South Africa is blessed with a great number of different ecological regions and the courses of our country reflect this diversity in their surroundings, layout and style. Below is a summary of only some of the South African Golf courses we favor in each of the country's primary golfing areas. This is by no means a complete listing of all of the South African courses – there are many, many more. If we can provide you with any additional information about a course which is not listed here, please do not hesitate to contact us. All the courses listed below feature in our golf tours and safaris – we can also include any other course of your choice that you wish to play, there are over five hundred courses spread throughout South Africa!
Western Cape
Arabella Golf Club: The Arabella golf course in South Africa is ranked by Compleat Golfer magazine as the number one golf course in the Western Cape. It is also featured in Golf Digest’s USA’s Top 60 courses outside of America in 2007. Designed and built in 1999 by celebrated South African golf course architect Peter Matkovich, who is also credited with the design of Western Cape courses de Zalze and Steenberg, this classic parkland course has spectacular views across the Bot River lagoon and across the Kogelberg mountain range.
The pristine fairways are kikuyu, while the greens, which frequently receive high praise from professionals in the game, are Dominant Bent. The golf course has been refined in the past six years with the addition of several bunkers and the revamp of the par-four 6th hold in order to rid it of its blind tee shot. Awarded Five-Star Golf Experience for the first time in 2002, the course is complemented by a luxurious clubhouse with bar and halfway house, as well as a fully stocked pro shop and excellent practice area with two resident teaching professionals.
The Arabella Golf Club has been the annual home to the Nelson Mandela Invitational charity golf tournament from 2003, hosting the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Samuel L Jackson, Ronan Keating, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Tim Clark, Lee Westwood and Sam Torrance. These and other top names have made a valuable contribution to Gary Player’s initiative to raise funds for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Foundation and the Player Foundation.
There is no doubt that a round of golf here ranks with the best experiences anywhere in the world.
Atlantic Beach Golf Club: Enjoy our Championship Links style Golf Course with its traditional style and an ocean breeze off the ocean. On calm days you can play your normal lofted shot or on windy days you can use the firm turf to play low running shots, beneath the wind. Either way, we are sure you will enjoy the challenge around this 18-hole golf course. Atlantic Beach Links Golf Courses have been built with a serious commitment to the preservation of the indigenous fauna and flora. Compared to other golf courses in Cape Town, on completion of your 18 holes around our course you will agree that it is the combination of good golf in unsurpassed natural surroundings that make Atlantic Beach's Links Golf Course a unique golfing experience.
Bellville Golf Club:
Clovelly Country Club: The Cape is the home of South African golf, and Clovelly ranks as one of the finest courses in the Cape Peninsula. Once only a nine-hole and mainly sand course, Clovelly was designed by Dr Charles Molteno Murray, one of the best known golf architects of his day. Advocate Bobby Lewin was responsible for much of the magnificent landscaping.
Together they produced one of Southern Africa's most picturesque and challenging courses. Famous for its rolling, computer-irrigated fairways and undulating holes, Clovelly complements its rich coastal environment. Natural sand dunes abut the course, which is blessed with water features and a wide variety of indigenous fauna - especially birdlife such as guinea fowl, pheasant, peacock and steppe buzzard - and flora, notably the variety of trees which line the fairways.
Unlike some other local courses, there is no noise intrusion from roads or railways, and both course and club house enjoy privacy and security. Clovelly's championship-quality greens (bent grass/poa annua mix) are among the finest in Southern Africa. Of moderate length (5 869m - Par 72 men & Par 73 ladies), Clovelly is unique in that it follows neither the links nor the American tradition in its design. It is a tight course by South African standards, and has a fine blend of testing holes, with the Silvermine River, and adjacent ponds adding much to their character. Looking at the beautiful course, one can hardly imagine it having been a series of sand dunes with a greenhouse as its rendezvous. A favourite course of Bobby Locke, each hole has a special distinctive setting, with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and False Bay.
De Zalze Golf Club: The name ‘De Zalze’ originates from the early wine farmers who produced wines on the three adjoining farms, namely Kleine Zalze, Groote Zalze and De Vleie, in the region. The historical buildings on the estate date back to 1838.
De Zalze Golf Course was opened for play in November 2000 under the name Spier Country Club. It was only in December 2003 with the opening of the new clubhouse that it changed to trade as De Zalze Golf Club, in line with the De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate development. Spier, together with Kleine Zalze, have redesigned the estate to make it one of the most sought after golf real estate properties in the Cape Winelands and South Africa.
De Zalze offers a fine mix of parkland holes, its main defences being the water features on several of the holes. The oak-lined Blaauwklippen River winds its way through the golf estate and comes into play at various intervals. Renowned golf course architect, Peter Matkovich, designed the De Zalze Golf Course, making most of the stunning setting while placing a premium on accuracy. Since the opening in 2000, the club was quick to reap rewards. De Zalze was selected to host the 2006 World Amateur Team Championships, moved from 44th to 24th in the latest Golf Digest Top 100 Courses, was recently placed 13th in the Top 30 Best Conditioned courses and De Zalze also received a service-orientated “Five-Star Golf Experience” Award, managed by Compleat Golfer, joining only 14 other courses out of over 450 courses in South Africa to achieve this honour. De Zalze is also the first golf course in the world to be recognised for adherence to Fair Trade principles and criteria and has been Fair Trade certified.
Erinvale Golf Club: Gary Player was the designer of the course and little of his immaculate challenges has been altered. The introduction of trees and the considerable care of manicuring the surrounds are nevertheless noticeable improvements.
The first nine holes are on the low, flat part of the estate and the second nine are on high, undulating ground. This will give you two different feels, but there remains a common thread – that is the standard of the superbly shaped greens, with truly consistent putting surfaces. The 1st hole, a dogleg right epitomises the Erinvale experience. You can choose a safe line straight off the tee leaving a long second to an elevated green well protected by bunkers and water to the right. The more ambitious will cut the corner with their drive. This requires a carry over water and a ditch, as well as the avoidance of trees. The reward is a short iron to a difficult target. Throughout the course there are majestic mountain backdrops, panoramic views of the surrounding hillsides planted with vine and sparkling views of the ocean from the higher vantage points. I have chosen to describe the finishing holes on both nines. These are excellent holes. However, I assure you that the experience and scenery around the other 16 will be cherished by the participants in the South African Airways Open as well as those of you who get to play on this superb layout in the Winelands.
The feature hole at Erinvale is the short par 3, 8th hole. However, my personal favourite is the downhill par 4, 17th hole which I would feature in any list of great golf holes. An out of bounds fence runs alongside the fairway on the right and tall pines accompany the left. An accurate drive will reach a fairway running steeply downhill and longer hitters will take advantage of this. For the average golfer, a long second shot is required to negotiate a narrowing fairway leading to a surprisingly small green, protected by severe bunkers on either side. The green itself needs concentration as it has some severe slopes to test the putter. This is especially so if the pin on the right. Larry Gould.
Hermanus Golf Club: Hermanus, on the Cape South Coast, is a charming fishing village famous for the whales that come here annually to calve. It is popular with Capetonians as a weekend getaway and during the Christmas and Easter holidays the resident population of 8000 swells to over 40000. Due to this influx, the Hermanus Golf Club has always experienced heavy traffic at certain times of the year. Despite this, the club, blessed with a dedicated and professional management has over many years deservedly gained a reputation for excellent year round standards.
In 2006, this classic country course has undergone a major overhaul with the introduction of nine new holes, based around a new real estate component, and the charming and gentle layout of the past has been replaced with modern classically designed holes, that have added much to both the visual and challenging aspects of the course, without losing any sense of its former tradition. This tradition, created by original designer Bob Grimsdell, which was based around the gentle mountain surrounds, sea views and country hospitality, and though those ingredients remain, this golfing venue has truly reached a new level. This is not surprising, as South Africa's foremost golf course architect, Peter Matkovich, was retained to infuse his special brand of flair and experience to maximise the potential on this scenic and gentle landscape. The flair is immediately noticeable in the use of new water and rocky features, as well as the introduction of visually pleasant grassy mounds adding definition and shape to the holes.
