Tourism Update takes stock of golfing experiences that take golfers away from the urban jungle to beach, bush and small town South Africa. By Michelle Colman
“Golf tourism is growing in South Africa and has become a niche market, requiring our consultants to have outstanding knowledge on the golf destinations,” says Suzanne Benadie, Sales and Marketing Director at Your Africa, a local tour operator that has a reputation for golf tours in a number of overseas markets.
In response to this demand for increased expertise, Tourism Update asked Your Africa and Carl Reinders, Director and Owner of Pro Golf Safaris and Redsands Golf Travel, to list their top golf course suggestions in locations outside the country’s big cities. Their preferences are published below.
South Africa’s excellent climate results in a lengthy golfing season for inbound travellers. “Our German, Swedish, Irish and Asian markets typically enjoy golf over our summer season, with October to March being the most popular time to enjoy the good weather and play at some of the region’s best courses,” says Benadie.
Garden Route
Not surprisingly, the Garden Route heads up the selection. One of those for whom it is a firm favourite is Reinders, who says: “It is really the golfing Mecca of South Africa.”
The Links at Fancourt
“Gary Player has mentioned on numerous occasions that this is his best achievement in golf course design. The Links is most definitely the most difficult golf course in South Africa. It is not for everyone though, and low handicappers are more likely to enjoy the challenge. The fact that it hosted the Presidents Cup in 2003 has made it a bucket list course for many international visitors. It also happens to be ranked within the top 100 golf courses in the world,” says Reinders.
Benadie cautions that the course is only open to hotel guests or invited friends and colleagues of home owners.
Montagu at Fancourt
The Montagu course at Fancourt is one of the most beautiful parkland golf courses in South Africa, say Reinders, and consistently one of the best conditioned courses in the country. The backdrop of the Outeniqua Mountains makes the setting of the Montagu course spectacular.
Tip: For some unusual off-course experiences at Fancourt, Mario Febbraio of Tours for South Africa runs a tour desk at Fancourt. Among his excursion options are some rather unusual trips – a sunrise Meerkat Meander in Oudtshoorn where guests can observe the animals rising for the day; a visit to Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre at Mossel Bay where passengers can volunteer for a half or full day; or a VIP flight along the coastline of the Garden Route.
Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Estate
Pinnacle Point is another spectacular course, which most Americans who play it compare to a more dramatic version of Pebble Beach in the USA. Every hole has a view of the sea, and on many occasions whales or dolphins can be seen in the bay.
George Golf Club
George Golf Club is a traditional parkland course in the town of George. Despite the emergence of many new, more modern courses, it has maintained its charm and quality, both from an experience and course conditioning perspective.
Pezula Championship Golf Course at Conrad Pezula Resort and Spa
Pezula Golf Club in Knysna boasts some spectacular holes with beautiful ocean views, and is very playable for golfers of varying ability.
Mpumalanga
Leopard Creek Country club
At Leopard Creek, golfers may find themselves sharing the fairways with a multitude of wildlife. Its situation on the banks of the Crocodile River next to the Kruger National Park makes it ideal for a golf and safari combination itinerary. Benadie points out that, once again, the course is not open to the general public and must be booked through a lodge or by invitation of a home owner.
Limpopo
Hans Merensky Golf Estate at Hans Merensky Hotel and Spa
Located near Phalaborwa, this course is “an excellent and unique course with wildlife roaming the fairways,” says Benadie.
Signature Course at Legend Golf and Safari Resort
At this championship course where each hole is designed by a different golfing legend, the stand-alone, iconic 19th hole atop Hanglip Mountain, is the world’s highest par 3. Accessible only by helicopter, it is played from a vertical height of 396m. The green below is designed in the shape of Africa. The resort is situated in the Entabeni Safari Conservancy in the Waterberg and managed by Legend Lodges.
Tip: Game viewing at this resort comes with the opportunity to see Big 5 game. Additionally, the Wildlife and Cultural Centre on site is home to white lions, wild dog, a buffalo breeding programme, a Pedi cultural village and a tea garden with an abundance of rescued birds and reptiles. Helicopter flights and Segway gliding tours are other appealing resort activities.
North West
Gary Player Country Club, Sun City
This is possibly the most famous golf course in South Africa and home to the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge. Sun City itself is a sought-after resort destination, and the fact that it has two golf courses (the other being The Lost City), adds to its desirability as a destination. The location adjoins the Pilanesberg National Park, placing the possibility of game viewing right on the resort’s doorstep.
Kleinmond and Hermanus
Arabella Golf Club at Arabella Country Estate
Arabella is just outside Kleinmond, about an hour’s drive from Cape Town. Reinders says the course itself is spectacular in both design and conditioning, and the fact that it is within 20 minutes of Hermanus and close to the Hemel en Aarde Wine Valley, makes it a great destination to combine golf with leisure activities such as whale watching in season and wine.
Hermanus Golf Club
“Situated in the town of Hermanus, Hermanus Golf Club is another absolute gem,” says Reinders. “Even before the course was redesigned, it was always popular among international visitors and, just like Arabella, the destination has so much to offer over and above the fantastic golf experience.”
South Coast
Wild Coast Golf Course at Wild Coast Sun
Spectacular setting and design make up for the remoteness of the rugged Wild Coast Golf Course. It is played over hills, ravines, rivers, dams and waterfalls, and has breath-taking views. Local attractions to experience in nearby Port Edward include the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, a petrified forest and the nearby Oribi Gorge with some adventure options.
San Lameer Country Club, San Lameer Resort Hotel and Spa
The 18-hole course was designed by Peter Matkovich and Dale Hayes. It has been claimed that no finer collection of par 3s exists anywhere, and the 4th hole is almost a carbon copy of Augusta National’s famous 12th.
Stellenbosch Winelands
Erinvale Golf Club and De Zalze Golf Club
Both courses in the scenic winelands are always well manicured and, as much as they are challenging, they are really fun to play, says Reinders.
Paarl
Pearl Valley Golf and Country Estate
With the design talents of Jack Nicklaus at work at Pearl Valley, one automatically expects and finds a challenging course, which is always very well-conditioned. “Make sure your bunker play is up to scratch though, as this course (as is the case with many Nicklaus designs) has many a sand trap,” advises Reinders.
St Francis Bay/Cape St Francis
St Francis Links
“This is another Jack Nicklaus-designed course,” comments Reinders. “South Africa does not have many links courses, and this is one of only a handful. One thing that will surpass any course in South Africa is the welcome and hospitality that you will receive from the man in charge, Jeff Clause. Jeff transformed the golf industry in South Africa,” he says, adding that Clause makes every person he interacts with feel like a million dollars.
The nearby St Francis Bay Golf Club offers an easier but still challenging round of golf.
Tip: A great place to stay is the Cape St Francis Resort, 90 minutes from Port Elizabeth airport. It offers conventional hotel rooms, three- and four-bedroom cottages and luxury beach villas. For fun off the golf course, hikes are popular as are boat cruises along the Kromme River and through the surrounding canals. Surfing takes place at Seal Point with beginner lessons for those new to the sport, and there’s also a penguin rehabilitation centre. Whale-watching excursions, fishing and horse riding are yet more activities on the full menu.
