from the experts in Golf TravelYear on year South Africa is reaffirming its place as one of the top golfing destinations in the world partly due to its abundance of glorious championship courses but also as a result of the wide variety of things to do away from the golf. Renowned for the incredible wildlife and landscape, South Africa also boasts some of the world’s most famous wine regions including Stellenbosch and Constantia. Each and every golf course on this list has been perfectly sculpted to make the most of the stunning natural scenery and as a result every shot is one you will remember.
For those looking to escape the torrid winters of the U.K for some sun then South Africa is certainly the best option as its seasons are in reverse to ours with November through till March seeing sun soaked fairways. Anyone looking to tick off some of the world’s most iconic golf courses then South Africa is the place for you.
The Links at Fancourt is arguably the pinnacle of golf in the Western Cape. Designed by the great Gary Player, the course incorporates the 3 time Open Championship winner’s love of traditional seaside golf and is reminiscent of many of the UK and Ireland’s most famous links layouts. The course is by no means an easy place to play with it being able to play almost 7,600 yards from the tips (but this is best left to the pros) and when the wind picks up shot selections becomes integral. For any serious golfer travelling to South Africa than Fancourt Links is a must play for you.
| Location: | George, Western Cape |
| Length: | 7,625 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Designed by: | Gary Player |
| Established: | 1990 |
Durban Country Club ranks firmly inside the world’s top 100 golf courses in the perfect combination of the old with the new. The course is set along Durban’s stunning natural coastline with towering sand dunes and views of the Indian Ocean being a constant feature of the round. Having played host to the South African Open on no less than 16 occasions and Volvo Golf Champions (an annual event on the European Tour in years gone by), Durban Country Club’s pedigree as a championship course is unrivalled. Since its inception in 1922, many consider this to be the country’s premier golf establishment and is one every golf fanatic should experience.
| Location: | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Length: | 6,733 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Designed by: | Laurie Waters & George Waterman |
| Established: | 1922 |
Situated in the Western Cape along the world famous Garden Route lies one of the best pit stops a golfer could take. Arabella Golf Club is often seen as one of South Africa’s leading golf course and is a great place for everyone to play. Measuring in at just over 7,000 yards the course is designed in such a way that it offers a unique challenge to all golfers depending on which tees you play from. On top of the stunning layout, the course also looks out over the beautiful Bot River Lagoon and makes an incredible setting for a round of golf.
| Location: | Arabella, Western Cape |
| Length: | 7,000 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Designed by: | Peter Matkovich |
| Established: | 1998 |
Sitting in the hills overlooking the beautiful town of Knysna is one of the Garden Route’s most aesthetically pleasing golf courses. Simola Golf Estate is a truly outstanding all round golfing destination with the facilities being the perfect accompaniment to the setting. Designed by golf’s most celebrated player, the course is no walkover and is setup to challenge the most assured golfers. However, its ability to be stretched and or shortened is what makes this place the perfect place to play as it is more than accessible for the average player. The course’s signature hole is the 4th where the tee box is perched a considerable height above the fairways providing panoramic views of the beautiful surroundings.
| Location: | Knysna |
| Length: | 6,597 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Designed by: | Jack Nicklaus |
| Established: | 2005 |
When it comes to famous parents Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus are the ‘Beckhams’ of the golfing world and in 2003 they opened one of the country’s most stunning golf courses. Nicklaus is renowned well world for his stunning golf courses and it is no surprise that his Western Cape creation was recognised as the world’s best golf course in 2005. In typical Golden Bear fashion, the course features vast expanses of sand and is tailored towards risk and reward style golf. Water hazards and shrubland line the fairways placing an emphasis on the ability to keep the ball in play over sheer power.
| Location: | Stellenbosch |
| Length: | 6,995 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Designed by: | Jack Nicklaus |
| Established: | 2003 |
Gary Player Country Club is one of the country’s most recognisable golf courses having hosted the Nedbank Million Dollar Challenge since 1981. The course can be stretched to a mammoth 7,700 yards and is set in the foreground of the magnificent Pilansberg Mountains. Featuring vast expanses of water and the occasional exoctic animal, a round at Gary Player Country Club, Sun City is one that will long in the memory of every golfer.
| Location: | Sun City, Pretoria |
| Length: | 7,700 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Designed by: | Gary Player |
| Established: | 1981 |
Commissioned by South Africa’s most wealthiest man it is no wonder that Leopard Creek is one of the most exclusive golf courses in the world. Located on the banks of the Crocodile River in the heart of the Kruger, the course gives guests unbelievable views of one of the world’s largest animal reserves and quite often a chance encounter with some incredible wildlife. The course has played host to the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Championship and is an exceptional championship layout renowned for its immaculate condition as much as it is for its stunning setting. Any golf fanatic will have this course on their bucket list and with Your Golf Travel ticking it off has never been easier.
| Location: | Kruger National Park |
| Length: | 6,792 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Designed by: | Gary Player |
| Established: | 1996 |
Pinnacle Point is arguably South Africa's most dramatic golf course with a number of its holes perched on the edge of a cliff, high above the ocean. The course only opened in 2006 but since then has gone from strength to strength and is now widely regarded as one of the best places in the country to play. The course stretches to over 7,600 yards from the championship tees, but these aren’t for the faint-hearted, with plenty of forced carries which are simply too long for the average handicap golfer to manage. Fear not though, there are 5 tee positions to choose from, allowing golfers of all abilities to find their comfort zone and enjoy this spectacular course.
| Location: | Mossel Bay, Western Cape |
| Length: | 7,600 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Designed by: | Darren Clarke & Peter Matkovich |
| Established: | 2006 |
Located in the tourist hotspot of Knysna, Pezula Golf Estate is a must play on any golf tour of South Africa. The course is a combination of masterful course design with the stunning natural landscape of the Knysna Hills with pristine fairways skirting shimmering water hazards to create a truly unforgettable setting play in. The course has been designed in such a way that it tests the best golfers out there whilst remaining challenging for the more social player.
| Location: | Kynsna |
| Length: | 6,521 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Designed by: | David Dale & Ronald Fream |
| Established: | 2001 |
Set in the heart of one of the world’s most famous wine region is Erinvale Golf Club. Designed by Gary Player, the championship layout is the perfect way to spend a morning before sampling some incredible wines. The undulating terrain provides golfers with stunning views over Capetown and the Cape Fold Mountain range. For any player visiting the coastal city of Cape Town then Erinvale Golf Club is a must play.
| Location: | Somerset West, Cape Town |
| Length: | 7,291 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Designed by: | Gary Player |
| Established: | 1995 |
