The Wynberg Links Centenary

The Background

In its 120-year history Royal Cape has had three different homes. In its first years (1885-1891) the Club played over a course that was located within the Military Camp on the slopes of Wynberg Hill and extending down to Waterloo Green in what is now old Wynberg Village. Later, when the civilian membership became more dominant, a move was made to the Rondebosch Common (1891). This was, however, glebe land and open to the public for general use and recreation, including rugby, horse-riding and grazing cattle. The establishment of a proper course under these conditions was extremely difficult, well-nigh impossible, and the need to acquire premises of their own was realised by the members as being fundamental to the future of the Club. Several possible sites were investigated, including the area in Raapenberg that was later leased by Mowbray Golf Club, but it was eventually the land on the south side of Ottery Road in Wynberg that was chosen. In the days before motorcars, access by train, hansom cab and bicycle were important considerations and it seems that the land at Ottery best fulfilled these requirements.

In 1905 a lease agreement, with an option to purchase within the first five years, was entered into with the owners of the land, Suburban Estates, (the option was later exercised) and an immediate start was made with laying out the course and building the clubhouse. Early in 1906 the first nine holes were completed and then in April of that same year the full 18-hole course, the Wynberg Links as it was called, was formally opened. April 2006 will mark the centenary of that event and it is the intention that this important milestone in the history of the Club be remembered and celebrated. The move to Ottery was a bold and expensive undertaking at the time and we can only be grateful to those early members for their foresight. We pay special tribute to them.

The celebrations will be held over the period 22nd April to 1st May 2006 and a wide variety of golf competitions and social events is being planned over this 10-day period. All the local Cape Town clubs will be involved in one way or another, as well as the clubs from the surrounding country areas, the latter in competition for the Donnison Cup on 1st May which, by a happy co-incidence, will be the 100th anniversary of the first Donnison Cup match which was played at Worcester in 1906.

Also to be invited are representatives of all those clubs world-wide, including South Africa, with whom we enjoy reciprocal arrangements or with whom we have had particular contact. The programme involving these clubs will fall within this period extending from Monday 24th with an opening cocktail party through to Sunday 30th with the closing prize-giving.

Not least in the plans for the Wynberg Links Centenary is the involvement of the members. Essentially it will be a celebration for the members and the intention is that the members will participate in all the various activities to the full.