Houghton Golf Club
Houghton is Johannesburg's urban gem, a club founded in the early twentieth century that reinvented itself with a complete Jack Nicklaus Signature redesign opened in 2009. The result is a muscular par 72 of about 6,708 meters in the leafy heart of the city, all rolling greens and large, deep bunkers, and a recent host of the Joburg Open.
Photo: Houghton Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Golf has been played at Houghton since the 1920s, the original course laid out by the club's first professional A.M. Copland on an undulating, heavily treed site. In 2007 the club committed to a radical makeover and brought in the Jack Nicklaus design group, and the completely rebuilt Nicklaus Signature course opened in 2009 with new greens, bold contouring and strengthened bunkering.
The redesign turned a slightly short members' layout into a genuine championship test that plays to about 6,708 meters from the back. Strategically placed bunkers, large and deep, catch the wayward drive and force careful club selection, while the rolling greens protect par. That it sits minutes from the center of Johannesburg, in one of the city's grandest suburbs, makes Houghton one of the most convenient great rounds in the country.
Houghton Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1920s, redesigned 2009
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus Signature
- Type
- Urban parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,708 m
- Green fee
- On application
Designer, redesign year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. Houghton was completely rebuilt as a Jack Nicklaus Signature course, opened in 2009, a par 72 of about 6,708 meters from the championship tees. Houghton is a members club that welcomes visitors; green fees vary by season and are confirmed on booking, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Nicklaus redesign gave Houghton real teeth. The fairways roll through mature trees and the large, deep bunkers are positioned to catch the drive that drifts off line, so club selection and a disciplined tee strategy are essential from the first hole.
The greens are the defining feature, contoured with rolling undulations and subtle slopes that protect the integrity of the course and reward the approach struck to the right portion of the surface. At Johannesburg altitude the ball carries, and judging the extra distance into firm greens is the recurring challenge.
For a course set in the middle of a major city, Houghton plays remarkably big and quiet, the trees and elevation changes screening out the suburbs. It is a championship layout that has tested professional fields at the Joburg Open and remains an outstanding and accessible round for the visiting golfer.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visitors; book through the golf shop or a tour operator, with weekday tee times easiest to arrange |
| Green fee | Visitor rates are confirmed on booking and vary by season; check current pricing with the club (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve through the pro shop or your South Africa golf specialist; it is a popular city course, so book ahead |
| On the day | Carts are available and caddies can be arranged; standard golf attire with a collared shirt is expected |
| Getting there | Lower Houghton, in central Johannesburg, about 25 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport |
| Best months | The dry Highveld winter from April to September gives clear, mild days, with cold early starts |
Access and fee details verified June 2026 from the club and recent listings; visitor pricing changes by season, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Houghton sits among the embassies and large homes of one of Johannesburg's most established suburbs, with the boutique hotels and restaurants of Rosebank, Houghton and Melrose all close by. Staying in this northern arc of the city keeps the course, the dining and the airport transfer all within easy reach.
As a central, accessible round, Houghton fits neatly into a Gauteng golf week alongside the other championship layouts of Johannesburg and Pretoria. The northern suburbs make an ideal base for a multi course trip, with safari country a short flight or drive away.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Houghton Golf Club.
Build a Johannesburg golf trip
We line up the tee times at Houghton Golf Club where access allows, pair them with the best of the region and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Houghton Golf Club questions
Who redesigned Houghton Golf Club and when did it reopen?
Houghton was completely rebuilt as a Jack Nicklaus Signature course, with the new layout opening in 2009 after the original early twentieth century course was deemed too short.
What is the par and length of Houghton Golf Club?
Houghton is a par 72 that plays to about 6,708 meters from the championship tees, with large, deep bunkering and strongly contoured greens.
Has Houghton hosted professional tournaments?
Yes. The redesigned Houghton has hosted the Joburg Open, co sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the Sunshine Tour, testing professional fields in the heart of the city.
Can visitors play Houghton Golf Club?
Houghton is a members club that welcomes visitors. Book through the golf shop or a tour operator, and confirm the current green fee, which varies by season, when you reserve.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.