Superb new greens and bunkering have been introduced to the course that has been considerably lengthened. The upgrade and redesign are in conjunction with the introduction of real estate pockets that have been cleverly interspersed into this environment without impacting on the original charm of the golfing experience. The new residents on the estate and regular visitors will tell the first time visitor that the popularity of the area has in recent years been augmented by international visitors, who have discovered that Hermanus has the best land-based whale-watching in the world. The Hermanus Whale Festival, held annually, has become one of the Cape's most attended events and the Southern Right whales are pleased to entertain us while they return to calve in this delightful part of the Cape. Larry Gould.
Milnerton Golf Club: The Course… Milnerton Golf Course is an 18-hole, par 72 seaside course situated in a leafy suburb just 10 minutes north of the city of Cape Town. Surrounded by natural beauty, the course is a pleasure to the senses and a challenge to even the most experienced golfer - especially when the prevailing South Easter, affectionately known as the "Cape Doctor" - makes her house calls in the summer months!
Nestled between the Atlantic ocean and the RietVlei river, this lush links-type course is relatively flat with few trees. But with the sea and the lagoon bordering most holes, and the 7 beautiful water holes waiting to claim the wayward shot, it offers a truly unique golfing experience! Typical of many links-type courses, you will play the first 9 holes out, enjoy a light meal at the halfway house, and then return back to the clubhouse via the second 9.
The Attraction… On most holes, the sound of the waves breaking on the shore just metres away will remain long after your game is over. The spectacular view of Table Mountain from almost every hole is breathtaking, while the nature lovers will be thrilled at the abundance of water birds on the bordering river.
The Reward… Once over, the day's experience will not be complete without a well-deserved drink or two in the 5-star lounge situated just a few paces off the beach. There you will relax in comfort and reflect on your game while soaking in the splendor of the view over the ocean toward the Mother City - with Table Mountain completing a perfect post-card setting.
Pearl Valley Golf Estates: The masterplan was shaped by the vision of golf legend Jack Nicklaus and his unique touch is evident throughout the course at Pearl Valley Golf Estates. Nicklaus, who was recent named ‘the most influential man in golf’ in a prominent international golf magazine, has used his wealth of knowledge and experience in the game to develop a truly stunning golf course.
Officially opened at the beginning of November, 2003 by Nicklaus and South African great, Gary Player, Pearl Valley Golf Estates was named ‘best new golf course of the year’ by Golf Digest magazine in 2005 and in 2008 and is currently ranked the ‘5th best course in South Africa’ by Golf Digest.
During the 2008 South African Open, 2007 US Masters Champion Trevor Immelman was full of praise saying, “the course is in incredible condition, it really is. That’s the way I expected the course to be, to a high standard, and they have always turned out a fantastic course, for the members day-in day-out. I really feel like these fairways; they are some of the best, if not the best, that I’ve ever played on.”
Traversed by roads in only three places, with a state-of-the-art drainage system in place that allows play to continue just minutes after a severe down pour, the course is truly in a league of its own.
To meet the ‘Golden Bear’s’ uncompromising standards of golf course design and aesthetic beauty, a combination of the deep, lush green on the fairways and greens, together with the brilliant white river sand lining the bunkers was carefully planned to make Pearl Valley Golf Estates the most visually spectacular golf course in the country and arguably the world. The total length of course is 6801 metres from the Championship tees, whereas the members’ length ranges from 4685 to 5876 metres. Bunkers on Nicklaus’s signature courses are renowned for being shallow, long and relatively undaunting.
Every hole is played against the spectacular backdrop of the mountains surrounding the estate and all are challenging due to the strategically set bunkers and fast greens. The prevailing winds throughout the area have also been taken into consideration with the course design; the winter being northwesterly and the summer wind from a southeasterly direction. All par 3s and par 5s play in different directions, ensuring that the same conditions are seldom experienced during a round.
The 4th hole, par 3, is the ‘Signature’ hole of the course and perhaps the most scenic. The water cuts from the right and a greenside bunker awaits the cautious tee shot. This hole tests both your ball stroking and your nerve.
Hole 13 is also challenging with no room for error as you need to cross the creek three times on route to the green. This par 5 is listed as one of the best 18 holes in South Africa, a real ‘risk and reward’ classic!
On the 17th hole you might consider using a rescue wood or iron off this tee, but the closer you get to the green the better. Bunkers, as with all holes are difficult. There is a bunker on the left and water on the right for the tee shot. Your second shot requires pin-point accuracy to hit over the water and onto the green.
Steenberg Golf Club: The Steenberg golf course is rated as one of top three courses to visit in South Africa, while the Estate itself has earned global recognition as a flagship residential address. Situated mere minutes from the Cape Town city centre, Steenberg is a first-class destination for fine dining, wines of origin and luxury hotel accommodation. Steeped in the Cape Dutch tradition, history has an elegant, almost tangible quality at Steenberg. Nestled in the crook of the Constantiaberg Mountains, the Estate is a piece of time-crafted perfection some three centuries in the making.
Explore the course facilities and featured holes at your leisure for the most memorable round of golf you’ll play this year. Or any other year.
Stellenbosch Golf Club: Stellenbosch Golf Club has already celebrated its centenary, but it was only in 1953 that it grew from a 9-hole course into 18 holes. It has a championship layout that has hosted many prestigious tournaments in the past. Amongst others, the South African Open and South African Masters were hosted at this picturesque 18-hole layout. The 1999 SA Open at Stellenbosch Golf Club proved to be one of the toughest Opens in the last decade.
Royal Cape Golf Club: With lovely views of Table Mountain from most holes this championship course offers a beautiful setting that will make your visit here truly memorable. Royal Cape Golf Club is a true championship course having hosted the South African Open no less than ten times and the SA Amateur Championships eight times. The most recent SA Open held here was in 1996 and was won by Ernie Els.
Extensive work was done on the greens in 2000 to bring them up to the USGA standards and the course today is a fine test of golf and worthy of its championship rating. Essentially it is a very flat parkland course, well maintained and a pleasure to play with lovely views of the surrounding mountains. But don't be deceived by its apparent easiness. The fairways are narrow, demanding extreme accuracy off the tee, wayward shots can be heavily penalized amongst the trees and the greens are well bunkered.
There is also plenty of water on the course, notably at the corner of the 3rd, 4th, 5th and also the 14th, 15th and 16th. The 4th and 15th are beautiful par-3's, the 15th in particular requiring a finely judged shot over the water which encroaches right up to the edge of the green. The most difficult holes are the par-4 3rd, at 435m the longest two-shotter on the course, and the par-4 14th, a dog-leg right played into the teeth of the prevailing south-easter and with water guarding the right front and side of the green.
Westlake Golf Club: Against the amethyst slopes of the Silvermine mountains lies one of Cape Town's Premier Courses - Westlake. This easy to walk, 18 hole Par 72 golf course is characterized by the towering trees, which line many of its fairways.
Westlake has a very interesting, yet user-friendly design and quite a few doglegs. If you manage to stay out of the trees, you will achieve a good score. From the first to the eighteenth hole, every step affords panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
Established in 1932, Westlake Golf Club welcomes visitors with its special blend of old world charm and modern amenities in an atmosphere of conviviality and camaraderie.
Whether you're a tourist enjoying a Cape holiday, or a local golfer, visit us and see for yourself why Westlake is the Cape's most popular course.
