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Know any great courses in South Africa?

By penny - Posted on 19 June 2008

I'm planning a golfing break to Cape Town. Any idea which courses I should play?

Strugglin Sue's picture
By Strugglin Sue on Thu, 11/12/2008 - 16:56.

I've played Milnerton which has lovely views of Table mountain and is a nice links style course and girl is it tough when the wind blows hard!

 
editor's picture
By editor on Tue, 25/11/2008 - 14:39.

I've just got back from a trip to Johannesburg and played a good bit of golf over there in sunny 20 – 30 degree conditions – oh to work for 6 months of the year in the UK and 6 months in South Africa!

Anyway, here are the courses I would recommend based on this trip.
 
1. Blair Atholl – near Lanseria Airport just outside Johannesburg
 
My new favourite golf course anywhere in the world! It is a special place, it oozes quality and you just have to see it to believe it. See my golf course review here.
 
2. Sandy Lane Golf Club near Hartbeespoort Dam, North West, South Africa.
 
What’s great about this nine hole course is the quality of the greens. They were amongst the truest rolling greens I have played seen anywhere in the world….we couldn’t believe what good nick they were in. There’s plenty of water hazards and narrow fairways to test golfers of all levels and there are great views of the mountains and Hartbeespoort Dam. If you’re travelling to or from Sun City spending a night at the Dam and playing Sandy Lane makes a lot of sense.
 
3. Leeuwkop, near Johannesburg South Africa.
 
This golf course is set right next to a prison and although it certainly not the best South Africa has to offer I think you would find it hard to beat for value for money.   There are several interesting holes; I particularly enjoyed the Par 3s several of which required good shots over water to fast sloping greens. Golf in South Africa is by European standards extremely good value, and if the pound is weakening and you don’t fancy paying about £30 for a round on a championship layout then consider Leeuwkop, for less than £20 you’ll get an enjoyable round on a well presented course with good greens that gives you a chance to card a good score but isn’t a pushover at 6,795 metres off the championship tees.
 
laurie's picture
By laurie on Sun, 13/07/2008 - 18:37.

It depends where you are going:

 

Joburg:

Country Club Johannesburg and Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club are superb courses and have both hosted major events.

 

Cape Town:

Try Milnerton - links course, great views of Table Mountain.

Stellenbosch is worth a play. Old tree lined course.

De Zalze is a lovely course in the wine regions, as is Pearl Valley!

 

1 1/2 hours from CapeTown near Hermanus is Arabella - it is magnificent! One of the most beautiful courses you will ever play set in a natural lagoon. Immaculate and challenging!

 

3 hours from Cape Town - near George is Fancourt - it has 3 wonderful courses - the Montague and the Links are very, very special. Well worth the drive and a great 5 star resort.

 

 
penny's picture
By penny on Tue, 15/07/2008 - 19:36.

Thanks very much, I'll give Fancourt a try in October.

 
Visitor's picture
By Visitor on Tue, 22/07/2008 - 07:22.

You can also try Sun City - the 2 courses there are grea. The Gary Player course is tough (watch out for snakes in the grass) and the Lost Island course has crocodiles (lots of them, big ugly ones with sharp teeth ;-0) on one par 3 - believe me if your ball goes in their pen it stays lost!  Even the caddy won't contemplate getting it and they usually go anywhere to help you find your ball!

 
Strugglin Sue's picture
By Strugglin Sue on Thu, 11/12/2008 - 16:55.

Yeah Sun City is cool - you probably won't go round the Gary Player in 63 like Henrik Stenson but hey it's still a nice golf course and worth the visit - plus I loved the casino, the hotel and the water parks!

 

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