club corner
FAMILY
FEEL
Our attention turns to Marble Hall Golf Club, where we speak to the versatile Colene Fourie
Some people might ask, 'Where's Marble Hall Golf Club?' So, where is the club and how long have you been in existence?
Marble Hall Golf Club was founded in June 1966 at the Marble Hall Hotel in a town north-west of Groblersdal in Mpumalanga. Membership was R6 per year. Until 1974, Marble Hall Golf Club was affiliated with the Marble Hall Sports Club. In May 1974, the new clubhouse and upgraded golf course were opened. In December 2007, the Marble Hall municipality approved the development of a golf estate with 244 plots. As of 2025, it is rated as the ninth-best nine-hole golf course in South Africa.
What sort of course layout awaits the first-time visitor?
With the redesign of the course, the dam at the 2nd hole was made bigger, and it is a very challenging par three. A big dam was also constructed on the 6th, and this is quite a challenge for golfers who are erratic off the tee. The fairways are well kept with bushveld all around them, so it is even more important to hit straight tee shots here. Natural vegetation, like the Matoppi trees, were retained when the course was designed. The course has nine greens and 18 tees.
What sort of flora and fauna can visitors expect to see?
Mopipi trees are a protected species in South Africa, and the 4th hole has several of them in play. They are the Bermuda Triangle of the tree world... your ball can easily get lost. With the trees being protected, they were not allowed to be removed when the course was designed, so we used them as natural obstacles throughout. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear fish eagles calling from afar and you’ll experience a wide variety of birdlife on your round.
What is your signature hole and how would a golfer play it?
People have different opinions on which hole should be the signature hole. There’s the 2nd, and then the 6th, with the dam to the right and the bushveld to the left of the fairway, is also a favourite. Some also regard our 9th hole as the best. It is the closing hole with a huge water hazard and bunker to the left of the green, which makes your entry angle to the green important. The big grass lapa at the clubhouse is also on the left, which makes it an ideal spot for those who love to see players coming into the last hole.
Gallery below
Have you hosted any important tournaments?
We host the annual Bushveld Classic, a medal format competition, and we hope this can grow into one of our biggest tournaments. The event takes place in March/April and usually runs over two days.
What is your role and your 'day job' at the golf club?
I organise all golf days, golf groups and corporate golf days. I also organise golf clinics in co-operation with Arnie Kemp, who is our coach at the facility. We host regular clinics for women and our youth. We are a family-driven golf club and we value the participation of women and children. I also host an annual Women's Day Golf Day on 9 August, where we invite all women to come and have fun in our lovely bushveld sun. I manage membership registrations and address all the necessary HNA and/or Limpopo affiliation queries for all the members. Plus, I make sure the computer systems are functioning correctly and I do the marketing of the golf course and golf days.
VISITOR GREENFEES
Affiliated
(9 holes)
R210
Affiliated
(18 holes)
R280
Non-affiliated
(9 holes)
R280
Non-affiliated
(18 holes)
R360
Are you a golfer, and if so, how often do you play?
I am, but I would rather talk about someone who plays better! Our club champion is Pieter Erasmus. We have several very good players who have low handicaps. Our league players are also strong; they won the Ryder Cup against the Groblersdal players in 2023 and 2024. It is a big event on our calendar and it always serves as a good reference point for our league players' abilities.
Tell us more about your membership and the packages you have.
We have 114 members, with 78.8% men and 21.2% women. Most of our members are between 40 and 49, with quite a few juniors. We offer several packages to suit all kinds of players. The Bronze Package is R1 800 per annum, and they pay affiliated visitor greenfees when they play. The Gold Package is for those who play often, which is R9 520 per annum, but those members don’t pay any greenfees. We also offer family packages at discounted prices.
DISTANCE FROM
Groblersdal 38km
Pretoria 154km
Johannesburg 209km
Mbombela 260km
Bloemfontein 607km
Kimberley 677km
Durban 736km
Gqeberha 1 282km
Cape Town 1 607km
What are the biggest challenges when it comes to attracting visitors and new members?
As you rightly pointed out, many people don’t know where Marble Hall is. Being ranked as the ninth-best nine-hole golf course in South Africa has helped, and we are attracting more visitors. I also organise and run golf specials to attract more visitors, as I believe finances are the biggest challenge for most people who want to play. We have a special on Sundays where greenfees are only R100 for nine or 18 holes for affiliated and non-affiliated members.
What is the 19th hole atmosphere like and what is the most popular meal on the menu?
On a big golf day, the 19th hole is filled with music and the laughter of people watching the golfers finishing their round. Healthy banter echoes through the clubhouse with a true bushveld hospitality atmosphere. We have several favourites on the menu, the biggest being our chicken schnitzel, eisbein or a grilled steak. Our restaurant and bar areas are managed by Nellie Veldman, who is also your go-to person when you need to arrange the perfect menu for your function. We not only host golf days, but also corporate golf functions, prize ceremonies, weddings, school functions, baby showers, family gatherings and more.
CALLING ALL CLUBS
As industry leaders, we at The Golf Mag are committed to being the hub of the South African golfing community. With this in mind, we are reaching out to golf clubs in the country to highlight them in the magazine.
This could be in the form of an interview with the club’s president, executive member, general manager, PGA pro, greenkeeper... anyone you would like us to focus on.
CALLING ALL CLUBS
As industry leaders, we at The Golf Mag are committed to being the hub of the South African golfing community. With this in mind we are reaching out to golf clubs in the country to highlight them in the magazine.
This could be in the form of an interview with the golf club’s president, executive member, general manager, PGA pro, greenkeeper... basically anyone you would like us to focus on.
We are encouraging all golf clubs to contact us and nominate themselves for a mention in the magazine. To feature in the mag, simply email us on contact@thegolfmag.co.za explaining who you would like to represent your golf club.
SUPPLIED/MARBLE HALL GC