Eastern Cape
Bushman Sands Golf Course: This 18-hole championship Bushman Sands Golf Course was designed by South African golfing legend, Gary Player. The course follows the banks of the Bushmans and New Years Rivers, resembling the game's earliest "links" courses in Scotland with undulating fairways and pot bunkers. Unique features at the Bushman Sands Golf Course include playing the first stroke over the railway line, a double green (1400 sq.m) shared by the 2nd and 5th holes, crossing the Bushman’s River and New Year’s River on various holes and finishing with a final drive over a small cemetery in the centre of the fairway.
Signature Hole
The dramatic 14th hole will probably be the feature hole on this course. The hole plays across a valley and stream to a green that is wide but not very deep and is positioned close to the railway line. This hole will prove a testing challenge for most golfers.
Royal Port Alfred Golf Club: The historic Royal Port Alfred Golf Club was constituted in 1907. Situated in Port Alfred on the South East coast of the Eastern Cape, half way between the Ports of East London and Port Elizabeth.
One of the true links courses in South Africa, it is set on the rolling hills of Port Alfred, with plenty of indigenous bush, game and wonderful sea views. The 5800 meter course has a unique layout, which, in true links tradition, tests your ability to read the elements as much as the course. A golfing experience not to be missed!
St. Francis Bay Links: In the early 14th century, either in the eastern Lothians of Scotland or maybe in the Netherlands where the game was called Kalvin, the game of golf began. The Links land was the marginal land lying between the beaches and the arable fields, and only good for grazing of sheep and rabbits and the bleaching of cloth.
Open to the elements, wind and rain, the game was played on the links grasses between the dunes and the bush.
St Francis Links land may not have been grazing land for the sheep and rabbits, but a natural course between the beach and arable land it is. Jack Nicklaus has had the pleasure of taking Mother Nature’s best piece of links land and signed his name to something unique. St Francis Links will challenge all who play it and reward those who respect it.
The layout combines every element of shot making with its undulating terrain, greens and surrounds as well as its variation in length and direction.
The bunkers look as though they have been simply plowed out of the land. It is the bunkering that truly defines the quality and character of St Francis Links. Others have designed and built courses with a links look. Here you will easily see what separates St Francis Links from the rest – a consistent look throughout. One will agree that, almost from the opening shot, St Francis Links carries a look and feel that breathes history from times gone by. The shape of the greens comes from the natural movement of the land. The greens have simply been placed on top of the sand, changing shape in construction as the wind changed its mind. Some are more undulating than others. All putting surfaces and green surrounds present a mental and physical test. St Francis Links is South Africa’s Pure Links!
Fish River Sun Country Club: With breath taking views of the Indian Ocean from several of its holes, the Fish River Sun Country Club offers golfers a parkland type challenge along the beautiful and unspoiled coast.
At 6 300 meters this Gary Player designed course is no push-over. High vegetated dunes and thick coastal bush flank the fairways and if this were not challenge enough the Old Women's River must also be negotiated. The river comes into play rather dramatically at the 12th hole, a long par 5 that winds its way along the riverbank. In addition the river must be crossed twice, both times requiring good solid shots to make it across. An essential aspect contributing to the enjoyment of any golf experience is the condition of the course and here again you will find the course is beautifully kept. In designing the course Gary Player went to extraordinary lengths to ensure that the outstanding natural features of the area were not compromised. The course therefore takes the golfer on a seaside ramble that is most rewarding no matter what the golf is like.
Humewood Golf Club: Home to one of the world's most challenging links courses, Humewood is consistently ranked as one of South Africa's Top 10 golf courses. The late Bobby Locke considered Humewood Golf Course to be the best in South Africa and said that it compared favorably with the top links courses in the British Isles. Humewood has hosted the South African Amateur 9 times and the South African Open 4 times.
Found in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth, the golf course is a genuine seaside links, frequently lashed by the winds off Algoa Bay. With wide and undulating fairways, fast greens and thick coastal bush, a round is a must for any golfers visiting South Africa. The course boasts a variety of animal life with an abundance of plovers, otherwise known as "kiewietjies", one of which makes up the club's emblem. And, after your round of golf, relax at the "19th" in the elegant Club House and indulge in a spectacular view over the links course itself as well as Algoa Bay.
Garden Route
Fancourt: Fancourt is South Africa’s premier golf resort, featuring three highly rated Championship golf courses, where play is restricted to Members, their guests and hotel guests. Since opening in the early 90's with just 27 Gary Player-designed holes, Fancourt’s Outeniqua and Montagu golf courses have matured and developed into two of the finest 18-hole parkland layouts in the country. A round on either is a special experience, sculpted and finished as they are, with rare attention to detail and designed with the coastal George winds in mind.
Fancourt The Links
The Links at Fancourt is without doubt the most impressive piece of golf design and construction ever in South Africa. Fancourt owner Dr Hasso Plattner, who took a very hands-on function in the creation, commissioned a golf course, which would not only be a thorough test for every golfer, but would also rank among the top courses in the world.
Player’s design team spent months studying the classic links courses of Scotland and Ireland and then, armed with inspiration from the best that those countries had to offer, embarked on the ambitious task of recreating some of their finest holes to make a genuine links test on what was once an airfield.
The result is awe-inspiring and has elicited praise from some of the world’s finest golfers – The Links was the host venue for the 2003 Presidents Cup, which ended in an historic tie after a dramatic play-off between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. In early 2005, it was the host venue for the Women’s World Cup of Golf, which was won by the diminutive duo of Rui Kitada and Ai Miyzato of Japan. In December 2005 The Links hosted the SAA Open, the world’s second-oldest national Open Championship. The Links at Fancourt is a private club, with play restricted to members and their invited guests. There are limited times available to guests staying at Fancourt’s hotel. There is little doubt that a round at The Links is a special experience, enhanced greatly by the expert caddies at the club. These caddies are among the best in the world and are sure to assist any standard of golfer negotiate his or her way around The Links. When playing The Links, it is difficult to believe that one is not in Scotland or Ireland, until, that is, one notices the imposing Outeniqua mountain range that rises impressively in the background.
Fancourt Montagu
Montagu is a much celebrated parkland course and has been ranked as the number-one golf course in South Africa in the past. It has recently undergone major renovations with several holes being redesigned and has two completely new holes - the 1st and the 9th.
"With golf critics becoming more discerning and the increase in new modern courses, we believed it was time to rejuvenate the Montagu layout and improve the course immeasurably," said Fancourt's CEO, Ingrid Diesel. Play is restricted to members, their guests and resort guests, so there is ample time and space to savour the Fancourt golfing experience. The warm-up area, featuring a full-length range and a chipping and bunker practice area, is available to all golfers before play. Golf carts are available for hire, weather permitting. Please note that to improve your playing enjoyment and to ensure a steady pace-of-play, it is mandatory for at least two caddies to accompany each four ball, and one caddy per two ball.
Fancourt Outeniqua
Outeniqua is one of two majestic 18-hole Parkland layouts at Fancourt. Designed by legendary Grand Slam golfer Gary Player, it is similar in character to its sibling Montagu, and its challenging design and fine conditioning will ensure an excellent test for all levels of golfers. As with all courses at Fancourt, there are a variety of tees from which to choose to play, ensuring that golfers are unlikely to ever feel overpowered by the course.
As with Montagu, play is restricted to hotel residents, members and their guests, so you are unlikely to ever feel crowded on the course. The warm-up area, featuring a full-length range and a chipping and bunker practice area, is available to all golfers before play. Golf carts are available for hire, weather permitting. Please note that to improve your playing enjoyment and to ensure a steady pace-of-play, it is mandatory for at least two caddies to accompany each four ball, and one caddy per two ball.
George Golf Club: The George Golf course is a beautifully manicured, 72 par, 18 hole course, with bent greens, set in the heart of the garden route. The course rating for men is either 70 (club – 5774m) or 72 (championship – 6100m), while that for the ladies is 72 (5188m).
