East London Golf Club
One of the great coastal courses in South Africa and the long time home of the Africa Open. East London Golf Club was shaped in the 1920s by Colonel S. V. Hotchkin and George Peck, threading a par 73 through dunes, hills and dense coastal bush above the Indian Ocean. It is a links and parkland hybrid that rewards the player who can flight the ball and read a slope.
Photo: East London Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
East London Golf Club is the kind of course tour pros quietly rate above its billing. Founded in 1893 and laid out in its current form in the 1920s by Colonel S. V. Hotchkin, the architect of Woodhall Spa, with George Peck, it sits on rumpled coastal ground above the Indian Ocean and plays as a links and parkland hybrid that few visitors expect to find on the Eastern Cape.
For years it was the home of the Africa Open on the European Tour, and the test holds up: a par 73 of around 6,191 metres routed through dunes, hills and thick indigenous bush, with small greens and awkward stances that demand precise iron play. It is not long by modern numbers, but the bush punishes the crooked and the wind off the sea keeps the scorecard honest. On a South African golf tour it is the standout of the wild coast.
East London at a glance
- Opened
- 1893; course 1920s
- Designer
- Hotchkin and Peck
- Type
- Coastal links and parkland
- Par
- 73
- Length
- About 6,191 m
- Notable
- Long host, Africa Open
Designer, founding date, par and length verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. East London Golf Club dates to 1893, with the present course laid out in the 1920s by Colonel S. V. Hotchkin and George Peck. It plays as a par 73 of about 6,191 metres and was for many years the host venue of the Africa Open on the European Tour. Visitor green fees change by season and rand exchange rate, are indicative for 2026, and should always be confirmed directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The routing makes the most of broken coastal ground, tumbling through dunes and over ridges so that level lies are the exception rather than the rule. You are forever playing from a hanging stance or to a green tucked behind a fold, which puts a premium on shot shaping and a sure short game.
Thick indigenous bush lines many holes and swallows the wayward drive, so position off the tee matters more than raw distance. The greens are on the small side and firm, defended as much by their surrounds and run offs as by sand, and a missed approach often leaves a fiddly recovery rather than a simple pitch.
Add the sea breeze and the test sharpens again. The closing holes have decided more than one Africa Open, a stretch where par feels like a good score when it blows. Played in calm it is a charming, old fashioned round; played in a stiff wind it is a proper championship examination.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visitors and societies; book a tee time in advance, especially at weekends |
| Green fee | Visitor green fees vary by season and exchange rate; strong value by international standards (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve through the club or your trip planner; pair with the Garden Route and Eastern Cape courses |
| On the day | Caddies, carts and trolley hire available; full clubhouse and catering |
| Getting there | On the coast at East London, Eastern Cape; East London Airport is a short drive, with links to Johannesburg and Cape Town |
| Best months | February to May and September to November for mild, drier coastal conditions |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; club rates change by season and exchange rate, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
East London itself has comfortable beachfront and city hotels within easy reach of the club, which makes a one or two night stop simple to arrange around a round. The seafront and the Nahoon area are the pleasant places to base.
Most golf travellers fold East London into a wider Eastern Cape and Garden Route tour, linking it with the heavyweights further west. It pairs naturally with a coastal road trip, so a group can string together several of South Africa's best courses with East London as the wild coast highlight.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around East London and the Eastern Cape.
Build a South Africa golf trip
We route groups along the Eastern Cape and Garden Route, secure the tee times and pair East London with the great courses to the west. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
East London questions
Who designed East London Golf Club and how old is it?
The club was founded in 1893, and the present course was laid out in the 1920s by Colonel S. V. Hotchkin, architect of Woodhall Spa, working with George Peck. It is one of the oldest and most respected clubs in South Africa.
What is the par and length of East London Golf Club?
East London plays as a par 73 of about 6,191 metres. It is not long by modern standards, but the coastal wind, small greens and thick bush make it a stern test.
Has East London hosted professional tournaments?
Yes. East London Golf Club was for many years the host of the Africa Open, a co sanctioned event on the European Tour and the Sunshine Tour, which underpins its championship reputation.
Can visitors play East London Golf Club?
Yes. It is a members club that welcomes visitors and societies. Book a tee time in advance, particularly at weekends. Green fees vary by season and exchange rate, so always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, founding date, par and length verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.