowed for the simple reason that they would obscure the view of the race track.
The current Club badge was designed and introduced in 1932 when the Club became Royal Durban Golf Club with the motto Ludus Palma Potior which has been officially translated as "The game supercedes the man"
Course Trivia
- The Wade Hampton Golf Club is a private club. You would need an invitation form a member to play there.
The Durban Golf Course is placed 17 th spot in Golf Digest magazine's list of 100 top golf courses in the US in 2005. As we continue on this tour we will learn about the other top-100 golf courses in the world.