Visitors are welcome, with the exception of Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, which are reserved for members. No group bookings allowed on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Caddies and motorised golf cars are available for hire – golf cars must be booked in advance. Clubhouse facilities include change rooms for men and women with showers, a halfway house offering light meals, a bar and a lounge with a verandah, which has a spectacular outlook over the course.
Goose Valley Golf Club: The Goose Valley Golf Club is situated in pristine surroundings, only 4km from Plettenberg Bay, bordering on the Keurbooms Lagoon. This magnificent golf estate offers a splendid Gary Player designed 72 par, 18-hole signature golf course in the heart of the Garden Route.
Golfers will experience breathtaking views of the Keurbooms Lagoon, the Indian Ocean, the spectacular Tsitsikamma Mountains and the famous Robberg Peninsula. The beauty of the natural fynbos, indigenous trees and an abundance of animal and bird life add a special dimension to your golfing experience. The club house includes a spacious, elegant restaurant and bar with a delightful choice of light meals. The well-stocked pro-shop handles green fees, golf cart and golf club hire. You can expect a warm and friendly reception from a helpful team of staff members and teaching professionals.
The golfing experience is further enhanced by a state-of-the-art driving range with practice chipping, putting and bunker play facilities. The unique setting of the golf course on a sand dune allows for easy draining of the course and provides the perfect base for year round play, even after heavy rains on tees and greens. An excellent blend of indigenous and coniferous trees complements the picturesque views and water features to provide a challenge to golfers of all abilities.
Pezula Golf Club: Pezula Championship Golf Course adjacent to Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa is a sweeping spectacle of fairways and greens rolling through the pristine Southern Cape landscape. The breathtaking, award-winning 18-hole course which was designed by David Dale and Ronald Fream of GolfPlan USA, rates amongst the best and the most scenic golf courses in the world. In 2001, just a few months after it opened, the Course was awarded Best New Golf Course in South Africa.
Covering 254 hectares on the Knysna cliff-tops, the Pezula Championship Course it has views of both the Knysna Lagoon and the Indian Ocean. Par for the course is 72. It is designed to include a full range of shots, making it a challenging, rewarding and complete golf experience for players of all levels. Signature holes have been earmarked as the 13th and 14th. The average round takes 4 hours 50 minutes, including a half-way break.
Pinnacle Point Golf Course: The Pinnacle Point Golf Course is an immaculate eighteen-hole championship golf course, co-designed by renowned golf architect Peter Matkovich and professional golfer Darren Clarke.
The golf course stretches along four kilometers of spectacular coastline and boasts dramatic cliff-side holes and over 1000 acres of unspoiled beachfront. Located near Mossel Bay in the Southern Cape along the Garden Route in South Africa, the Pinnacle Point Golf Course is comparable with the best in the world and truly is a design masterpiece. At the opening in November 2006, Darren Clarke, who has affiliated himself to the Estate, described the completed layout as the "best golf course on the planet". A professional golfer on both the PGA and European tours, this Northern Irishman has featured in the top 10 on the Official World Golf Rankings.
Peter Matkovich, the golf architect responsible for many of South Africa's premier golf courses including Arabella, Leopard Rock and Steenburg, has described Pinnacle Point as "the most dramatic golf course site I've ever encountered anywhere in the world!" The emerald green fairways and tees provide the perfect surface for making shots and the bent grass greens will ensure a challenging and entertaining game. The views are awe inspiring, with dramatic coastal views of the ocean from all area's of the course. Some of the holes are situated along the cliff side. In addition to this, the natural beauty of the indigenous flora and fauna complete this unique golfing experience.
Simola Golf Estate: Keeping your head down at Simola can be a challenge; simply because the views around the course are awe-enspiring, and with this, it is clear to see why Simola takes its place as one of South Africa's premier golfing destinations. It's also the first Jack Nicklaus Signature course on the Garden Route, reflecting the maestro's philosophy of attuning the layout and design to the natural lie of the land.
The course offers challenging and rewarding golf amidst spectacular scenery. Set below the high ridges, it’s free from the wind that so often plagues coastal courses. Fairways flow with the natural undulating contours of the terrain and the unusual configuration of five par 5's and five par 3's adds a new dimension to the game. Its par for the course that every hole boasts exceptional views; either out across the Knysna Lagoon all the way to the Heads or over the picturesque Knysna River as it twists and turns through the valley below.
Gauteng
Glendower Golf Course: This extremely well designed golf course, which opened in 1937, is situated against a tree-covered slope. The superb kikuyu-covered fairways feature numerous hazards and lead to excellent greens. There are 85 bunkers and water comes into play on 11 of the holes
Beautiful to look at, and very challenging to play, it has been said that Glendower - as a test of golf - is without equal in South Africa.
Houghton Golf Club: Houghton Golf Club is currently closed as it is undergoing major redevelopment. The land on which the clubhouse was located has been sold to a developer for construction of a complex consisting of 280 apartments and a 180 room hotel. The clubhouse is being constructed in the middle of the golf course and accessible from Osborne Road. Keep an eye on this site for the date of the re-opening.
Irene Country Club: The recent changes to the Irene golf course by Phil Jacobs Design has meant the course has undergone modernisation to stay abreast with the latest developments in the game of golf, yet has kept it’s traditional values.
This translates into a mental and physical test of judgment and shot making with lush kikuyu fairways and bent grass greens, in a dairy farm setting.
Phil Jacobs remodelled several of the holes, and introduced hazards that were positioned in such a way to plague the tee shot and the approach shot on several holes.
If you look at Phil Jacobs’ design philosophy, you’ll have a good idea of what to expect when you play Irene Country Club.
Pecanwood Golf and Country Club: The picturesque Magaliesberg and Hartbeespoort Dam create the scenic backdrop for Pecanwood Estate, which offers residents on the estate and its numerous members a peaceful escape in a luxurious setting. Just forty minutes drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria, Pecanwood Estate is the ideal escape from the bustle of city life.
Pecanwood Estate has earned numerous accolades for its Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, with the most recent being ranked in the 7th position in Compleat Golfer. Our immaculately crafted course has since inception been ranked under the top 10 best manicured courses in South Africa, and we have maintained the 5 Star Golf Experience Award by compleat Golfer since 2003. The clubhouse is one of the largest and most sophisticated facilities of its kind and offers more than just a means to relax after a game of golf. The health spa, steam room, gymnasium, large swimming pool and tennis courts add to the Pecanwood experience.
Royal Johannesburg Golf Club: Situated in the beautiful northern Johannesburg suburb of Linksfield lays one of the finest golfing venues in the Southern Hemisphere. The East and West were always stunning examples of golf course design and architecture at its very highest level, and in 1998 when Kensington Golf Club joined forces with Royal Johannesburg - a major event in the history of South African Golf in itself - the sale of their property provided added funding which was utilised for improvements to the clubhouse and both courses, the results of which are the outstanding facilities that await any golfer who is fortunate enough to play on these picturesque parkland layouts.
A stunning array of wonderful par threes, fantastic par fours and challenging par fives in scenic surroundings, will test your skills with every club in the bag and your short game and putting stroke can be expected to come under close examination on super-quick, large and undulating USGA Spec Bentgrass greens.
The East Course was designed in 1935 by the then Club Professional Robert Grimsdell. Golf course architect Mark Muller revamped the original construction in 1998. Some holes were altered but it was mainly the greens that were dramatically improved. This championship layout has hosted seven South African Opens, South African Amateur Championships and numerous other Tour events.
The West Course was the site of the Johannesburg Golf Club when it moved to its current site in 1909. The course has been upgraded over the years and underwent a major revamp in 1999. Beautiful sweeping fairways and large greens can lull the unsuspecting golfer into a false sense of security, but miss these targets and this course will exact a heavy price. Both courses have benefited from what is known as the Stream Rehabilitation Project, which was undertaken in 2002, to rectify erosion of streambeds and reinforce the banks of the spectacular watercourse that runs from west to east through the property.
