South Africa is a stunning and beautiful golfing destination, often described as ‘a world in one country’.
Across South Africa you can experience everything from deserts and forests to savannahs and mountains, not to forget the amazing beaches and incredible game reserves. South Africa ticks off an endless list of sights and experiences across the vibrant cities, with the wealth of world-class golf courses simply adding to its appeal. Here at Your Golf Travel, we can help you choose a destination for your South Africa golf holiday, assist with building out your itineraries and provide you with unrivalled experience from our experts who have travelled throughout this amazing country playing golf along the way. If you want to add a Big 5 Safari, Whale Watching or sightseeing in Cape Town to your golf holiday, then we will help you create a memorable golf holiday in South Africa.
Thanks in large part to my role at Your Golf Travel, a question I get asked all the time is where in the world is my favourite place to play golf. After a family holiday in 2015, South Africa shot straight to the top of my list and it hasn't budged since...
The golf courses are simply breathtaking and while the six courses I played, from Arabella which lies just an from Cape Town, to the amazing Fancourt Resort in George, home to Africa's top ranked golf course, were all superb, it was Pinnacle Point that really jumped off the page. The course sits high atop the cliffs overlooking Mossel Bay and is pure drama from start to finish. The only thing that could top that course I suppose is a crack at the Extreme 19th at Legend Golf & Safari Resort, something I was lucky to do during our stay at the Entabeni Safari Reserve.
There's so much more to South Africa than just the golf though. The food and wine is to die for and Franschoek, where you'll find restaurants like the heavenly La Petite Ferme, is ideal for foodies and wine lovers. I think the best thing about South Africa though is the sense of adventure you get when you're there. There's so much to do and see so from zip-lining over jungle canyons cage diving with Great Whites, to the cable car ride up Table Mountain and a fascinating excursion to Robben Island; a holiday here is just go, go, go from start to finish.
South Africa boasts a number of fantastic golf courses each in their own unique settings; you’re likely to see wildlife off the rough, greens bordering the coast and of course a strong ocean breeze. Many of the premium courses in South Africa rank amongst the best in the world, all with championship pedigree; Fancourt Links (host of Presidents Cup), Durban Country Club (South African Open), Leopard Creek (European Tour), Gary Player at Sun City (Nedbank Golf Challenge) all examples of this. Then there are spectacular newer designs such as Pinnacle Point on the coast, Pearl Valley in the Winelands or Pezula set on the cliffs above Knysna. Even in the cities, you find some outstanding courses like the exclusive River Club in Johannesburg or the charming Clovelly near Cape Town; wherever you go in this diverse country, there will be a fantastic golf course for you to play.
Cape Town, also known as the Mother City, is one of the most iconic cities in the world with so many landmark attractions. The dramatic Table Mountain is a unique and mesmerising backdrop for the city but its the golden beaches, vibrant array of bars and restaurants as well as the non-stop entertainment which completes its appeal. Once you add in the world-class golf courses, beautiful wineries of Stellenbosch and Constantia and the spectacular Garden Route between Mossel Bay and Storms River, you simply run out of superlatives for the majestic Cape Town.
KwaZulu-Natal is one of South Africa’s most diverse provinces and has so much to offer guests from all around the world. You can trace the region’s rich history in the ancient battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift, explore the rolling hills of the Drakensberg and enjoy the warm waters of the Indian Ocean from some of the great beaches across Durban. In Northern Durban, there are some magnificent game reserves which should be at the top of your bucket list, all the while enjoying the excellent year-round topical climate with temperatures between 23 and 30 all year round.
Johannesburg is one of Africa’s biggest and most dynamic cities, built on gold deposits, affording it the name as South Africa’s El Dorado. Today you can discover Johannesburg’s thrilling history in museums celebrating the gold-mining past, as well as exploring the city’s more modern face with a trip to visit the huge range of shops, malls, glittering skyscrapers and beautiful houses. The Kruger National Park is a vast game reserve the size of Wales and there is some of the best Big 5 game viewing in the world around here. For the golfer, one of the most famous resorts in Africa is Sun City, which is just 2 hours from Johannesburg.
South Africa is a great country to drive in, with stunning views, grand roads and beautiful scenery; when away from the main cities the traffic isn’t too bad either. However, it’s worth remembering that South Africa is much larger than England or any UK country, so plan your journeys carefully, as per the driving distances.
With so much to experience in South Africa there really is something for everyone, that's why we offer bespoke holidays tailored to your requirements. Our South Africa Golf Experts have travelled extensively within the country and have created four possible itineraries below. Get in touch now to create yours.
As keen golfers, this couple knew they were in for a treat when heading to Cape Town. Naturally, they wanted to play the best golf courses, soak up the South African culture and delve into the famous sounds and tastes, all the while leaving some days to relax. Listening to their requirements, we worked to put together the perfect, bespoke itinerary to make their trip to South Africa unforgettable. They visited the prestigious Royal Cape Golf Course, a frequent host of the South African Open, the picturesque Clovelly Country Club and concluding with the Jack Nicklaus designed Pearl Valley Golf Course, another former host to the South African Open. Off the course we suggested a range of activities aside from basking in the South African sun, ranging from famous wine lands tour and visiting the mighty Table Mountain.
