Hole In One: Our Guide To The Top South African Golf Courses

With golfing legends like Gary Player, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Charl Schwartzel, golf has become a sport which South Africans can be proud of.

Besides the golfing pedigree the country has produced, Mzansi has some of the best and most beautiful golf courses in the world. Here’s our list of SA’s top golf courses.

 Oubaai

Nestled comfortably in the Garden Route, this world class course, designed by Ernie Els, overlooks Herold’s Bay with the view going out to the Indian Ocean. The highlight of this course is the 17th hole, a par three, where the ocean forms the backdrop.

Over and above this picturesque golf course, Oubaai’s facilities include a driving range and two putting greens.

Leopard Creek

Owned by mega businessman Johann Rupert, this course has played host to the most famous South African golf tournaments. This golf course’s innovative architectural and landscaping techniques bring you a golf course which is naturally protected from animals while enveloping you in natural beauty. Due to it lying along the banks of the Crocodile River, you can catch a glimpse of the wildlife in neighbouring Kruger Park. After a day’s round, savour a drink as you watch the copper sun set from the clubhouse while savouring the impressive view.

Montagu Golf Course Fancourt

This Gary Player designed golf course is a much celebrated parkland course and has been ranked as number 6 position on Golf Digest SA’s list of top golf courses in the country. The exquisitely conditioned Montagu is at the heart of Fancourt, covering large tracts of varying terrain on rolling land. Mature trees, flower beds, shrubs and water hazards, create mesmerising surroundings.

Gary Player has referred to this course as his greatest feat. Opened in 2000, it was based on the links courses that come from Scotland and Ireland. After your tough round, relax and unwind at the spa or at your top class accommodation.

Durban Country Club

With the combination of sand dunes, lush vegetation and sights of the Indian Ocean, Durban Country Club is rated in the top 100 golf courses of the world. The par five third hole weighs in as 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 this is the most popular hole on the course.

The Durban Country Club has been host to more South African Open Championships than any other in the country, with a list of winners that includes Gary Player, Bobby Locke, Bob Charles, Ernie Els and Tim Clark. It has also been rated among the top 100 golf courses in the world by Golf Magazine US, says South African Info.

Arabella

Surrounded by the Kogelberg mountains and the Bot River lagoon, this famous 18-hole golf course has hosted the rich and the famous like Jack Nicklaus, Samuel L Jackson, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. This picturesque course has been consistently ranked in the top 10 courses in South Africa and the eighth hole has been described as one of the most beautiful par fives in South Africa.

 Pearl Valley Golf Course

Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Pearl Valley has some breathtaking backdrops. Situated between Paarl and Franschoek, 35 minutes from Cape Town, the resort offers top class accommodation and the clubhouse has its own chef to prepare signature dishes for you. This golf course forms part of the Val de Vie Estate which is South Africa’s top residential estate, surrounded by towering mountains and lush countryside, a place the residents call the Valle of Life.

The St Francis Golf Course

Surrounded by fynbos, the setting of this course is truly memorable and After the first nine holes, you settle down for their famous chicken pies, you can set off on their second nine which is considered to be the best around. The 17th hole stands out as the most beautiful as it overlooks St. Francis. It has been described as, “An unforgettable golfing escape”.

Gary Player Golf Course

Famed for hosting the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the Gary Player Golf Course at Sun City offers challenging holes that feature water hazards and fast putting surfaces that will test any golfer. The setting moves away from hectic noises of the casino and the Valley of the Waves to serene bushveld where you can concentrate on your game and enjoy the sights of the veld. Overlooking the greens, is the elegant Gary Player Country Club, where players and spectators gather together to rehash games or just enjoy the surrounding beauty.

Wild Coast Course

Designed to fit in with the coastline, this Robert Trent Jones II designed golf course has a rugged, wild and spectacular charm to it. A first glance at the score card might suggest that this course is a bit of a push-over – less than 6,000 metres in length with six par threes. On face value this might seem so but in reality the Wild Coast Country Club is one of South Africa’s most testing layouts over 18 holes. One is drawn into the magical beauty of this course and its dramatic surroundings whether one is a golfer or a spectator.