Ten years after (I am not talking about the rock group !), Neil Munro did it again, with this Tembo Reserve GC, set above the Tembo Lodge golf club !
Unlike his previous course, you don't see the wide lake as often, but it is quite tough with plenty of deep rough, bushes, small trees, lots of elevation changes, blind shots, undulating fairways and partially-hidden (and small) greens.
After a nice left dogleg par-4 1st hole, with a tee shot over a small lake and slightly-uphill all the way, you will move on to the pretty par-3 2nd, with deep rough all the way to the downhill green, before facing the right dogleg par-5 3rd hole, with a downhill tee shot landing onto an undulating fairway (with the lake on the left and with an elongated bunker on both sides) and a blind and uphill approach to the small green, hidden by some big bushes and with a couple of bunkers in front.
The scenery then changes with two beautiful panoramic holes, the right dogleg par-4 4th, with a steep downhill tee shot, a narrow fairway in the middle, and an elevated green, and the left dogleg par-4 5th hole, back the other way, with another steep downhill tee shot, a big elongated bunker on the left, halfway, and another approach to the elevated green.
Then, after the nice downhill par-3 6th hole, with plenty of deep rough in the middle, and the left dogleg par-4 7th, downhill all the way with two elongated bunkers on both sides of the green, you will reach two of my favorite holes.
The right dogleg par-5 8th hole is not only beautiful, it is also very challenging, with a blind tee shot over some deep rough landing onto a narrow fairway, with the big lake on the right, a few small bunkers near some deep rough on the left and trees in the middle, making your second shot to the elevated green, quite difficult.
As if it was not enough, you will go back the other way with the right dogleg par-4 9th hole, with a downhill tee shot landing near the lake again on the right, leaving you with another tough approach to the elevated green, partially hidden by small trees and bushes.
The back 9 starts with the very pretty par-3 10th hole, with a blind and downhill tee shot over some deep rough, before continuing with the gorgeous left dogleg par-5 11th, with a very nice panoramic view, an uphill tee shot and a downhill second shot to the narrow green, with elongated bunkers all along on the left as you get close to it.
Another blind and uphill tee shot over some deep rough awaits you on the picturesque par-3 12th hole, with its small green, hidden by small trees and bushes on the right and with a few small bunkers around, unlike on the right dogleg par-4 13th, uphill all the way with a tee shot landing onto a slanted and narrow fairway, and the right dogleg par-4 14th, uphill all the way with a nice tree-lined winding road on the far left and a blind second shot to the hidden green, surrounded by bunkers !
The left dogleg par-5 15th hole is not easy either with a blind and uphill tee shot over some hills on the right landing onto an undulating fairway and a very long and blind second shot to the green, hard to reach with a ditch filled with deep rough and bushes across in front, not far from the green !
The following and shorter right dogleg par-5 16th hole goes back the other way, with a downhill tee shot, landing onto the undulating fairway near another ditch across, with a big tree on the right making your long approach to the green, quite tricky, with a big downhill slope as you get close to it.
The par-4 17th hole, on another hand, seems easy at first but, with another small ditch filled with deep rough and bushes halfway across, choosing the right club to tee off can be tricky, just like reaching its elevated green, partially hidden by bushes.
You will finish your round in a spectacular fashion, with another gorgeous par-3, with plenty of deep rough between the tee box and the green, and a nice panoramic view of the lake below on the left of the green, with the very nice lodge behind, with a small war memorial in front and a beautiful big tree on the right ! *
Needless to say, this Tembo Reserve Golf Club is a masterpiece, very well designed by Neil Munro, with breathtaking views and quite enjoyable... if you can avoid landing in the deep rough and/or bunkers spread all along ! Unfortunately, I did the first time around, shooting 76, before playing it again and finishing 10 shots below...
But, strangely enough during my two rounds, I did not see any elephants or leopards but, then again, I did not bring in my binoculars !

Excellent Job as usual Neil,Only one thing i found wrong WHERE'S the LIONS. ------ Just a suggestion Neil, How's about doing Lethem Grange Known as Scotlands Augusta.

I had the great pleasure of being asked to test this course, and as i guessed its another beauty by Neil, so much great detail in both visuals and sounds, just one of the most relaxing courses to play and full of amazing holes, many thanks Neil for sharing it with us all to enjoy.