Well, I am very lucky to have a chance to play 2 (two) rounds golf in Johannesburg during our (me and my wife) short holiday to that wonderful city in South Africa at March 12-21, 2017. This is my notes about the golfing experience. To make it more interesting, I'll compare it with Jakarta (to certain extend, as the representative of Indonesia).
The two courses I played are:
- Randpark Golf Club (Bushwillow course). Their website: http://www.randpark.co.za
- Royal Johannesburg Kensington Golf Club (east course). Their website: http://www.royaljk.za.com
DISCLAIMER
I will provide a conclusion and the end of each comparison, i.e. which city is better than the other.
The comparison and conclusion are qualitative and based on my personal view. It doesn't intended to be a scientific valuation.
RESERVATION
As a tourist and a first time visitor, I do a lot of information inquiry through e-mail to make sure I have sufficient information, include the possibility to play one ball. With regard to this matter, two thumbs up for both of the courses. They are very helpful and allow me to tee off alone. Well, probably because I am
playing in weekday and in a course who have 2 x 18 holes. However, they do inform me that there is a possibility that I might have to join other flight if the course is busy.
With this regard, Jakarta and Johannesburg are similar. In Jakarta/Indonesia, information inquiry or booking arrangement are very well managed as well. Apparently, all courses around the world will put serious effort in client services ;) Playing one ball or has to join other group also sunject to the course busyness.
Conclusion: Both win
BAG DROP & REGISTRATION
In Indonesia, this process is very standard in all courses. There is a clear sign of bag drop and registration. As we drop the bag, a bag identifier card will be given which will be the "id card" through out the process, i.e. registration, locker, and check out.
In Johannesburg, I was experiencing two different process:
- Randpark : no bag drop sign. I arrived at the main gate of the club house and confused. Well, thanks to a security guard there who told me just to put the bag in front of the golf house without any receipt. The registration desk looks like a temporary desk because the golf shop is under renovation.
- Royal : the bag drop sign is clear, located in front of the club house. However, no receipt given. The registration is similar to Indonesia, located in the golf shop.
Conclusion : Indonesia win.
From a visitor/client's perspective, the existance of the "bag id-card" really provide easiness for the player. Just drop the golf club at the bag drop point, take the id-card and the club will be available at the starter point.
STARTER
Where to go after you are ready to start playing the game? In Indonesia, always look for the starter. It is a standard process in every course.
In Johannesburg, I can't find the starter.
- Randpark : I walk out to the course and found a caddy master desk. My golf club was not there, no sign of starter desk. I just talked to a person standing behind the caddy master's desk. Without any methodology, a caddie was assigned to me. Where was my club? It was remained at the spot where I placed it at the gate of the front gate. We walked together there to take my club;
- Royal : at the bag drop spot, a caddie was immediately assigned to me. Therefore, I just looked for the caddie as I was ready to commence the game. It was much better compare to Randpark. However, I can't find the starter sign. Probably I was miss-looked.
Conclusion : Indonesia win
FIRST TEE
Indonesia and Johannesburg (South Africa?) apply different system in determining the first tee off for players to start the game.
In Indonesia, what hole to be the first tee will be determined by The Starter. He/she will tell the players what hole to start (1 or 10) and organize the caddy to approach the players at the starter counter (or directly to the starting hole if the players have start walking there).
In Johannesburg, the hole is defined during the registration process. On the receipt, there's information on the tee time and hole number (1 or 10). Player should look for the caddy themselve before walking to the starting hole.
Conclusion : Both win
Each of the system has it's own advantage and disadvantage. Johannesburg's system provide certainty to the players while Jakarta's system provide convenience because the starter will organize everything.
CADDY ARRANGEMENT
Joahnnesburg provides options for player to use caddy or to play without caddy assistance. In addition, cart is also optional.
Refer to my experience and observation, all caddies are male. Probably because they have to carry the golf club without golf trolley.
In Jakarta, caddy service is mandatory. It is included in the price. Each player will be accompanied by a caddy. An exception of this probably in Bintan. It is said that sometime in a very busy day, shared caddy policy might applied because of the shortage of caddy.
