Ore than a golf course
specimens of protected coastal red milkwood and large leaf fig. Special trees are the Cape chestnut, which flowers in summer on the DCC’s 9th fairway, as does the wild honeysuckle tree with its delicate scented cream flowers.
“A rare specimen is the lagoon tulip tree on the 10th fairway. It is the only one of three specimens in KwaZulu-Natal. The nearest other one is at Mtunzini.
“The Natal fig behind the fourth green is also worth a visit.
“Dune aloes down the first fairway are magnificent in June, often heralding the arrival of sardines.”
The course also represents the coastal dune forest system, which is a protected biome.
However, due to the proliferation of silver oak, the club has had to obtain a licence from the Department of Environmental Affairs in order to allow pruning in certain areas.
The DCC also has a birding group that meets once a month, early on a Saturday. – Sue Derwent
THE computer is set to, let’s say, Pebble Beach. The lights are dimmed and the massive screen lights up. All you have to do is tee off, and in a 5th of the time you would take to play 18 holes of regular golf – and for much cheaper – you and a couple of mates could enjoy playing on one of the world’s top golf courses, without even leaving Durban.
In a world technological first, The Logical Golf Lab, owned by golf coach, TV personality and entrepreneur Don Gammon, and based at the Durban Country Club, offers this experience on The Full Swing Golf Simulator, believed by many to be the ultimate indoor golf experience.
The Full Swing Simulator features state-of-the-art ball tracking and performance products, which allows golfers to play a virtual round of golf at any one of 86 of the world’s most beautiful championship courses such as Bethpage Black and St Andrews.
“As you can imagine, the simulator technology was pretty expensive and quite something to develop,” said Gammon who, together with his famous father, Muss Gammon, are renowned for developing the highly effective learning methodology known as “Ultra Simple Golf”. Both have been in the golfing business for years and are highly experienced coaches.
The Logical Golf Lab, open only a few months, is also a golf training facility with a difference. The concept of the lab also includes an indoor, customised coaching “gym”, which is highly effective in the coaching of beginners as well as experienced and even professional golfers.
Asked why he decided on Durban as the place to launch the lab, Gammon said, “It was a big risk opening in Durban as opposed to the more obvious Joburg. However, the decision was largely based on using Durban Country Club, which we believe is one of the premier clubs in the country. In addition, it’s a classic course. The driving range is also world class. So far, the response has been spectacularly successful.”
So much so that just a couple of months after opening, Gammon is already battling to keep up with demand and is considering opening labs in other major centres.
“We have found that while traditional outdoor coaching has its merits, using specialised indoor apparatus is an enormously constructive way of teaching – and practising – and we have seen far quicker results. It just helps people improve faster.”
Outdoors coaches also always have the challenges of the wind, rain and heat to contend with, he added.
With golf membership declining internationally, many clubs are battling to recruit new, younger players. “Ultimately golf takes an effort and is a big commitment. It is also timeconsuming, expensive (a good set of clubs costs in the region of R10 000) and it can be stressful, especially if you are playing badly,” smiled Gammon.
He believes that The Logical Golf Lab is one way of helping to get new people on to the course and enjoying a reasonable game of golf far sooner and, ultimately, in a more cost-effective way.
“Learning golf is not just about using your brain, you need to ‘feel’ it and be able to replicate it.
“We customise a series of lessons, and when using the apparatus you get to practise your stand, holding the clubs and generating speed with minimal stress. We really believe this is one of the best ways to learn.”
Corporate packages, without coaching, are also available and if you are looking for an unusual Christmas or birthday gift, a group can make a party of it, and with snacks provided by the club, play a round on the simulator at an international course of their choice.
Call 031 303 1829 or 083 228 0428; e-mail: don@gammongolf.com