THE History
The Met
7

Introduction

The Green and Sea Point Golf Club was founded on the Green Point Common (in the area previously known as the “Waterplaats”) in 1895 by Mr A.A. Perese. The first Club Captain was Mr W. Wardlow. A locker was hired at the Three Anchor Bay Railway Station to store club equipment, and a room just off Main Road served as the first clubhouse.

The course closed in 1899 to make way for the military needs of the British Empire during the Anglo-Boer War. Following the signing of peace in 1902, the Green and Sea Point Golf Club re-established a new layout on the Common. The Roseberry Terrace cottage, situated near the lighthouse, was used as the clubhouse.

This arrangement proved unsatisfactory, and a new nine-hole layout was designed and opened in 1906. With this development, the club was renamed The Metropolitan Golf Club. The name “Metropolitan” had already been used in the area, notably with the establishment of the Metropolitan and Suburban Railway Company in 1888, as well as the Metropolitan Handicap horse racing event, which later moved to Kenilworth. Although unsubstantiated, it is possible that the club’s name was influenced by these associations. The old racecourse stand, also known as the White House and later Seagulls, became the new clubhouse.

For the next 100 years, the club retained the same layout. On 20 August 1959, a newly built clubhouse was opened, which is still in use today, having been upgraded to modern standards.

In 2007, the course closed to make way for the new Cape Town Stadium. A new golf course was commissioned by the City of Cape Town and designed by local golf course architect, Mark Müller.

The Cannon

Sometime around 1780, a new cannon was cast at Stafsjö Bruk, a Swedish artillery manufacturer that was already 114 years old at the time. It formed part of a Dutch munitions order intended to defend its global colonial interests.

The Early years

Before 1895, the growing golfing population of Cape Town, Green Point, and Sea Point found the distance to Rondebosch — where the Cape Golf Club (later known as the Royal Cape Golf Club) was located — increasingly inconvenient. As a result, they decided to establish a new golf course at Mouille Point, which became the Green and Sea Point Golf Club.

let there be 18 holes

The need for 18 holes has been one of the most frequently discussed topics in the Club’s history. Between 1906 and 1915, the Council was approached on several occasions with requests to extend this magnificent course, so close to the City, to 18 holes — but without success.

the war years

This section is largely based on records from the minutes of our esteemed President, Mr Mike O’Connor, who sadly passed away in 2015. As mentioned earlier, a special dispensation was granted to members who were away on active service during the war.

In 1916, one of our members, Lieutenant W. Tempany, was wounded during the fateful Delville Wood campaign.

entering with a bang

By this time, our professional, Mr Logan, had moved on, and Mr Fred Jangle was appointed in his place in 1917 on a salary of £3 per month. In 1922, he entered the South African Open at Royal Port Alfred and won this prestigious tournament — the second oldest in the world after The Open — with a score of 310.

Green Keeping

Up to this stage in The Met’s history, oxen and horses were the primary sources of power for course maintenance equipment. As a result, greenkeeping was relatively infrequent. The greens were mown using hand-pushed roller blade mowers.

Second world War

Extract from the Committee Meeting of 12 October 1939: “The courtesy of the course shall be extended to all members of the armed services.” With this, The Metropolitan once again renewed its association with wartime — for the third time in its history.

Post World War II

Two of our young members, Ken de Vos and Pat Conway, served as pilots during the Second World War. Apart from their aerial prowess, they were also highly skilled golfers. Pat won the Club Championships in 1946 and 1950, while Ken claimed the title in 1956 and 1959.

The Big Move

The building that housed the Club in its early years was erected in 1872 and was originally located where the McDonald’s now stands. The Club occupied it from 1906, and by the mid-1950s, significant repairs were required to keep it functional.

Dear Sally

Committee Meeting, 25 June 1962: “Please advise the Ladies Committee that Mr Percy Little’s daughter, Sally, has the Committee’s approval for Prentice Membership.”

Under the guidance of her father, whose famous saying, “hit it with your arse,” clearly stayed with her for life, she went on to become one of Metropolitan’s most renowned members. It is truly wonderful to have her back in our midst.

OPERATING HOURS

operating hours

Operating Hours

Season (October – March): 07:00 – 19:00

Non-Season (April – September): 07:00 – 18:00

Bar Facilities: 11:00 – 21:00

ADDRess

Fritz Sonnenberg Road
Mouille Point
Cape Town, 8001

Contact

Phone

Bookings: 021 430 6011

Member Administration: 021 430 6013

General Manager: 021 430 6012

Golf Shop: 021 430 6015

Mail

bookings@metropolitangolf.co.za