Before heading for the Tembo Reserve Golf Club, just released a few days ago, I thought I would check out the Tembo Lodge, also designed by Neil Munro, ten years ago...
This par 72 is a very nice way to start your “African trip”, as you will find out with the long (almost 600 yards) par-5 1st hole, with a blind tee shot and a small green, slightly to the right (and with an elongated bunker in front, on the left), at the tip of the peninsula fairway, surrounded by a wide lake, around which the whole course is set.
The par-3 3rd hole is quite scenic, with a blind and downhill tee shot over some bushes and a nice panoramic view of the lake as you reach the green, just like the long dogleg par-5 4th, with a fairway hugging a wide lake on the right and a very risky second shot over some rough and bushes on the edge of the lake, and with two elongated bunkers on the left, next to the green.
Another blind tee shot (landing onto a sloped fairway) awaits you on the left dogleg par-4 5th hole, with an approach shot to the green over some more deep rough and bushes across the fairway, before moving on to the nice uphill par-3 6th, with a little ditch, filled with rough and bushes diagonally in front of the green, and a little bunker on the right.
I also like the short (about 335 yards) dogleg par-4 8th hole, with its very narrow fairway, set between deep rough and bunkers on the left and a wide lake on the right, and the pretty par-3 9th, with a deep and big bunker in front of the green, next to the lake.
The back 9 starts with the right dogleg par-5 10th hole, uphill all the way, with a blind approach to the green, over some deep rough and with a couple of small bunkers in front, and is followed by a nice panoramic downhill view from the tee of the straight par-4 11th, with the wide lake behind the green.
As for the last five holes, they are very pretty and quite challenging : the par-4 14th is a right dogleg, downhill to the green with the fairway getting narrower as you approach it (with trees on both sides), the par-4 15th hole is a left dogleg, with a blind and uphill tee shot over some high rough, bushes and a couple of trees, and a very risky approach to the tiny green (along the lake), and the right dogleg par-5 16th is beautiful and quite long (almost 590 yards), with a winding fairway hugging the big lake on the right, and a long second shot over the water leaving you with a short approach to the green !
The par-3 17th hole is not only scenic, it is also quite risky, with a blind tee shot over some deep rough, a few trees and the lake, and a green at the tip of a peninsula (with that nice long bridge across behind it), just like the right dogleg par-5 18th, with a split fairway with high rough and trees in the middle, the lake on the right and where, with a “perfect” tee shot, hopefully landing over the water, you might be able to reach the green on your second shot and putt for an eagle, before admiring the gorgeous small lodge (on the left) and its little basins in front with nice vegetation in it and a small war memorial.
With so much deep rough around, beautiful plantings, a very nice lake covered with a few small sandy patches with deep rough in the middle, and that long and narrow little bridge, this Tembo Lodge is beautiful to look at and quite challenging too, with elevation changes, water hazards, and some hard-to-reach greens, thanks to Neil Munro's designing talent !
So, hurry to download this very nice course before discovering the Tembo Reserve...

Very good course Neil,great layout which I could almost visualise. Great reflection of the surrounding hills in the waters. Very enjoyable. Five stars.

Had A fun round felt like @ one point there was A lion following me. Liked the 18th split fairway, I also found the big tree in the middle of it. The courses reminds me of A course -(the course had A windmill or something like that on one of the fairways) on earlier version of TW just can't remember the name right off hand. A few of the fairways narrow at the end so shot placement is A must. One thing I like is the big open fairways. Thanks Neil *****

A bit of a diversion from your usual courses Neil, but a lovely course sounds are a bit scarey! And deceptive elevated greens make for approach play to be at its best, and agree also nice choice of textures and you have captured the feel of "the bush" Watch out on back 9 as the fairways get a bit narrow! I'll give it a 5 star

In my humble opinion this is one of Neil's best layouts as far as hole layouts, everyone is unique and fun to play....the clubhouse area behind 18 is one of the most beautiful designs I ever saw, it is stunning....great effort my friend