Walmer Golf Club in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) is one of the oldest and most active golf clubs in South Africa — founded in 1897 on a historic commonage in the upmarket suburb of Walmer, overlooking the Baakens Valley nature reserve. Commonly known as Little Walmer to distinguish it from the nearby Walmer Country Club, the estate comprises a challenging 9-hole parkland course with 18 tee boxes, a modern clubhouse rebuilt and upgraded as part of the Golf Estate development in 2005, two on-site restaurants, a padel facility, and a spacious function venue that hosts everything from corporate golf days and conferences to weddings and social celebrations for groups of 20 to 200 people. With the biggest club membership in Gqeberha — 1,122 members in total, including 899 affiliated golfers — Walmer Golf Club is not just Port Elizabeth’s premier 9-hole course; it is one of the most active golfing communities in the Eastern Cape.

Founded in 1897: One of SA’s Oldest Golf Clubs

The origins of Walmer Golf Club are unusual even by South African standards. The land on which the club sits was originally a commonage — a tract of shared municipal land on which Port Elizabeth citizens were entitled to graze their animals. In the late 19th century, with golf already establishing strong roots in the Eastern Cape (the PE Golf Club had been founded in 1890), the Walmer community established a golf course on this commonage, initially laid out with 18 shortish holes played on sand greens, each hole designed, built, and maintained by an individual family. The club’s name honours the Duke of Wellington — the great military leader who died at Walmer Castle in Kent, one of his favourite residences.

The club lost nine of its 18 holes during the First World War as membership depleted, and has remained a 9-hole layout ever since — a configuration that has not limited its appeal. Tall pine trees frame several holes; the course is built in an L-shape, with the opening par 4 (393 metres) playing down toward the Baakens Valley before the second turns uphill, and the two closing holes running alongside River Road.

In 2005, during the establishment of the Golf Estate, the clubhouse was rebuilt and five of the nine greens were upgraded to add more undulations and create more stable putting surfaces. In 2016, an unforeseen fire destroyed the top floor of the clubhouse, prompting a full renovation and upgrade of the facilities that resulted in the modern, spacious clubhouse that stands today.

The Course: Challenging, Character-Filled, and Competitive

Walmer Golf Club is a par-35 course, compact in layout but demanding in execution. The signature hole is the par 3 6th / 15th — just 127 metres from the tee, but requiring a precise tee shot to avoid the treacherous pond that extends along the front and right of the green. The green itself features deceptive humps and hollows that make a confident approach no guarantee of a good score. The 6th is followed by back-to-back par 5s — giving players who navigate the water a chance to recover strokes before the closing stretch.

The course makes extensive and intelligent use of limited irrigation resources. Greens run at a medium pace and are described by SA Top 100 Courses as being in respectable condition. Tee boxes continue to be a work in progress given water constraints, but the overall course quality is consistently rated well by members and visiting golfers. The notorious Port Elizabeth wind — a constant presence in Gqeberha golf — adds an unpredictable variable to every round, with hole difficulty changing significantly depending on wind direction on any given day.

Online virtual tours of the course are available at the club’s website, giving prospective visitors and new members the opportunity to explore the layout before booking a tee time.

The Clubhouse: Functions and Events for 20–200 Guests

The spacious, modern Walmer Golf Club clubhouse is the estate’s social and events hub — welcoming members and visitors alike for casual dining, tournament presentations, corporate golf days, conferences, social gatherings, and weddings. The venue accommodates 20 to 200 guests depending on function setup, making it flexible enough for a small working lunch or a full-capacity wedding reception overlooking the course.

Functions handled by the clubhouse team include tour group hospitality, corporate golf days, year-end functions, birthday celebrations, private dinners, conferences, and weddings. The management and kitchen team handle coordination and catering for all of these event types, with the scenic views across the Baakens Valley providing a naturally compelling backdrop for photography and memorable occasions.

For event bookings and enquiries, contact the club manager directly at manager@walmergolfestate.co.za.

Two Restaurants: Urban Espress and Greenside Grill & Pizzeria

Walmer Golf Club & Estate is home to two distinct dining concepts, both open to members and non-members.

Urban Espress serves as the club’s coffee and lighter dining offering — a popular stop for members between rounds and for Walmer residents seeking quality coffee and casual meals in a relaxed setting with golf course views.

Greenside Grill & Pizzeria is the estate’s full-service restaurant, offering stone-baked pizzas, juicy burgers, tender steaks, and grilled favourites in a family-friendly environment with scenic views of the lush fairways. The pizzas are freshly prepared and baked to order; the grill menu caters to most appetites and age groups. Greenside is popular for post-round celebrations, family lunches, and casual evenings out on the estate. Reservations can be made via golf@walmergolfestate.co.za.

Walmer Padel

The estate also hosts Walmer Padel (walmerpadel.co.za) — a dedicated padel facility that adds a fast-growing racquet sport to the club’s active outdoor offering. Padel courts appeal to a wide demographic and have added a new dimension of activity to the estate’s social calendar, attracting both existing golf members and a new generation of sports enthusiasts to the property.

Bay Golf Academy

For golfers looking to develop or refine their game, the Bay Golf Academy (baygolf-academy.com) operates from the Walmer estate, offering coaching and lessons by qualified instructors. The academy provides an accessible route into the game for beginners and a structured improvement path for established players.

Membership and Visitor Information

Walmer Golf Club accepts visiting golfers and new members year-round. The 2026 membership application form is available on the club website. Tee times can be booked directly via teesheet.co.za. The Pro Shop can be reached at +27 76 903 5289 for course-related queries.

Location and Getting There

Walmer Golf Club & Estate is at 79 River Road, Walmer, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape, 6001 — in the heart of Walmer, one of Port Elizabeth’s most established northern suburbs. Gqeberha Airport is approximately 3 km from the club (a short 5-minute drive), and the estate is within easy reach of the city’s top beaches, hotels, and guest houses. The nearby Baakens Valley nature reserve provides a scenic green corridor to the south of the course.

Tel: 041 581 1613
Pro Shop: 076 903 5289
Email: manager@walmergolfestate.co.za | golf@walmergolfestate.co.za

For tee times, membership applications, function bookings, and a virtual course tour, visit Walmer Golf Club & Estate’s official website.

Explore more golf clubs and event venues in Gqeberha through our Port Elizabeth event venues directory, or browse all Eastern Cape event venue listings for venues across the province.