Every month we invite golf clubs to contact us to be featured in The Golf Mag. This issue we chat with the Ladies Captain of Eagle Canyon CC, Maxcine Pillay 

Many describe Eagle Canyon as an inland links course in a region dominated by Parkland golf courses. Can you expand on the links reference?

Eagle Canyon was designed out of an old granite and sand quarry. Where most of the courses around us are classic Highveld parkland, Eagle Canyon takes its cues from the seaside links of Scotland and Ireland. The fairways are narrower, the rough is genuine rough, the routing follows the contours of the land, and the playing surfaces are firmer and more contoured. What really sets it apart is how the design uses the canyon itself. You're playing along the cliff edges and over the water features that thread through the property and the occasional blind shot. Length off the tee matters less here than course management.

It is said, perhaps only half-jokingly, that you'd do well to finish a round with the same golf ball you started with. Does the course 'gobble balls'?

Yes, but only if you play for glory instead of smartly! Driver isn't always the right club off the tee. Our rough is genuinely rough and there are also a lot of out-of-bound areas to protect residents, while water comes into play on the majority of holes. Pick the wrong club, choose the wrong line, take on an approach when you should have laid up, and a good round can unravel very quickly.

There are a number of member packages, and one that catches our eye is the Queens of the Greens Beginner Programme. Tell us more about that.

Queens of the Greens is one of my proudest achievements. I saw a gap between the range and the course. The programme is designed to bridge that. It's an introductory membership that paves the path from beginner to confident club golfer. A central part of the programme is our partnership with the BGA Golf Academy. It covers structured lessons and the Operation 36 methodology. Players start by playing 9 holes from 25 metres out, with each hole treated as a par four, and aim to break 36. Once they shoot 36 or lower from that distance, they progress to the next band – gradually working their way back to 50m, 100m, 150m, and ultimately to the red tees. It's measurable, motivating, and it teaches the parts of the game most beginners are never properly taught.

What is the signature hole on the course, and which is your personal favourite?

I think most will agree it’s the 12th. It looks innocent, but it has a way of getting the better of you. It's a par four, stroke 2. Off the white tees, there's a koppie that pushes a lot of players right – which is where the trouble starts. The hole runs alongside water from tee to green. The green is guarded by a bunker on the left and another little koppie, with water along the right flank. The smart play is to find the middle of the fairway and aim for the centre of the green. My personal favourite is the 7th – a par four, stroke 9, playing 349m off the red tees. Long hitters can take it on over the right of the fairway bunker; the fairway has lovely undulation, so you've got a great chance of catching the bottom and having a go at the green in two. Shorter hitters do better playing right of the fairway bunker to hold the top plateau, leaving a more comfortable second shot from the level ground. Our greens are quick, so my biggest tip is to avoid downhill putts at all costs.

In the 2025 Top 100 Courses in SA rankings, Eagle Canyon improved to 66th, its highest ranking so far. In what areas are you looking for further improvement to climb higher in 2026?

It's been a remarkable few years. We've mapped out a clear five- and 10-year plan and we've used last year's rating feedback to pinpoint exactly where we need to improve. Playability is our next big focus area: we've already started work on faster pace of play, with clearer red-stake markings and better flow management. The team are also constantly working on course set-up,. Beyond the playing surface, we're investing in the overall experience on and off the course. We're also proud holders of the John Collier Gold compliance level for environmental governance, and that ethos of doing things properly carries through everything we touch.

A lot is said about the outside deck and 19th hole. Tell us about the '19th hole' experience at the club.

Eagle Canyon is a special community, and the 19th is where that's most visible. The clubhouse sits on the highest point of the property with a full view of all 18 holes. The views are spectacular, and the sunsets are something else. Competition days take it to another level, with live music, drinks flowing and laughter that carries well into the evening. When the big sporting events are on, the atmosphere lifts another few gears. And the food is consistently excellent.