Nick Wilson

Property Correspondent

JOHANNESBURG’s last remaining public golf course, Huddle Park in Linksfield, is going to be redeveloped into a private golf course and residential development.

Amanda Nair, executive director of the city’s development planning, transportation and environment department said on Friday that the city had voted for a consortium called Islandsite as the preferred bidder for the project.

Islandsite’s shareholders include Standard Bank, Investec Bank, Global Capital Alliance and empowerment groups Peu and Cyril Ramaphosa’s Shanduka Properties.

“What favoured this proposal was it was majority-led by bankers. We are comfortable about their ability to deliver,” Nair said.

Objections have previously been made that with fewer cheap public opportunities to play golf it will cement the sport’s status as a preserve of the elite. But there is now a trade off with the City of Johannesburg saying Islandsite would also build a public golf course in Frankenwald next to Alexandra, as well as upgrading the public golf course in Pimville, Soweto.

Nair said the consortium had the required black economic empowerment credentials. She declined to say how much the contract was worth. “To put figures on the table now is not possible as we (the City of Johannesburg) plan to extract more value,” she said.

Islandsite’s proposal includes a residential development and private golf course at Huddle Park. A park, bird sanctuary and farmyard is also planned. The park will be retained by the city and leased out for a 30-year period.

Islandsite also plans a retail and health centre, as well as office facilities. These will be retained by the city and leased out for 30 years .

The consortium will upgrade the public golf course in Pimville and provide finances for infrastructure for a middle-income residential development in Kliptown.

Nair dismissed criticism of redevelopment plans for the park.. “If we continue with the current status quo at Huddle Park it isn’t maintained and the value add is limited.”

She said the new golf course at Frankenwald would only be 5km from Huddle Park.

The consortium has offered a Gary Player signature course for the Huddle Park site. The courses in Pimville and Frankenwald will also be designed by Gary Player Designs.