Blue Valley Golf & Country Estate

About Blue Valley

Set within a residential estate at Midrand, midway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, Blue Valley was designed by Gary Player across the slopes of two low hills falling toward the Rietspruit valley. The routing follows the natural contours: the front nine climbs and descends steeply, while the back nine runs largely along the hillsides. Strategic bunkering with steep grass faces and water hazards frame many holes, serving as both defences and features.

The par-72 layout measures about 6,752 metres from the championship tees. Its best-known quirk is the oversized double green shared by the parallel 1st and 10th holes, often cited among the largest in Africa, while the par-3 2nd plays across the river to a narrow, bunker-guarded target. Several uphill par-5s and the riverside stroke-one 11th add further teeth to the round.

The dramatic terrain divides opinion, with some golfers finding it severe, but it gives Blue Valley a character unlike the flatter Highveld estate courses nearby. Indigenous Highveld tree planting reinforces the local feel. The course is open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, with online tee-time booking available.