The highly proficient, friendly staff and amiable club members will make the tough nineteenth at Royal a relaxing and memorable experience, with exceptional scenery on display from various vantage points around the palatial clubhouse, which can cater for all occasions and offers exceptional restaurant, bar and conference facilities.
Silver Lakes Country Club: Silver Lakes is a highly sought after, up market, residential and golfing estate in Pretoria. The policy of planting only indigenous trees has been adopted together with creating nodes of natural foliage along the golf course itself.
The land around the golf course has been restored to natural bushveld habitat with abundant wildlife. In addition the lakes were enlarged and others built and stocked with bass and many other species of fish making this one of the most sought after natural havens in South Africa.
The golf course is unquestionably a championship layout with no shortage of water having been designed by Peter Matkovich and trade marked with his exclusive water design. The manicured practice facilities offer a generous tee area, chipping green, practice bunker and target greens. A 1200sqm USGA spec putting green is situated adjacent to the lake surrounding the 9th and 18th greens.
A large variety of water birds are nesting on the magnificent lakes and rare bird species like the African Spoonbills, Purple Gallinules and the magnificent Fish Eagle are also found on the estate. We offer the following facilities: a restaurant, conference facilities, two tennis courts, two squash courts, driving range, practice putting green, chipping facility, excellent locker/change rooms, bar and halfway house, plus a pro shop, well stocked with the latest fashion and equipment trends. Golf carts, golf clubs and pull-trolley hire is also available from the Silver Lakes Pro Shop.
Wanderers Golf Club:
Wanderers Golf Club not only has a wonderfully warm club spirit, but a challenging golf course that is rated one of the best in Gauteng.
Wanderers is one of only three clubs in the country with a SubAir system below the greens that can flush heavy rain away in an instant. The SubAir was installed eight years back when Wanderers called in course designer Rob O’Friel to modernise their greens in 1999-2000. It has paid dividends in this Jekyll and Hyde climate which has seen Gauteng courses suffering badly during drought through December, then being drenched with rain in the new year. After all the recent rain this parkland course is a rich emerald green, and in splendid condition. With its magnificent variety of mature trees lining attractively-shaped fairways, and undulating terrain, it’s a delightful place to play golf.
The Wanderers is not a brutal championship layout, but one that favours the shotmakers. The holes demand finesse and accuracy rather than power, especially the ability to shape tee shots through narrow avenues of trees. When you play the Wanderers, a striking aspect is the way in which the holes have been so elegantly squeezed into the property, which is not particularly big. No space has been wasted. Championship tees are tucked away in every corner. The original layout by Bob Grimsdell lost three of its opening holes when the Wanderers Cricket Stadium was built in the 1950s. The modernised stadium now towers over the par-five 10th hole, the longest on the course at 533 metres.
The par 71 Wanderers layout has an unusual routing, in that it has three par-3s on the back nine, just one on the front. The front nine, which opens with a hole that underwent a major change in the renovation process, being lengthened from a long par 4 into a 516-metre par 5, has seven par 4s. There are two strong par 4s on each nine where you need to bring out the driver. The 440m fifth, with a wider fairway than most, is currently being toughened with the addition of another fairway bunker. Those on the 441m seventh are also being rebuilt, in order to narrow the landing area for tee shots on this classic dogleg par four.
Wingate Park Country Club: Situated in the eastern suburbs (Moreleta Park) of Pretoria, Wingate Park Country Club offers a facility steeped in history. The grounds are blessed with old trees, flowering shrubs and a variety of birdlife. Wingate Park Country Club offers a magnificent golf course, practice facilities and the grounds also include five bowling greens, six tennis courts as well as a road-running club - a true country club!
Woodhill Country Club: The Club House is the focal point of the estate and golf course. It overlooks the 9th and 18th greens and has a panoramic view over the estate and course. Currently ranked in the top 100 courses in South-Africa, Woodhill challenges all aspects of a golfer's game, yet at the same time provides a distinctly different and enjoyable golfing experience. Four years of hosting the second oldest professional golf tournament in the country - the South African PGA Championship - as well as President Thabo Mbeki's Inaugural Golf Day, sees Woodhill holding its proud head high in the prestigious world of golf.
Complimented by a well stocked state of the art pro shop, with knowledgeable and friendly staff, Woodhill Country Club ensures that the needs of the most discerning golfer are well catered to, and then some. A welcome breather at the cheerful halfway house, leaves one in no doubt that every effort has been made to ensure nothing less than bliss for visitors and members alike. Facilities extend beyond the magnificent array laid on for lovers of golf. Tennis and squash courts add to the overall allure and facilitate another means of working up an appetite or thirst that demands to be quelled, out on the verandah, or inside.
Kwa-Zulu Natal
Beachwood Country Club: Beachwood Country Club - as it was known before - has now become The Durban Country Club Beachwood Course and is part of Durban Country Club lying about 2 km north of DCC. Although it borders the Indian Ocean, Beachwood does not quite have the accentuated undulating fairways so common to Links courses, especially those of the Country Club Course
Barring the par 3 second, all the fairways run parallel to one another in an N-NE / S-SW direction. The sixth and ninth fairways both have a dog-leg left to consider whereas the other fairways are all straight. There are 41 bunkers around the greens, and 33 fairway bunkers waiting for wayward shots. Four of the holes are blessed with water features and most fairways are lined with trees. The course was taken over by DCC a few years ago and underwent some refining and alterations to bring the course closer to championship standard - offering the discerning golfer an alternative challenge at Beachwood. An interesting aspect of the course is that it lies at the southern end of Virginia Airport - mainly for small commercial aircraft, private flights, training flights and helicopters - adding an element of excitement to see these small aircraft take off and land directly overhead.
The Western perimeter of the course is lined with private homes bordering the course boundary, but none of these is part of the course, and as such out of bound balls are difficult to recover. For the weekend golfer this course is a very good challenge to the handicap, for the fairways are narrow and long, and require precision tee shots and lay-ups. The course is maintained with the same diligence and care as that of the Country Club Course.
Boschhoek Golf and Country Estate: Boschhoek Golf & Country Estate in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands must qualify as one of the most picturesque layouts in the country. The estate is conveniently positioned at Balgowan near Howick, just a four hour drive from Johannesburg or a leisurely one and a half hour drive from Durban.
The course measures only 5 840 metres, certainly on the short side when one considers that Boschhoek’s elevation above sea level is about 1000m. The layout is rated a 68, but with the pins hidden away and the grainy cynoden greens speeded up, this would be a tough task for the scratch player. More importantly, no matter what the novice or expert golfer scores here, the round will certainly be one to remember.
The 1st hole, a 322 metre par four played slightly uphill, is a relatively gentle opener. The next hole is a par four easily reachable from the tee. This hole, when played as the 2nd or 11th, is a classic example of the risk-and reward design philosophy employed by Grimsdell and other designers of the bygone era. Two more par fours follow, the 3rd (at 370 metres, the longest two-shotter on the course) and the 4th, a hole that measures 341 metres. The 5th hole is a par three played over one of the many lakes where water lilies flourish.
Next is a par five that is reachable after a solid drive, but an over-ambitious second can find a stream that crosses the fairway some 600 metres from the green. The strongest par three follows, 180 metres uphill, played into the prevailing wind. The elevated green is well protected by bunkers and its large proportions allow for some imaginative pin positioning. It is the final hole, a par five which doglegs slightly to the left. The longer hitter will certainly find the green within reach with the second shot, but a perfectly positioned bunker to the right will invariably come into play. This hazard is placed to the right and well short of the green, leaving a tough third. A stand of trees grows to the left of the fairway can also bedevil the long approach, forcing the player to shape the second shot if the green is to be reached.
Cathedral Peak Hotel Course: The immaculate 9-hole golf course situated on the hotel property offers alternate tees for an 18-hole game. The club house boasts rest rooms, a lounge area, pub (Philip's Pholy) and a terrace with spectacular mountain views - the perfect 19th hole. The length of the course is 5542m and the course is graded a par 70.
