The East Course is a championship layout that has hosted 7 South African Open Championships, the SA Amateur and numerous other Tour events, as well as the Joburg Open inaugurated at Royal in 2007 and played here again in 2008. Played off the Championship tees it measures 6940 meters, and a more user friendly 6442 meters off the Club tees. Famously or infamously the 10th and 11th holes are reputed to be the two longest back-to-back par fours in the world.

The East course was designed in 1935 by the then Club Professional Robert Grimsdell. The course was revamped in 1998 by golf course architect Mark Muller. Certain holes were altered but mostly it was the greens that, while keeping their original feel, were vastly improved.The course has since been further improved with the Stream Rehabilitation Project, which was undertaken in 2002 to arrest erosion of the stream beds and reinforce the banks of the spectacular water course running from west to east through the property.

The signature hole of the East Course is the 11th and is one of the best par four's one is ever likely to encounter. The hole is telescoped by huge poplars that make the lower holes on the East Course so spectacular. The finishing hole is a par five that can be reached with two powerful strikes, but like most of the holes on this course, the slightest error could result in one wishing that a more conservative strategy had been adopted. 

The East course offers the sterner test of the two courses at Royal, but beware - both courses offer a fine mix of holes, from the apparently benign to the downright fierce.