The Serengeti Golf Course and Wildlife Estate Article in “Landscape SA“
The Serengeti Golf Course and Wildlife Estate, situated 15km north of OR Tambo International Airport, is the first Jack Nicklaus signature Golf course in Gauteng. There are 27 holes comprising an 18 hole course named Masai Mara which has a rugged grassland and dune-scape character, and the 9 hole course named Whistling Thorn, which features classic design elements and a plains-like feel. Ultimately this will also become an 18 hole layout.
The site for the Serengeti golf course was relatively flat and was previously an old corn field. Golf Data undertook all bulk earthworks, moving 150 000 cubic metres of soil to achieve the look required by Jack Nicklaus and to create the movement now evident on the course. A links type design was implemented, which included rugged edges on the bunkers mixed with native grasses in the rough. A mixture of rye grasses and fescues were used on the fairways, which remain green all year round.
Environmental issues
Two environmental issues were crucial to the design and construction of Serengeti. In the first instance, it was imperative not to contaminate the wetland which runs alongside the course. For this reason, an advanced drainage system was installed to ensure that there was no overflow water to the wetland. The development is situated on a dolomitic sub-strata, so although there is an abundance of underground water, Serengeti was not allowed to tap into this resource. All lakes and creeks had to be lined to prevent any leaching or contamination…
