The Serengeti Golf Course is a stern test in the best of conditions. Add wind, undulating greens, unfamiliar grass and the pressures of top tournament golf and it is a mammoth task that faces some of the game's top professionals at this week's South African Open.
The 101st edition of the national Open makes its return to Gauteng for the first time since Randpark Golf Club played host in 2000.
The Jack Nicklaus-designed Serengeti is just two years old, but cannot be faulted on its condition.
It is immaculate, with barely a blade of grass out of place.
The tee boxes could easily pass as greens and the greens as billiard tables - all this without a single strand of kikuyu grass to be seen anywhere. It is a unique place in terms of South African golf courses.
Serengeti professional Ulrich van den Berg, at the age of 36 already a Sunshine veteran with stints on the European Tour, knows the demands of the course.
He joined Serengeti more than two years ago and knows the layout better than anyone.
"It's not the most demanding course off the tee," Van den Berg said this week.
"There are some tight tee shots. but generally there are wide landing areas.
"The key is being able to control your irons into the greens because where you leave your ball is critical to how aggressive you can be with your putts - you've got to put it in the right place."
Put your approach in the wrong place and you are battling to two-putt on the terrifyingly undulating greens.
But Van den Berg believes the greens are not much different to what the guys in Europe play on week in and week out.
"You get slopey greens [like this] in Europe too," he said.
"I don't think that's going to be a major issue at all.
"The condition of the course is remarkable. It is in sensational condition and the tournament will be a great success."
The ryegrass around the greens and fairways will also pose a challenge, mainly to the regular Sunshine Tour players, who are accustomed to the kikuyu grass in Johannesburg.
"There's definitely an adaptation we [the Sunshine Tour players] have to make to this grass," the Port-Elizabeth-born pro said.
"The Europeans are more familiar with this grass and we are more familiar with kikuyu-type grass.
"Chipping, pitching and shots around the green from the rough are definitely different to playing out of kikuyu, so there is an adjustment you have to make. It takes a bit of time."
Van den Berg believes the wind will play a major part if it gets up.
"There is definitely more wind on this side of town [the East Rand]. It's pretty flat, pretty open and you're exposed," he said.
"The thing that catches you out more than normal Jo'burg [courses] I would say is the wind. The wind is this course's big defence."
Whatever happens, the course has many traits that will test the European and Sunshine Tour's best over the next four days.
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