Umdoni Park Golf Club

off Minerva Road,

Pennington, KwaZulu-Natal 4184

  • Office

    +27 (0)39 975 1615
  • Pro shop

    +27 (0)39 975 1615
  • Fax

    +27 (0)975 3944

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Undulating, hilly terrain - several slopes to climb.

  • Surroundings:

    Woodland, with abundant Indian Ocean views.

  • Designer:

    Sid Brews

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Metres
5592
4989
4797
Par
72
72
72
SSS or slope
69
66
69

Location

Latitude:

-30.397892

Longitude:

30.687169

How to get there:

73 km S of Durban

Follow the N2 highway south from Durban for approximately 70 km, and take the Pennington (R102) exit. Drive towards the coast and turn right at the first traffic lights. After approx 8.5 km, on entering Pennington, turn left into Pennington Drive, direction Umdoni Golf Course. Take the fourth turning right into Minerva Ave, and continue past Botha House to the Golf Club. (Shortly after passing through the Umdoni Park estate entrance, the road forks. Follow the left fork).

Umdoni Park Golf Club

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.

Est. 1918

Umdoni Park Golf Club: Occupying a hillside position overlooking an unspoilt stretch of South Africa's aptly named Wild Coast, Umdoni Park is one of the area's most enjoyable, challenging and natural golf courses.

Without any intrusion from roads or housing, this slightly rugged and very scenic layout comprises many wonderfully challenging golf holes. The undulating course roams its way across sometimes open terrain, at other times through dense jungle-like coastal vegetation. Maintenance standards may not match some of KwaZulu-Natal's more manicured resort courses, but pristine fairways and decorative flower-beds are not what Umdoni Park is about.

What the Wild Coast's most natural layout delivers are spectacular Indian Ocean views, dramatic elevation changes (especially on the more wooded back-nine) and a very thorough physical work-out, should you be brave enough to walk the course.

Rather than too many bunkers flanking the generally good-width fairways, any wayward drives will more likely find long grassy rough or thick vegetation. The excellent quality greens are often protected by a pair of front bunkers, left and right. Occasionally, as at the uphill par-3 12th, mature trees will also need to be negotiated.

One of the highlights of a round at this lesser known gem, are the short journeys from many greens to next tee-box. The paths often take you through wonderful areas of ancient forest, with the natural sounds of the jungle buzzing in your ears.

List of courses: KwaZulu-Natal

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.

Must book in advance. Handicap required

Green fees

Contact club for green fee details.

Other information

Walking permitted. Golf carts available for hire. Caddies available.

Practice facilities

Limited

Did you know?

In 1920 Sir Frank Reynolds, a leading sugar industrialist, businessman and philanthropist, established the Umdoni Park Trust to administer a large tract of grassland and coastal forest known as Umdoni Park. He commissioned the building of a golf course in 1918 and the first record of play on this course was in 1921.

Published ranking

South Africa's 79th best course (SA's Top 100 Courses, 2023).

Where2Stay

  • Lynton Hall5-star

    Lynton Hall , PO Box 272, Pennington 4184, KwaZulu-Natal

    +27 (0)39 975 3122

    Visit website

    As one of South Africa's leading boutique hotels, the 5-star luxury offered to guests provides for a memorable stay. One of the most famous aspects of Lynton Hall is its individually appointed rooms. While many have returned to the estate for its superb cuisine, many guests return again and again because "their" room provides a sense of comfort and luxury in the grand old traditions of a manor house.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Umdoni Park; Selborne

    • Golf within 30 km:

      Umkomaas

  • Selborne Hotel, Spa & Golf Estate4-star

    PO Box 2, Pennington 4184, KwaZulu-Natal.

    +27 (0)39 688 1800

    Visit website

    At Selborne, the attentive staff create a very special experience where the cosmopolitan comforts and high standards of a refined and exclusive estate are offered within this tranquil, subtropical setting. Amongst the wide array of facilities and services, Selborne offers an excellent 18-hole championship golf course, health and beauty spa, private beach club, nature trails, conference facilities and fine dining.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      Selborne

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Umdoni Park

    • Golf within 30 km:

      Umkomaas

Find a course

Or

Tournaments

The Sentry: known for many years as the Tournament of Champions, the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opener gets underway on Kapalua’s Plantation course (Jan 2-5). Chris Kirk defends.

Tournament of Champions: the LPGA Tour’s 2025 season is launched at Lake Nona with the their Tournament of Champions (Jan 30-Feb 2). The 2024 edition gave Lydia Ko her 20th LPGA Tour title.

Who's Who

Attahya Thitikul: also known as “Jeeno”, the Thai golfer won the LPGA Tour’s 2024 CME Group Tour Championship … and an eye-watering $4 million, the richest first-prize in women’s golf.

Rory McIlroy: scooped the 2024 European (DP World) Tour season-long Order of Merit title, joining Seve Ballesteros as a six-time winner of this prestigious award.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

Popular videos

You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.

Whistling Straits (Wisconsin, US)

Hamburger GC - Falkenstein, Germany

Littlestone Golf Club (Kent, UK)