Champagne Sports Resort: Put your skills to the test on our 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Hugh Baiocchi to provide an exciting challenge whatever your handicap. Set against the magnificent backdrop of Champagne and Cathkin Peaks, this course offers the golfer not only a superb challenge of golf on a perfectly manicured layout but also a scenic experience that is reward enough.
The clubhouse is easily accessible from the resort and you have access to motorized golf carts and a well-stocked Pro-Shop.
The clubhouse is also equipped with both ladies and gentleman's locker room and a bar, and light meals are served in the golf lounge and on the magnificent verandah which overlooks the golf course and the mountains beyond.
Durban Country Club: Opened in 1922, the Durban Country Club is said to be one of the best golf courses in South Africa and is acknowledged to have the best third hole in the world, has hosted the SA Open championships 14 times. With its dense bush, indigenous trees and undulating fairways it is hard to believe that this spectacular championship course is actually situated in the centre of Durban. Situated along the shores of the Indian Ocean, this semi-links course has been carved into the dunes. The course is both scenic and demanding and to score well you have to play well. Strong onshore winds that blow through the valley don’t help.
Extremely challenging to the most skilled golfer, the course will be enjoyed, but rarely mastered. Elevated tees and greens are guarded by an array of tropical bushes, tall trees and large bunkers. This, together with the narrow fairways and steep slopes make for a challenging course. This is not a golf course where you come to learn the game of golf! The Durban Country Club is definitely geared towards the more experienced golfer. A particular talking point is the par 5 third - it is rated the best third in the world. Playing from a high tee to a narrow fairway with dense bush and a predatory bunker on the left hand side you’ll see why it is the most popular hole on the course.
Glengarry Country Club: Glengarry Golf Course is tucked away in the Drakensberg, truly a golfers delight. Glengarry is the only 18 hole golf course in the Southern Berg, situated in a World Heritage site.
The spectacular setting of the first tee box and the eighteenth green flanked by a trout dam, and views of the famous Rhino Horn peak, make this a very unique and special golfing experience. Glengarry Golf Course does not have a driving range however a practice tee is available. There is no Pro shop but you can purchase balls and tees from the clubhouse. Glengarry Country Club is open every day of the year.
Monks Cowl Golf Course: Named after the Monks Cowl outcrop on the nearby mountain range, the Monks Cowl Country Club offers the chance to play its scenic golf course against wonderful views of the Drakensberg. This picturesque Monks Cowl Golf Course is nestled in the magnificent Champagne Valley with views of the Drakensberg Mountains from every tee. The course is 9 holes, with 18 tees. It is generally level and the 5th hole, which crosses the deep gorge at Hattingspruit, is accessed by a swing bridge. The fairways are planted with Kikuyu, and the greens with Cynodon dactylon.
Mount Edgecombe Country Club: Neatly tucked away in the rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, inland of Umhlanga Rocks, is Mount Edgecombe Country Club, boasting two unique championship golf courses, designed around the natural lie and habitat of the land. Ideally located for users both local and afar, Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estates has been acclaimed for many years as one of the premier golfing
Estates in Southern Africa giving you an overwhelming sense of tranquility, safety
and enchantment. Mount Edgecombe Country Club provides world-class conference rooms, restaurants, expert golf tuition, practice facilities, tennis, squash and bowling clubs.
Princes’ Grant Golf Estate: On the breathtaking Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal lies Prince's Grant Golf Estate. This North Coast jewel offers a lifestyle of natural beauty,
Quality, relaxation and peace of mind. The way life should be lived. Large greens, undulating fairways and views to inspire. Each hole at Prince's Grant is unique and provides golfers with a most rewarding and challenging experience. The course has constantly been ranked as one of the top courses in the country.
Royal Durban Golf Club: Royal Durban is a links type golf course and is one of the very few golf courses to be sited in the middle of a horseracing track. The Club was established in 1892 as the Durban Golf Club. The Club was granted “Royal” status in April 1932 following a visit and a round of golf from the then Prince of Wales in 1925.
The course was rebuilt in 1932 and the layout was designed by Bob Grimsdell who qualified as a course architect at Colt & Allison of London, Paris & New York. The course is known for it’s punishing rough as it is the only defense it has, (apart from the prevailing Southerly winds) as large or bulky trees and bushes are not allowed for the simple reason that they would obscure the view of the race track. The current Club badge was designed and introduced in 1932 when the Club became Royal Durban Golf Club with the motto Ludus Palma Potior which has been officially translated as "The game supercedes the man"
Sakabula Golf Club: Sakabula Golf Club, situated in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands, is an 18 hole, par 73 course consisting of two very distinct and different 9 holes. Due to the topography of the land, the first 9 traverses an undulating valley providing breathtaking scenic views over the Drakensberg Range. The second 9 holes wind along a stunning natural watercourse and wetland area with numerous dams. The two 9s are so interestingly different in character and challenges that the golfer can experience what normally could only be found on two different golf courses. The course was opened for play in May 1997 and since then, the course has matured into a wonderful country golf club that provides a real test of golf in a relaxed and friendly, rural environment. The course is fully fenced and offers security to golfers. There are no caddies at Sakabula but there are 30 motorised golf carts available for rental for those who wish to conserve their energy for the swing of the club.
Sakabula Golf Club has several interesting features including a large indigenous paperback thorn tree that stands on the 14th green - (yes you do get relief). The long 500 metre par 5 at the 5th hole, all uphill, is considered a real test of stamina by many golfers. The 10th hole tee is managed by a traffic light that is manually switched back to green by the golfer as he clears the area that was unsighted from the tee box.
San Lameer Country Club: San Lameer is a conservation haven with 195 different bird species, abundant wildlife - including impala, red, gray and blue duiker, reedbuck and bushbuck - and indigenous fauna and flora. Add to this a subtropical climate, the Indian Ocean and, of course, a championship golf course and you have a golfer’s paradise where Eagles and Birdies of all kind abound.
Set in the heart of this unique natural environment, San Lameer offers you everything you would include in a dream course. Eighteen memorable holes that weave a natural challenge through the open glades, forest and wetlands with the relaxed roar of the Indian Ocean cheering you on. Enjoy a demanding round of golf on the 18 hole championship golf course designed by Peter Matkovich and Dale Hayes or a more relaxed 9 holes on the Pitch and Putt course. The course itself is sculptured around one of the last remaining wetland forests on the South Coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal. It was designed to avoid areas of sensitive vegetation and utilises the indigenous plants and shrubs in the natural features of the course. The club house is recognised as one of the most attractive in South Africa with spectacular views from the spacious terraces surrounding it.
Scottburgh Golf Club: As one of the most rapidly expanding sports, golf is already on the African renaissance track, and in this part of Africa, namely the Kwazulu Natal South Coast of South Africa, there are plenty, unique locations in which to play golf. Scottburgh Golf Club is one of these...
This undulating golf course has a most attractive setting with the sight and sounds of the Indian Ocean always in the background. Comparatively short at 5323m it boasts two par 5's and five spectacular par 3 holes, with the par 4 third hole being the most talked about hole on the course. It has the narrowest of fairways with out of bounds on the right and a coastal forest on the left to contend with. Many a good round of golf has been destroyed on this "white knuckle hole".
Like all coastal golf courses, Scottburgh can become quite tricky in the wind but one of the most spectacular shots is from the par 4 18th, where one flies the drive over towering trees, into the wild blue yonder to hopefully drop onto the fairway below.
Selborne Country Club: Selborne was created in 1985 when a well known local sugar farmer and dairy farmer, Denis Barker, purchased Selborne Park in 1979 which was used as his family home and to run his pedigree Jersey cattle herd. In 1985, following a visit to the United States and Canada, Denis decided to build a golf course on the property. Together with a handful of local friends who offered support and advice, Denis designed and built the beautiful 18 hole golf course with his younger son, Gary and Selborne duly became South Africa's first golf estate. In many ways, the privately owned and built Selborne golf course, which was voted 7th best in SA in its 3rd year, was the catalyst for what has become a booming "golf estate industry".
