Clovelly Country Club

Used initially by a group of naval officers stationed at the nearby Simonstown base (who were mainly transitory), and a number of enthusiastic golfers from the area, the Clovelly Golf Links was formed, and was for a start, only a nine hole course. This was around the 1920’s. It was two years after the Great Depression of the late 1920’s that Clovelly was rescued from closure by two entrepreneurs, Gus Ackerman and Michael Pevsner, who purchased the property and, in 1932 formed the Clovelly Country Club which was officially opened in 1934. The property was originally the farm “Klein Tuin”, and was purchased for the sum of 3 000 pounds. Gus Ackerman and Michael Pevsner’s stated purpose was “that the aforesaid land shall only be used for sporting and other activities of the Clovelly Country Club from the membership of which no person shall be debarred by reason of nationality or religion. Fishoek Farm – circa 1905 – the vast Clovelly dune and indigenous landscape clearly different to what exists today. In these early years, members sometimes played golf with red balls to avoid losing them in the sand and often, after their round, would go out onto the course and plant grass. It was also at this time that a large number of members left to form Westlake Golf Course which was nearer geographically and had a different Constitution. With a dire need for members, money and amenities, it is amazing that by the end of 1932 an 18 hole golf course and 4 tennis courts had been built. Farmers further up the valley were not keen to release water and already in these early years Clovelly drilled boreholes to ensure a reliable and economically viable source of water. The designer of the course was Dr CM Murray with Mr R Grimsdale, a talented and experienced specialist in this field. In addition in these early years, many of the Club’s gardens were established with shrubs and plants from members own gardens and two bowling greens were built to commence a new activity. 1 December 1934 Judge Gardner opened the new Clubhouse replacing the tiny dwelling that had served the members as a changing room.