Fairway to certainty: Golf club secures decade-long lease

The East London Golf Club has finally put pen to paper, signing a 10-year lease with the Buffalo City Metro (BCM), allowing the club to continue operating from its Bunkers Hill grounds in KuGompo City. The agreement, which is effective from August 1, follows the BCM council’s approval of the lease extension after months of uncertainty over whether the club would remain at the municipal facility. The two parties had been at loggerheads after the metro proposed increasing the club’s rent from R4 a month, which it had paid for 50 years, to almost R100,000 a month.

In April, the council approved a compromise lease that would benefit both the municipality and the club. The council resolved that the lease be extended, with the club paying what the municipality considered a “fair lease” of R21,500 a month — a 50% discount on the assessed rental of R43,000. Earlier reports indicated the lease would run until February 2036.

However, municipal spokesperson Luzuko Buku said the signing process was delayed by “necessary clarifications between the municipality and the club”. “While the process of signing experienced minor delays due to necessary clarifications between the municipality and the club, these fruitful engagements ensured that the final terms provide long-term certainty for both parties. “The newly signed agreement, taking effect from August 2026 for a duration of almost 10 years, positions the golf club for sustainable development, fulfilling a shared vision the municipality has long championed,” Buku said.

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“It has always been BCM’s firm stance that public assets must yield tangible value for the city’s residents. “Beyond securing a fair lease amount of R21,500 per month, the agreement ensures the facility operates in a way that maximises tourism, drives economic development, and fosters youth inclusion through golf development commitments for previously disadvantaged individuals.” East London Golf Club general manager Andrico Steyn said the club was pleased to have reached an “amicable” agreement with the city over both the rental amount and the lease conditions.

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