Today some call it the most spectacular 18 holes in southern Africa. Wild coastal forest frames a superbly manicured course where the only disturbance may be one of nature’s creatures. Testament to the high standing it has within the golfing community is the number of high profile events which are played on the course during the year. These include The Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament on the Sunshine Winter tour, the KZN Strokeplay and the Golf Digest Subscriber Challenge.
Scottburgh Golf Club: As one of the most rapidly expanding sports, golf is already on the African renaissance track, and in this part of Africa, namely the Kwazulu Natal South Coast of South Africa, there are plenty, unique locations in which to play golf. Scottburgh Golf Club is one of these...
This undulating golf course has a most attractive setting with the sight and sounds of the Indian Ocean always in the background. Comparatively short at 5323m it boasts two par 5's and five spectacular par 3 holes, with the par 4 third hole being the most talked about hole on the course. It has the narrowest of fairways with out of bounds on the right and a coastal forest on the left to contend with. Many a good round of golf has been destroyed on this "white knuckle hole". Like all coastal golf courses, Scottburgh can become quite tricky in the wind but one of the most spectacular shots is from the par 4 18th, where one flies the drive over towering trees, into the wild blue yonder to hopefully drop onto the fairway below.
Southbroom Golf Club: Southbroom Golf Club boasts one of the most popular golf courses on the lower South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. As an integral part of the Southbroom village, the course is a rare South African layout and if it wasn't for all the palm trees and tropical foliage, you'd think you were in Britain or Ireland. Only a stone's throw from the Indian Ocean, Southbroom Golf Club affords golfers impressive views of pristine beaches and the sea; the tranquility of playing alongside the lush indigenous vegetation of the Frederika Nature Reserve; and an opportunity to feel the pride of the Southbroom village as the course meanders past elegant coastal residences. Each of the 18-holes has its own unique feature and ability to test the skill of even the most accomplished golfer. The Southbroom golf course is not a breeze to play especially when you experience it on a windy day. The par-3 fourth, just 114 meters, is the most famous of the two seaside holes. On a calm day it's a wedge, but it's a tiger when the wind is blowing into you. Water; in the form of both dams and river flowing to the sea, quietly but surely come into play and golfers need a careful game plan to negotiate this charming course.
Established in 1938, the Southbroom golf course has consistently been improved and upgraded over the years and always has a neat, manicured look about it. A recent improvement doubled the size of the green on the par-5 ninth which now sweeps towards the edge of a large water hazard that is hidden from view when playing your approach.
The Southbroom Pro Shop has an old-fashioned feel about it with every nook and cranny crammed with interesting goodies and lots of the latest golf gear. It's a place where you're assured of a warm welcome with everyone going out of their way to help you. The clubhouse commands impressive views of the course and the Indian Ocean, affording opportunities for frequent whale and dolphin spotting, and lives up to the early expectations of "popular amenity and social centre" of the village.
Umdoni Park Golf Course: One of the hidden treasures of the Golf coast. This 18-hole course situated on 200 hectares of indigenous coastal forest is renowned for its fauna and flora and magnificent vistas. A true pleasure to play. Umdoni is another typically short but testingly old-fashioned South Coast course where the wind plays a major role in your game. A strong North Easterly can make this course a challenge to any golfer. Very hilly, and the holes take you through some beautiful indigenous bush with Splendid views over the Indian Ocean abound. A uniquely South African hole, called Majuba, is the par-3 12th, just 110 metres, but played steeply uphill to a green seemingly perched in the bush. The course is open everyday of the year and is open to visitors at any time.
Wild Coast Sun Country Club: For a game that will really put your skills to the test, you've got to play the Wild Coast Golf Course, rated as one of the best courses in Southern Africa. After a challenging day on the course, you can relax in the Clubhouse. Then when the sun goes down, head for the Wild Coast Sun-now with a touch of Tahitian magic-where the Casino and night life will keep you going until the early hours of the morning. Designed by Robert Trent Jones (Jnr), this course is one of Sun International's most challenging and scenic. It's easy to see why.
With 59 large bunkers guarding manicured lawns, the hole layouts and scenery border on the fantastic. What's more, when the coast breeze gets up, so does your score! However, if your ball lands in the dam below the Clubhouse, you'll hear the ringing of a ships brass bell from the Clubhouse Balcony. There are 6 par threes but two of these don't have fairways from tee to green! Just lined gorges and on the 13th, a waterfall. And the shot on the twelfth (par five) is one of the most spectacular shots you are ever likely to play.
Although the course is 5800m in length, the walk is more like eight kilometers, so be prepared to take up to 6 hours for your game.
Zimbali Golf Course: The coastal area of Natal, as well as being home to the exclusive Zimbali Country Club, is home to some of the best golf courses in South Africa. Zimbali truly is the ideal venue for the discerning golfer who would like to, not only test his/her abilities on some of the finest golf courses in Africa, but who would also like to do so in style. Tom Weiskopf - former British & South African Open Golf Champion - has designed a golf course which will challenge players of all handicaps in the most delightful surroundings.
Tom Wieskopf, the designer of this spectacular course, and the former British and South African champion, had this to say: "The character of the property is one that I'd describe as having an abundance of natural features which include constant changes in elevation, a combination of mature indigenous trees and vegetation and some beautiful wetland areas with natural steams and ponds, all creating a dramatic and beautiful setting."
Limpopo
Hans Merensky Golf Estate: A visit to the Hans Merensky Hotel and Spa can only be enhanced by a game of golf on our world famous course set in a unique bushveld atmosphere. Share your experience with our resident Giraffe, Hippo, Crocodiles and many other permanent residents! The 18 hole Bob Grimsdell designed Par 72 Championship Golf course has been voted as the best walking course in the country.
Situated on the border of the world renowned Kruger National Park, the Hans Merensky Hotel and Spa offers a unique blend of Golf and Game to both local and International visitors. Guests are able to experience a unique package offering luxury accommodation, sports, conference facilities and a world famous golf course that is home to a wide variety of game & over 200 species of birds.
Legend Golf and Safari Resort: It is one of the world's most eagerly anticipated Golf and Safari resort openings. Now Africa's most talked about leisure venue is unlocking the gates to its majestic monumental architectural Gate house and inviting golf and safari enthusiasts to take the golf experience of a lifetime. Legend Golf & Safari Resort at Entabeni Safari Conservancy in the Waterberg, Limpopo Province is the most talked about new resort in South Africa. It's home to the unique “world-in-one” Signature Course where each of the 18 holes has been designed by a world golfing legend including Trevor Immelman, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, KJ Choi, Jim Furyk and Retief Goosen.
In addition, you can take the challenge of the world's most talked about extreme Par 3, the Extreme 19th. Set high up on the impressive Hanglip Mountain, the hole is accessible only by helicopter and played to a green the shape of Africa some 400m below. Beyond comparison!
The 22 000 hectare malaria-free Entabeni Safari Conservancy in SA’s Limpopo Province, is situated within the greater UNESCO World Heritage “Waterberg Biosphere”. Entabeni features five eco-systems, spectacular scenery and diversity of wildlife, including the Big Five. Various game viewing activities, helicopter flights, stargazing, wellness treatments, food- and cultural experiences are offered at Entabeni. The Signature golf course of the Legend Golf & Safari Resort at Entabeni is renowned for a number of world firsts, including the fact that 18 of the world’s top golfers each designed a signature hole. The “Extreme 19th golf hole” from Hanglip Mountain - the world’s first extreme hole and longest Par 3 – is only accessible by helicopter.
