Testing times for Randpark

More than 35 millimetres of rain fell on Randpark Golf Club’s two courses yesterday, leaving greenkeeper Roger Innes with more work than he would have liked ahead of the Joburg Open, the tri-sanctioned event that starts on Thursday.

Yesterday’s ProAm had to be cancelled but Innes is confident that there will be better weather today and they will be more than ready to host the R16.5 million event in fitting style as they stand in for the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club that is being refurbished.

“The weather certainly is not what we ordered, but at least the rain has come now and not later in the week. The forecast seems to be positive in terms of it clearing.

“The river on the Bushwillow course is actually generally better behaved than the one on Firethorn, but there is a high clay content on that side so it takes longer to drain, especially the bunkers. Firethorn is holding up nicely though.

“We’ve grown the rough up from the usual 40mm to 90mm, it’s not consistent everywhere, but it will be tough around the greens closer to the irrigation,” Innes told The Citizen last night.

Very few of the overseas contingent will have played on either of Randpark’s two courses, and Innes warned them that the three closing holes on Firethorn had the bite to cost the errant or unwary golfer dearly.

“Firethorn is definitely the longer of the two courses at almost 7000 metres and you have to be careful how you finish; if they tuck the pins away then guys can definitely drop shots there. You have to try and get round Bushwillow using your head more,” Innes said.

While the likes of Louis Oosthuizen, defending champion Darren Fichardt and hot shot youngster Dylan Frittelli (above) will lead the South African charge, the local contingent could lose Haydn Porteous, whose participation is in doubt due to illness.