Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate

Copperleaf Golf & Country Estate

Location in Gauteng, South Africa Show map of South Africa Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate (Gauteng) Show map of Gauteng
Club information
Coordinates	25°52′47″S28°02′48″E / 25.879805°S 28.046770°E / -25.879805; 28.046770
Location	Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa
Established	2007 (as Copperleaf, previously Gardener Ross Estate)
Type	Private
Owned by	Investec Property
Operated by	The Els Club (African Golf Company)
Total holes	18
Events hosted	Tshwane Open (2013, 2014)
Greens	A1 bentgrass
Fairways	Kikuyu
Website	https://copper-leaf.co.za/
The Els Club at Copperleaf
Designed by	Ernie Els
Par	72
Length	7,315 m (championship tees)

Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate is a premier residential estate and golf club located in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa. Located in the countryside just outside of Johannesburg and Pretoria, the estate combines luxury living with a world-class golfing experience. At the heart of Copperleaf lies the Els Club, a signature golf course designed by South African golfing legend Ernie Els. The estate is notably built on land that once belonged to Els’s grandfather, Ernie Vermaak.

The estate originally launched in mid-2004 under the name, Gardener Ross Golf and Country Estate. In 2010, Investec Property acquired the development, formally rebranding it as Copperleaf Golf & Country Estate to reposition it as a premium, family-oriented lifestyle community. ^[1] The renaming drew inspiration from the indigenous plant that is native to the region, chosen to reflect both the estate's natural setting and it's refined aesthetic. ^[1] Investec's investment, around R50 million, the establishment of South Africa's first Els Club golf course (second, globally), all aimed at defining a distinctive family-friendly country-club environment.

The Els Club

The Els Club at Copperleaf is an 18-hole championship golf course designed by golfing legend Ernie Els and officially opened in late 2007. Conceived as a "modern classic" within South Africa's Highveld grassland, the design strategically utilises the estate's natural terrain, flanked by indigenous grasslands, rocky outcrops, and Magaliesberg panoramas, to create a stimulating yet accessible layout. ^[2] Stretching approximately 7,315 metres from the championship (black) tees to 5,117 metres from the forward tees, making it one of the longest courses in the world. ^[3] Built to USGA standards, this second "Signature" Els course in South Africa tested the pros as the host venue for the 2013 and 2014 Tshwane Open on the DP World (formerly European) Tour. ^[2] The course balances a firm but fair playability with environmental stewardship, retaining wetlands, rehabilitating indigenous ecosystems, and preserving open parkland across the estate.

The standout signature hole at The Els Club at Copperleaf is the 6th hole, a striking 375 metre par-4 that blends visual drama with strategic complexity. Tee shots must favour the right side of the fairway, ideally not using the driver, to navigate the steep right-to-left slope. From there, players face an angled approach over water to a raised green, demanding precise club selection and execution. ^[4]

Several other holes deliver memorable challenges: the 3rd hole, a long par-3 for which from the back tees it plays more than 250 metres; the 4th, an epic 626 metre par-5, the longest in European Tour history, recently shortened but still a test of power and strategy. The 11th, a scenic downhill par-5 with an elevated green, rewards distance off the tee, while the 14th par-3 stands out for its unusual absence of bunker or water hazards, rare in South African golf, relying instead on length and a challenging green. ^[5]

Tshwane Open:

Year	Tours	Winner	Score	To Par	Margin of victory
2013	AFR, EUR	Dawie Van der Walt	267	-20	2 Strokes
2014	AFR, EUR	Ross Fisher	268	-21	3 Strokes

Wildlife

The estate's preserved natural areas are home to several indigenous species, including the elusive Gunning's rock Scorpion and the African grass owl, a near-threatened bird species.

References

1. Mhlanga, Denise (20 Sep 2011). "Gauteng's family golf estate homes". Property24. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
2. "The Els Club Copperleaf – The Els Clubs" . Retrieved 2025-07-12.
3. "The 10 longest golf courses in the world". Golf Advisor. 2025-04-21. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
4. simon (2024-01-31). "Course of the Month: The Els Club Copperleaf". Compleat Golfer. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
5. "Els Club Copperleaf". SA Top 100 Courses. Retrieved 2025-07-12.