Mpumalanga
Leopard Creek Country Club: Working closely with the Kruger National Park and nature conservation authorities, the Leopard Creek golf course was specifically designed to blend in with the surroundings, providing sophisticated leisure amenities in an undisturbed natural environment. A paradise for bird-watchers and a challenge for golfers, the cool shade of indigenous trees at Leopard Creek Golf Course, some hundreds of years old, are home to over 200 bird species. Abundant wildlife including the big five, lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo can be viewed from open landrovers or on guided walking trails, accompanied by qualified game rangers.
Innovative architectural and landscaping techniques ensure that the Leopards Creek golf course and living areas are naturally protected from animals, while lakes and small streams have been diverted through the development to create scenic vistas and interesting golf strategies. Golfing hazards take on a new dimension at Leopard Creek, for much of the water is home to families of hippos and the magnificent creatures for which the river is named, crocodiles. Extensive use has been made of water features and sightings of crocodile, hippo, antelope, buffalo and wild boar are commonplace, either on the course itself or in or next to the river running alongside several holes.
The 510 meter par-five fourth is one of Leopard Creek's most memorable holes. Here the green is right on the edge of the Crocodile River bur 32 meters above the level of the water, offering magnificent views up the river and into the Kruger Park. Elephant are often seen walking alongside the river. Gary Player is especially proud of the par-five 18th with its island green and the par-four ninth with its peninsula green jutting out of the same body of water which, incidentally, is home to a number of hippo.
Nelspruit Golf Club: Nelspruit Golf Club was founded in November 1928 and moved to its present location in 1939. The bushveld course is a Bob Grimsdell design, built among rocky outcrops of land in the suburbs of Nelspruit, and the course has a curious history. It was a 9-holer for nearly 30 years before Grimsdell returned to complete a second nine in 1967-68. The course was left largely untouched until 1998 when Peter Matcovitch upgraded the course and the adjacent “Matumi Golf Estate” was established.
Nelspruit Golf Club is famous for hosting the annual Jock of the Bushveld Festival of Golf, considered the biggest amateur tournament of its kind in the world. Started in 1968, it has grown to the extent where some 800 amateurs from far and wide play more than 2 000 rounds during a week in May. The Kruger National Park is one of the world's biggest and best-stocked game reserves, with Africa's Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) present in abundant numbers. Golfing enthusiasts had the idea of coming up with a 'Big Five' of their own, a reference to the best five courses in the vicinity. The first four were relatively easy to identify - Leopard Creek Country Club, Nelspruit Golf Club, White River Country Club and Sabi River Sun Golf Club, which are all 18-hole layouts. Choosing the fifth was a little more difficult and to make up an additional set of 18 with nine-hole courses, Malelane and Pilgrim's Rest share the honours. This then, is Mpumalanga golf's 'Big Five'
Sabie River Golf Course: This 18-hole Peter Matkovitch and Dale Hayes golf course is a dream course, rated among the top 10 courses in South Africa. It is only 6100 metres long but is both challenging and fun to play. Pilgrim’s Rest and Graskop are close by and the world-famous Kruger Park National Park is about 40 kilometres distant.
Alongside Nelspruit and White River, the Sabi River course is one of only four-18 hole layouts in the exquisitely beautiful Mmpumalanga lowveld. Water is a big factor here and is present in the form of a hazard on all but 4 of the 18 holes. The Sabi River, one of the country’s important watercourses, comes into play, as well as a network of dams. This is game country and a couple of dozen hippos as well as a crocodile are permanent residents in the course’s main dam, next to the 14th and 15th holes.
Skukuza Golf Course: The golf course was built in 1972 as a recreational facility for the Skukuza personnel, and is now available to visitors to the Kruger National Park for the first time. The Skukuza Golf Course is a magnificent 9-hole (18-tee) course situated in the world-renowned Kruger National Park on the outskirts of Skukuza restcamp. The rich wildlife sanctuary surrounding the golf course is home to the Big Five, a huge variety of birds and countless animals, which all conspire to provide the visitor with a harmonious close-to-nature golfing experience.
The course is a Par 72, and is 5950m (6450 yards) for men and 5059m (5480 yards) for women. Since the course is not fenced-in, uninvited spectators are a common sight, hippo, impala, warthog and baboons to mention but a few. The course offers the pleasure of challenge and adventure. For example #2, Par 3, have water on the left and to the back of the green. The signature hole #9, Par 3 of about 150m is played across Lake Panic. The Skukuza Golf Course has no bunkers, although 'aerial bunkers' abound because of the many trees found on the course.
White River Golf Club: White River Country Club is set amongst picturesque plantations on the banks of the White River. In addition to an 18 hole Championship parkland golf course the club boasts excellent tennis, squash, cricket and hockey facilities, with an outstanding swimming pool adjacent to the clubhouse. Conference facilities are available for up to 150 delegates with full catering facilities.
The White River golf course offers a great challenge to the amateur and professional golfer. The old 9-hole golf course at White River has been completely revamped into a new and exciting 18-hole layout. Gary Player and Reg Taylor played a part in the design and the course is invariably enjoyed by golfers of all levels. Two of the par-fives, namely number 7 and number 11 are comparable to the Augusta National in their beauty, challenge and abundance of water. Approximately 11 hours from Kruger National Park and several Private Game Reserves, the White River Country Club meanders gently through a valley. Forests and river frontages are part of the delightful vistas to be experienced here. The course follows the natural undulations of the valley and regularly criss-crosses the White River which provides memorable challenges, both alongside fairways and fronting some of the greens. The 18 hole, 6061 metre par 71 golf course provides you with ample opportunity to test your skills. With the White River flowing through the parkland golf course, interesting water features come into play at 9 holes.
North West
Sun City:
The Sun City golf courses in South Africa are just as spectacular as the rest of the Sun ity Resort, with both courses offering the best golf facilities in Africa.
The two golf courses were designed by South Africa’s golfing pro Gary Player, and top golf tournaments are played on these courses.
What could be more enjoyable than playing a round of golf at an 18-hole desert style golf course surrounded by spectacular views across South Africa’s bushveld? This is what you experience at the Lost City Golf Course. The 13th hole features a water hazard full of Nile crocodiles, making this one of the most exciting golf courses in the world. More than 100 hectares are covered by this course and it incorporates 28 000 square metres of water features.
One of South Africa 's most famous golf courses, the Gary Player Golf Course features 18-holes with a par of 72. This course is home to the prestigious Nedbank Golf Challenge. The clever design and multiple tees make it equally enjoyable for the keen novice and the skilled professional. Many of the game's superstars have graced the fairways of this course. A stay at the Sun City Resort and a round of golf at both golf courses is certainly just the thing for any golf addict planning to visit South Africa.
Botswana
Phakalane Golf Estate: Phakalane Golf Estate Hotel Resort is situated within the municipal boundary of Botswana's capital city, Gaborone, and only 15 km's from the city centre. The multi-million Clubhouse and the international standard 18-hole golf course offers the corporate and leisure traveler a host of activities in grandiose style. An International standard 18 hole championship golf course designed by DDV Design Group - Douw van der Merwe. The golf course was started in April 2000 and completed in June 2002. The course consists of 15 Dams, 75 Bunkers and the average size of the Greens is 700m2. There are 3 permanent ablution facilities with refrigerated water as well as a driving range. The country club estate has the largest Pro Shop in Botswana.
Swaziland
Royal Swazi Sun Golf Club: Situated in Swaziland, the Royal Swazi Sun Golf Club is set in a valley and surrounded by lush green hillside. In close proximity to many cultural and natural attractions it is an ideal setting for holiday golf. This championship course is host to the Swazi Open, a regular SA PGA event, past winners of which include Ernie Els. No two holes are the same on this undulating Parkland course. With many elevated tees and greens, water hazards, ravines and doglegs this course places a premium on accurate shot selection. Long hitters will be tempted to “go for it” on the par fives but severely penalised if they miss.
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