Regarding the gender, there are variety policy applied. In some courses, all caddies are female, some courses have both female and male. Probably only few courses that only have male caddy.
Conclusion : Johannesburg win
Although personally prefer to have caddy to help me estimate distance and read the green, having flexibility is always good.
CADDY QUALITY & WORKING FACILITY
Johannesburg
- Clothing : very simple, the style is quite similar to a factory worker who load/unload material from truck.
- Willingness to help : I have different experience with regard to this matter. Randpark : the caddy was very helpful. He was a player before something happened to his leg. We discuss a lot of things about golf and swing. Well, he also gave me some tips on that ;) very nice. Royal : the caddy didn't show energy to help me as the player. It happened several time I had to find the ball myself because the caddy just walk pass through it without showing effort to find the ball.
- Working facility : Golf trolley is not provided by the course. Therefore, it the player doesn't have one, the caddy have to lift and carry the club. When I played at Randpark, the caddy was bringing his own towel to clean the club. But at Royal, it was not happening. The caddy asked me "do you have a towel?". Well, it's lucky I bring a golf towel with me. Therefore, it can be concluded that the working facility is very minimum.
- Half round break : well.... I don't play in too many different countries, but this is the first time I experience a half round break for caddy to take his breakfast. And, we have to pay part of the caddy tips/fee at the break time.
Jakarta
- Clothing : in most courses, the caddy wear uniform and quite fancy. The female caddy even have a good make up.
- Willingness to help : mostly high. If a player doesn't satisfy with the caddy, he/she can request to change the caddy to The Starter officer.
- Working facilty : everything that needed by a caddy to do the job are provided by the course, such as golf trolley, tower, etc. They even bring the tee (both lomg and short tee) in case a player lost or forget to bring the tee. They also bring ball mark or at least coin to help the player mark the ball.
- Half round break : not applied. The tips will be paid after finishing the whole round.
Conclusion : Jakarta win
THE COURSE
This is a very difficult dimension to compare since each course has its own uniqueness. Therefore, I only focus on the general quality of the grass, setting, maintenance and look & feel.
As a simple criteria of comparison, I use the weekday golf fee as the representative of the category.
Golf fee around USD 40 (R400 / IDR 450 K)
- Johannesburg : Randpark
- Jakarta and it's greater area : Pangkalan Jati, Halim, Rawamangun (Jakarta Golf Club), Matoa, Modern (Tangerang), and alike
Randpark -in my opinion- could be three times much better compare to Jakarta's courses.
Below are several pictures of Randpark golf club Johannesburg. I am so sorry for not uploading the Jakarta's courses pictures.
Golf fee around USD 90 (R900 / IDR 1 million)
- Johannesburg : Royal
- Jakarta and it's greater area : Pondok Indah, Royale, Emeralda, and alike
For this category, both city share a same value. They are all beautiful and well maintained. All two thimbs up.
Below are several picture of Royal Johannesburg Kensington golf club
Conclusion : Johannesburg win
AFTER THE ROUND
In Indonesia, after finishing the whole round, the caddy will bring the club back to the bag drop where the player can pick it later. The players can just leave the caddy (after giving the tips) immediately.
In Johannesburg, that arrangement is not applied. The players have to take care of the club themselves immediately after finishing the round. I think this is a consequence of not applying starter system.
Conclusion : Jakarta win
It provide much convenience to the player. They don't have to worry about the club after the round. They just go to shower, enjoy drink/meal at the club house and pick the club at the time they want to leave the course.
SUMMARY
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Dimension Jakarta Johannesburg
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Reservation Win Win
Bag drop/registration Win
Starter Win
First tee Win Win
Caddy arrangement Win
Caddy quality Win
The course Win
After the round Win
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I don't intend to conclude the final score. It really depends on what a player seek. Jakarta golf provide much more customer service while Johanneburg provide much more on the sport dimension.
What I can assure you is that whenever you play, it is a satisfaction guarantee ;)
Happy golfing!
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