We don't quite know what it is about golf, but we can build up quite a thirst watching sporty types flailing away on the River Club's driving range. It is conveniently located just off the Slug & Lettuce's spacious veranda. It faces northwards and the summer afternoons here can be scorchers.Our hearts go out to those on the mashie course, labouring under a relentless sun and, dropping another block of ice into a sauvignon blanc.The River Club, established in 1939 on the banks of the Liesbeek and Black rivers in Observatory, is like a non-U Kelvin Grove, a country club for the common folk.According to the online bumf, this landmark conference centre and golfing hub was recently "reimagined and injected with new energy" to make it more family-friendly. There's a River Rascals Kids Club, for instance, that looks after the sprogs, and is extremely popular on Sundays. (Booking is apparently essential.)The Slug & Lettuce is a local franchise that models itself along vaguely traditional London pub lines. Or so it claims. Upscale sports boozer look, we call it - not too flash with the tat and bric-a-brac, and top marks for the selection of draughts on tap and an excellent wine list.They're not to be confused with the London-based "female friendly" Slug and Lettuce pub franchise, which is a whole other minimalist thing.The Friday afternoon after-work sessions at the River Club regularly extend into the evenings, and things do get a bit raucous towards the wee hours. They claim to be renowned for their Snakebites and Turbo Shandies. The former is made with equal parts of lager and cider; the latter, equal parts lager and Smirnoff Ice.The River Club, Observatory. 021-448-7906. Sunday to Thursday, 11am to 11pm; weekends 11am to 2am..