There are private golf clubs… and then there’s the Millvale Golf Estate. The elusive 18-hole course, set within a 5 000-hectare game farm, is unlike anything else in South Africa. It’s home to the country’s only floating tee, and so secretive that it has no official website, no public contact details and certainly no membership forms.
If you’re lucky enough to be invited, you will find Millvale Golf Estate tucked away near Koster in the North West province, not far from Rustenburg, along Millvale Road. Even its location adds to the sense of mystery; this is not the kind of place you stumble across on a Sunday drive. The estate’s story is as fascinating as its reputation.
Known initially as Morningside Farm Golf Club, the property was owned by British arms dealerRichard Charter, who died under mysterious circumstances in a boating accident on the Orange River. After his death, the estate was eventually purchased. Today, Investec holds a 60% stake, and businessman Nathan “Natie” Kirsh owns the remaining 40%.
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The acquisition allegedly took place around the time of the 2008 global financial crisis, an unusual moment to invest heavily, but perhaps exactly the kind of bold move you’d expect from a billionaire and a bank. Kirshis a self-made billionaire whose story begins in Potchefstroom, where he was born on 6 January 1932. His career took him from South Africa to the United States, where he built an empire in wholesale distribution.
In 1976, Kirsh founded Jetro, a cash-and-carry store in Brooklyn, New York. Eighteen years later, he acquired Restaurant Depot, a wholesale supplier to the food service industry and in 1995, opened its first retail outlet in New York. Today, Kirsh is one of the wealthiest South Africans, with business interests spanning property, food distribution, and investment.
Despite his global profile, he keeps a low public profile, much like Millvale itself. Gary Playerdesigned the golf course. Known as the “Black Knight”, Player is one of the most successfulgolfersin history, with 165 professional victories worldwide, including nine major championships. But his impact on the golfing scene extends far beyond his playing record.
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