South Africa Activity Break - Golfing

• Posted by: Editor
• On: 19/08/2008 14:57:20
• In: South Africa Car Hire

Golfing in South Africa
The weather in South Africa is fairly consistent in that it is perfect for golf almost all year round. With a long coastline you can find a number of fine Links courses and there is even a number of high altitude courses which mean your ball will travel further!

The Dress Code is fairly standard on the more significant courses, with smart casual or normal golf attire accepted. A collared shirt and no t-shirts or jeans permitted. You may need an official handicap on some courses and it would be wise to book a tee time well ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

Best Courses
In the Western Cape near to Cape Town you can find the Arabella Country Club. This course is located next to the largest natural lagoon in South Africa. You can find the course in Kleinmond which is about 70kms along the coast from Cape Town. Designed by Peter Matkovich the course is designed to be challenging to experienced golfers but not overly so for amateurs. The course is 6381 metres in length and offers the features of both Links and Parkland. The course is also home to the Nelson Mandela Invitational.

Also in the Western Cape is Pearl Valley Golf Club found within the Cape Winelands. This is a 6801 metre in length, Par 72, Jack Nicklaus designed course is situated between the orchards and vineyards of some local wine producers. The Berg River also runs through the course which provides an interesting water hazard for this inland course.

If you are based in the Johannesburg area then these Gauteng golf courses should be within easy reach. The first is the River Club Golf Club in Sandton on the outskirts of the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan area. This course it noted for its persistently high quality of conditioning. Unfortunately for golf tourists the course is only open to members and their guests, so unless you know someone in the club you may have to sign up which is only recommended if you are spending a long time in South Africa. The course is about 6500 metres long and is a Par 71 Parklands.

Also in Gauteng is the Glendower Golf Club which was built in 1937 and is located fairly close to the international airport. The course is notable for its large number of trees, water hazards and bunkers dotted throughout the course. The course is 6770 metres in length and it a Par 72. Because of the lush vegetation and the large amount of local fauna the course was proclaimed a nature conservation area in 1973.

In Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal Province you will also find a duo of fantastic courses. The Durban Country Club is well known throughout South Africa as the course to host more South African Opens than any other course (14 times!). The course borders both the city and is cut into the dunes of the Indian Ocean coast. This semi-links nature can make it challenging when you encounter strong offshore breezes. The course is about 6111 metres long and is a Par 72 and is recommended only for more experienced golfers as beginners may get frustrated.

Also in the Durban area you can find the Wild Coast Country Club. Relatively short at 5807 metres and par 70, don’t let this lull you into a fault sense of an easy course. This Robert Trent Jones course is set up next to the Indian Ocean, so it can be punishing when the wind gets up. The course is quite spectacular with such holes as the 13th which is a par 3 played in front of a waterfall!

Some other major courses found elsewhere in the country include The Links at Fancourt found in the Southern Cape Province. Designed by Gary Player and opened in 2000 this course was the home for The Presidents Cup in 2003. The course is about 6154 metres long and is a Par 72.

The George Golf Club is located close to the Garden Route and it is consistently placed in the Top 10 of South African courses. The setting of this course is highly lauded and makes for an excellent day out. The course is about 5777 metres long and is a Par 70.

In Mpumalanga you can find the Leopard Creek Golf Course which is currently rated as the No. 1 course in South Africa. The course is located close to Kruger National Park, so if you are lucky you might see some Elephants or other African animals roaming outside the bounds of the course.

And the final courses covered here is the Gary Player Country Club located at Sun City in the North Western Province. The course is quite difficult with water hazard and bunkers in plentiful supply, so accuracy is valued more that big hitters. The course is a Par 72 and at about 6938 metres long is one of the longest in the world!

There are of course many more places you can go fishing in South Africa and this is just a sampler. For more ideas of what to do while in South Africa check out our other South Africa Blogs. If you think you will want to get around by car while in South Africa have a look at our South Africa Car Hire page and have a look at our competitive rates.

If you have any tips about driving in and around South Africa feel free to let us know. Just leave your message in the comment box below.