As the first estate of its kind in Pretoria, Silver Lakes Golf Estate is an iconic residential development that has stood the test of time. Surrounded by numerous lakes, the estate derives the first part of its name, according to an article that appeared in the August 2001 Intra Muros, from the old silver mine situated to its north.
Established over 20 years ago by Anglo American Property Services (Pty) Ltd (Ampros), Silver Lakes Golf Estate currently comprises an exciting mix of accommodation, including a sectional title retirement village and a small townhouse scheme. Exuding a rustic charm resembling colonial suburbia, residents of the 1539 established homes are at liberty to choose architectural designs that embody a rich assortment of styles, including Balinese, Tuscan, face-brick, classic French and modern contemporary, further enriching the character of this established estate.
Spanning over 300 hectares of fertile landscape and natural vegetation, is it difficult to fathom the close proximity to the capital. Despite being located to the east of Tshwane, with the Union Buildings a mere 20 minutes’ drive away, meandering lakes, amazing game, wonderful birds and winding nature trails make Silver Lakes the perfect escape from city chaos, offering relaxed, serene and quaint living. Golf is a central component to Silver Lakes and the estate is proud to have hosted the SA Amateur Golf Championships at the beginning of March. Despite a national decline of the game across the country, the golf club at Silver Lakes continues to enjoy a steady increase in usage and membership.
Designed by Peter Matkovich, the magnificent 18-hole golf course is the proud winner of the Rekord Best of Pretoria Award for Best Golf Course in 2014 and forms the epicentre of this estate. Silver Lakes is also one of a few golf clubs to offer a two-year internationally recognised greens-keeping course for aspirant greens keepers.
The immaculately maintained course zigzags through some indigenous areas and also offers a golf academy with state of the art equipment, and experienced professionals are always available to assist new golfers. Members and visiting golfers are also able to make use of the putting and chipping greens, as well as the driving range. Silver Lakes is a constantly developing estate and, in 2001, a staggering 77-plus hectares of game reserve was added, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the bushveld. Residents are now privy to a wonderful selection of wild animals, including kudu, nyala, impala, springbuck, blesbuck, bosbuck, rietbuck, steenbuck, duiker and zebra that inhabit the reserve and use its dam as their chief watering hole – making sunsets and sunrises on this estate truly magical.
A rich and diverse birdlife community is also abundant, with a list of approximately 180 birds having been spotted within the estate to date, and a well-established fishing club permits members to fish in certain designated areas . In a bid to conserve the surrounding nature, a catch and release policy ensures a steady population of barbell and bass continue to breed in the dams. The majestic colonial-styled clubhouse offers a wide range of amenities and facilities, including a pro shop, members bar and halfway house café. Families can spend weekends lunching at a charming onsite family restaurant that boasts a lovely outside seating area – whilst a children’s play area with a jungle gym provide hours of amusement for the small ones. The estate caters for its adult residents just as well. Onsite tennis courts, a practice wall, soccer posts, squash courts and a communal swimming pool allow for a host of recreational activities, and plans are in place to upgrade and expand in order to complement the services at the clubhouse even further – with a small convenience store, for one – ensuring residents have access to everything they could possibly need to live a wonderfully fulfilled lifestyle.
A superbly convenient location means residents are most definitely spoilt for choice, with a number of shopping malls in close proximity. It is this prime locality that makes Silver Lakes a sought after venue for corporate team building exercises, conferences and private events. Positioned in the immediate vicinity of a number of international embassies, it is unsurprising that a good majority of diplomats and embassy staff have made Silver Lakes Golf Estate their home. Boasting an exciting blend of properties available from anything from R1 million for a sectional title unit to a minimum of R2 million for a full title free standing home, Silver Lakes remains a sound financial option for local and foreign investors. Although some are available for re-sale, all the stands are sold, with only 65 still left to build, and a steady increase in property value continues, with the highest recorded property sale to date exceeding R14 million. Tshwane is renowned for its excellent government schools and the majority of homes are occupied by young families. Die Hoërskool Menlopark is the closest state school to the estate, whilst the Curro Private School facility and independently run Tyger Valley College is just a short distance from the estate.
Despite a diverse and international make-up, a genuine community ambiance prevails, thanks mainly to the Home Owners Association that manages the estate effectively and efficiently, with the help of their very popular cat, Patches, who is extremely well loved (and even has her own Facebook page). A professional and experienced security team control all the entrance and exit points, while regular patrollers and biometric access controls ensure that estate dwellers are safe all day, every day. Making a difference in the local community is very important to residents and a portion of the monthly levies collected are allocated to social responsibility and assisting local charities and communities in the surrounding area.
As a formidable industry leader, Silver Lakes has successfully cultivated an outstanding reputation and true sense of belonging in the local area, instinctively making it a premier piece of property for families wanting to embrace a wonderfully idyllic lifestyle, yet remain conveniently located to the capital. To be a front runner means to go where no one has dared go before. Boasting experience and expertise in this field, Silver Lakes has created a success recipe that lasts and lasts – making it a truly iconic residential estate.
FAST FACTS:
-One of the first golf estates ever built in Tshwane
-Voted Rekord Best of Pretoria Award for Best Golf Course in 2014
-Golf course offers two-year greens-keeping course