Combining the ideal blend of local indulgence, exhilarating excursions and of course brilliant golf, this group started with a stay at the ideally located 4* Portswood Hotel, known for its traditional Cape cuisine. From there they headed to the picturesque Clovelly Golf Clubs for 18 holes of stunning golf at one best-established courses in the region. After a day of rest and sightseeing around the Cape, we arranged a stay at the Gondwana game lodge to experience the wild side of South Africa. This once in a lifetime experience allowed our group to seek out the famous ‘big 5’ lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and the Cape buffalo, which has earned its reputation as one of the most feared creatures in all of South Africa! Then onto the Fancourt Hotel and Spa for 4 nights of relaxation and exploration, plus 18 holes of the famous Fancourt Links, the best way to finish a South Africa golf holiday.
Durban and Kwazulu Natal is not usually the first choice when planning a golf holiday to South Africa, in fact, it’s often overlooked and unjustly so. Boasting a fantastic year-round climate, spectacular scenery and a stunning coastline, it’s fast becoming a firm favourite amongst discerning golfers. For this itinerary we chose some great courses, starting with a stay at the 5* Zimbali Hotel where the Zimbali Golf course is a real treat for the purists; the course was designed to accentuate and compliment the surrounding environment, and believe us it succeeds. Next up was 18 holes at Durban Country Club, regarded as South Africa’s premier golf course, and a host to the South African Open no less than 16 times. From there we planned a two-night stay at the Selborne Golf Resort, which in its third year of opening was voted the 7th best in South Africa and has remained a favourite since. With Durban international Airport just 30 minutes away, there was time for one final round at Selborne before heading home.
This unique itinerary was for a group who wanted as many thrills in their week-long stay as possible. Staying at the 5* Cascades Hotel, a venue renowned for beautiful tropical settings and luscious gardens, the group were perfectly relaxed before hitting the fairways. Taking on the renowned course at Gary Player Country Club as well as the Lost City resort, the golfing quota was certainly met and exceeded. To maintain the wild theme, we offered a safari at Pilanesberg Game Reserve, the most popular off-course activity for golfers staying in Sun City. After a quick transfer to the Legends Resort, we concluded with 18 holes at the Legend Course without forgetting a quick helicopter ride to the Extreme 19th, the ultimate par 3 hole in the world.
“Golf in South Africa is exciting, challenging and stunning; I’ve been lucky enough to play there quite a lot over the years, even picking up some titles along the way.”
Our Chief Holiday Officer, Lee Westwood, has been lucky enough to travel around South Africa whilst competing on the European Tour. He has played a variety of courses all over the country and has shared some insight into his favourite destinations on and off the golf course.
The Gary Player Course at Sun City has been an extremely enjoyable course to play over the years for the Nedbank Golf Challenge, an event I have won twice in consecutive years. I’ve been fortunate enough to play at a range of magnificent courses across the country, including the Durban Country Club, with its oceanside location and Leopard Creek, which is always fascinating with its presence of wildlife. Then you have two other great courses with the dramatic Pinnacle Point and the stunning Links course at Fancourt, which are definitely two of my favourites.
Away from the course I love heading to Cape Town. I have spent New Years Eve down on the V&A Waterfront and it was magical. If you’re a lover of food and wine then you’ll love it, whilst it’s great for nightlife too. Robben Island is a memorable place and I recall taking a helicopter ride near Table Mountain a few years ago. Another fantastic activity away from the fairways is to go on one of the exhilarating safaris.
Ranked the number 1 course in South Africa, and previous host of the Presidents Cup back in 2003.
Ranked number 2 in South Africa. Hosted South African Open 17 times, and the Volvo Championship in 2013 and 2014.
Gary Player Country Club - Potentially the most famous course in South Africa, hosting the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge since 1981.
Just after a year of opening, Erinvale hosted the World Cup of Golf in 1996, then the South African Airways Open in 2003 and 2004.
Was the second Jack Nicklaus Signature course to open in South Africa. Held the South African Open for 3 consecutive years from 2007.
The annual host of the Alfred Dunhill Challenge on the European Tour since 2005. Additional famous short hole course built in 2016.
There is never a shortage of different experiences in South Africa, from phenomenal views at the top of Table Mountain, playing the number one ranked golf course in the country at Fancourt, to exploring the Kruger National Park.
Cape Town is one of the most exciting cities in the world, just a few of those experiences include Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, Chapmans Peak Drive and Cape Point.
The Cape’s climate is perfect for growing wine. A lot of the wineries also have great restaurants and is a must in the Stellenbosch and Constantia region.
Hermanus is regarded as the whale watching capital of South Africa, where you can witness a spectacular display of raw power and elegance of water acrobatics.
