Gary Player and his design team took the best ideas and inspiration from Ireland and Scotland to design three courses at Fancourt Links in George on the Garden Route. Fancourt has a golf academy as well as two Pro shops offering clothing, clubs and accessories. The Links is a private Club, limited tee times are available for guests staying at Fancourt Hotel or The Manor House at Fancourt.
In 2014, The Links was ranked No. 1 in South Africa by Golf Digest SA and No. 34 in the world by the USA Golf Digest.
Source: www.fancourt.com
Arabella Golf Club is a Peter Matkovich design, located between Hermanus and Kleinmond in the Cape. It has a parkland design with wide fairways and bent-grass greens. It ranks in the top five courses in South Africa by South African golf publications and is considered the best course in the Western Cape. The holes are well designed and have tremendous views. As you can see, it can be quite challenging with the traps on the left side and the rough on the right side of the fairway.
Source: RedSands
Leopard Creek is a Gary Player-designed golf course located on the southern border of the Kruger National Park. This development is bordered to the north and west by the Crocodile River. It might be ideal to combine this golf outing with a few nights of safari in the area. The course has amazing scenery. Leopard Creek is a private golf club but will accept guests from specific hotels from 30 minutes to three hours away. Unless you are a member, the golf reservations must be made by the hotel desk. The course does have wild animals on the course, so a caddy might be worth the investment. You could be hearing a hippo snort or hit a shot over a lake full of crocodiles.
Sources: http://www.leopardcreek.co.za/, http://www.top100golfcourses.co.uk
The name was inspired by a grove of pecan nut trees on the property, located in Hartbeespoort, and the course was designed by U.S. pro golfer Jack Nicklaus. He remained involved in all stages of the construction of the golf course making sure it became a challenging course that offer top-quality greens, tees and bunkers. More than 1 million cubic meters of soil was used from a flat piece of property. There are 111 bunkers on this course, typical of a Jack Nicklaus design. Since construction was completed in 1999, the golf course has been the catalyst for tremendous growth in the area. This was the second of three golf courses designed and built by Jack Nicklaus in South Africa. The other two are Pearl Valley and Simola.
Source: http://www.pecanwoodgolf.co.za
This Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course was named the best conditioned course in the Western Cape for 2010, 2011 and 2012 by Golf Digest Magazine. Located in Franschhoek (wine country), its backdrop is towering mountain ranges that give this golf course exceptional views. Nicklaus was involved in all aspects of the design and construction. There is also an equestrian center, spa, tennis courts, swimming pools, hiking, running and cycling trails. Also on the premises is a performance academy combining fitness and swing instruction.
Source: http://pearlvalley.co.za/
Rondebosch is just 10 minutes from Cape Town city’s center. It has magnificent views of Devil’s Peak and Table Mountain. This course has a long of history and tradition since it was established in 1911. There is a river that winds through the course and challenges players on all levels. Bird life includes cormorants, wild ducks, egrets and kingfishers. Typical of most private golf clubs there is a dress code — casual.
Rondebosch has hosted seven consecutive Sunshine Tour events, two professional ladies European tour events and the South African Ladies Amateur Open.
Source: http://www.rondeboschgolfclub.com
The Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club has been in existence for more than 130 years. It has hosted seven South African Opens and other major tournaments. The club has two courses. The East course is ranked one of the top 10 courses in South Africa. The original course was established in 1890 but moved four times before arriving at its current location in 1909. The merger of the two golf clubs — Royal Johannesburg and Kensington — was finalized in 1998.
There is Pilates for golf on location as well as a massage therapist and a chiropractor on staff.
Source: https://www.royaljk.za.com/
This Jack Nicklaus course is a links-designed course near the beach in St. Francis Bay, Eastern Cape, with the Nicklaus tradition of plenty of bunkers. There are bushes and trees in the middle of the fairways that make this course different from the traditional links course. The greens are elevated on sand which makes the course quite challenging and scenic. There are plenty of breaks on the green. This course also has plenty of water strategically placed to challenge your mind before taking the next shot. Some golfers say this is the best links experience in South Africa and perhaps the most fun golf course in the country.
Sources: http://www.stfrancisgolflodge.co.za/golf.html, http://www.top100golfcourses.co.uk/htmlsite/productdetails.asp?id=1695
This natural golf course near Johannesburg was part of Developer Robby Way’s vision to integrate country living and modern convenience. Blair Atholl purchased this property from Gary Player and several surrounding farms in the area. Gary enjoys this course immensely. He worked with the developer to preserve the rolling hills and made sure that the course worked with the natural surroundings including the Crocodile River. There is an equestrian property which offers stabling and various activities for young and old.
Source: http://www.blairatholl.co.za/golf-course/
The Wild Coast Sun Championship Golf Course is laid out over a rugged terrain running along the Indian Ocean which creates a dramatic golfing experience. This exciting course is played over hills, ravines, rivers, dams, lakes and waterfalls. The 18-hole golf course has wide fairways and huge greens providing a daunting challenge for pros and amateurs. The Wild Coast Sun golf course is consistently ranked in the top 10 in South Africa. The course is short.
Source: http://www.suninternational.com/Golf/WildCoastSunCountryClub/Pages/default.aspx
Designed by Gary Player, this 18-hole, par-72 walking course has a 5K running trail along the course. Built in an extinct volcanic crater, this golfing paradise conforms to stringent USPGA specifications and is ranked as one of the top five golf courses in South Africa. In 1978 when construction of the Sun City Resort began, Gary Player designed this course to be the preeminent course in South Africa. It has held up throughout the years.
Source: http://www.suninternational.com/Golf/GaryPlayerCountryClub/Pages/default.aspx
This is the home of the 2013-2014 Volvo Golf Championship and host to 17 South African Opens. This Golf Club has been existence for more than 90 years. It is located just north of the Golden Mile beachfront with exceptional views of the Indian Ocean and an undulating terrain that makes this course challenging. The third hole is renowned. You’ll be hitting from a high tee box into a narrow fairway with a strategically placed bunker on the left side and deep bush behind it. You might want to think this one out before you take out your driver.
Source: http://www.dcclub.co.za/