Fancourt Links is currently the number one ranked golf course in South Africa. The resort boasts three first class championship courses making the estate's golf complex the envy of the African continent.
The Garden Route refers to the stunning stretch of coast between Mossel Bay and the Storms River. It offers a spectacular coastline of dramatic headlands which give way to white sandy beaches.
The stunning country club is in amongst the top 3 ranked golf courses in South Africa, is a regular host to the South African Open, and has hosted the Volvo Championship twice on the European Tour also.
Whether in the Cape or in Kruger, from Lions to Rhinos, a stay at any of the large selection of game reserves to see the Big 5 animals is a must on any South African holiday itinerary.
It has two outstanding championship golf courses, one of which is an annual European Tour host, as well as a waterpark, casino and nearby game reserves.
The ultimate luxury journey, staying in stunning accommodation on the train whilst playing the best courses in South Africa, including Durban Country Club and Leopard Creek Country Club.
On the whole, South Africa boasts a much better climate than here in the UK, however across different regions and cities, the temperatures vary.
From November until the end of April is the peak season, with December to February reaching the hottest temperatures. However for ideal golfing conditions, April/May and September/October time is a popular choice.
Durban offers a truly all year round destination, producing much more tropical weather between 20-30॰C. It is typically more humid, and during the summer season more rainfall is expected (often between October and January).
Being further North, Johannesburg and surrounding areas are not affected by seasons as much. It is almost a year round destination for Sun City & city golfing breaks. * July/August gets cool in mornings & evenings.
Cape Town International Airport is just 20 minutes from the V and A Waterfront, in the heart of Cape Town. There are direct flights into Cape Town with British Airways from London Heathrow. There are many different indirect flight options into Cape Town including South African Airways via Johannesburg, Emirates Airlines via Dubai, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. Flight durations average just over 11 hours.
Durban King Shaka International Airport is located just to the North of Durban and just 25 minutes from Fairmont Zimbali Resort. Historically there have been no direct flights from Uk to Durban but as of Winter 18-19, British Airways will fly non-stop to Durban from Heathrow. There are many different indirect flight options including Virgin Atlantic and South African Airways via Johannesburg and Emirates Airlines via Dubai.
O.R. Tambo International Airport Johannesburg is well served from the UK with direct flights from London Heathrow with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and South African Airways. There are also excellent connections through Dubai with Emirates, through Abu Dhabi with Etihad and through Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Flight duration is around 11 hours.
Hear from some of our customers who went and created their own memories in South Africa, from golfing at Gary Player’s Country Club in the Sun City Resort, to witnessing the safari wildlife at the Gondwana Game Reserve in Mossel Bay.
The planning and all the advice of our trip - I wish I could give more than a 10. The hotels chosen for us were fantastic. The DeVinci in Sandton was so accessible to the shops just two floors down from the Reception and straight into the shopping mall, a big plus for us group of ladies
Pauline, March 2018
We were all delighted by the service provided by Jason at YGT. He provided all the information we required and answered all questions promptly and efficiently. He helped us select the best courses to play, recommended a very well-situated hotel and organised a winery visit. We will certainly seek Jason’s advice when planning our next golf tour.
Ian, February 2018
Our overall assessment of the trip was fantastic. Gondwana Game Reserve was absolutely brilliant from start to finish, with the game drives being well organised and informative. Resort food and accommodation first class and the staff was so welcoming and professional. Pinnacle Point is a must for any golfer, and Fancourt is an excellent resort with tough but enjoyable.
Kevin, February 2018
This was my first trip to South Africa and I found it to be a wonderful, vibrant and friendly place. We will definitely be going back and will also without doubt work with Your Golf Travel again as we found them to be professional, polite and on the ball from the first point of contact. The whole trip was seamless with pre-booked tee times and buggies.
Finola, January 2018
For the challenging Budget & Schedule we presented, we all agree it surpassed all our expectations & we are considering another trip next year. We would have no hesitation going back to Your Golf Travel for next year’s trip.
I think the most important aspect prior to traveling was the fact that the sales agent had experienced the Cape Town Area & associated Golf Courses themselves & were able to picture our requirements to a tee (Excuse the Pun) this enabled us to travel to & from the courses & around the Cape Town area with limited effort.
Graham, October 2017
From start to finish this was the most memorable trip ever experienced, and I should point out we have been all over the world on golf and non-golf holidays. We all loved South Africa, would definitely return and we wished we had stayed longer. The quality of the hotels, the warmth from the people in general and specifically by the staff everywhere, certainly made for a holiday to remember.
Peter, September 2017
| Fancourt Hotel and Golf Estate | Sun City Resort |
| Arabella Hotel and Spa | Erinvale Estate Hotel and Spa |
| Oubaai Golf Resort |
| Fancourt (Links) | Gary Player Country Club (Sun City) |
| Durban Country Club | Leopard Creek |
| Arabella | Pinnacle Point |
| Simola Golf Estate | Pezula Golf Estate |
| Pearl Valley | Erinvale |
