The 10 Best Golf Courses In South Africa

South Africa's courses offer some of the world's18-hole picturesque course, lined with trees,
best golfing and the climate is ideal for golffeatures wide fairways and requires accuracy,
year-round. Many of the courses have featuredespecially on the long seventeenth, which is rated
on both the European PGA Tour, as well as theone of the 500 best holes in the world.
local Sunshine Tour. Compiling a list of the top tenGlendower Golf Club
courses will be contentious, but here goes.Founded in 1937, the 18-hole, par 72 course
Arabella Country Clubhosted the Transvaal Open in which champion
Host to the Nelson Mandela Invitational since 2003,Bobby Locke made his world-record score. Over
and designed by Pete Matkovich, this Westernthe years, the course has been reshaped and
Cape course was ranked among the top 100 bestrebuilt, and trees, water hazards, and bunkers are
courses in the world, outside of the United States.plentiful. The fairways feature numerous hazards
Bordering a large natural lagoon, this demandingand the greens are excellent.
course stretches over rolling fairways, and hasLeopard Creek Country Club
deceptive bunkers and tricky water traps.Arguably South Africa's best-known course, on
Durban Country Clubthe border of the world famous Kruger National
The host of 16 South African OpenPark, was designed by Gary Player. Wild animals
Championships, this prestigious 18-hole, par 72such as lions, elephants and rhinoceroses are
course has the honour of having three of its holesseparated from players through innovative
listed in the top 500 holes in world golf. Thelandscaping techniques, and over 200 bird species
course undulates along the coastline, not far fromhave been noted. The elegant clubhouse is sited
the Indian Ocean, and wind variations will have aon the bank of the Crocodile River.
big effect on your game.Pecanwood Golf and Country Club Estate
Fancourt Hotel Country ClubThis Jack Nicklaus-designed, flat course, bordering
Located on the picturesque southern Cape, at thethe Hartebeespoort Dam, and with the beautiful
foot of the imposing Outeniqua Mountains, theMagaliesberg Mountains in the distance, has
four courses here have something to suit allwell-placed bunkers and caters for golfers of all
types of golfer. Designed by Gary Player, thestandards. Carefully positioned water features and
main courses have hosted major events, andstrategically placed bunkers make the course a
Fancourt has one of the finest golf academies inchallenge.
the world, with state-of-the-art practice andRiver Club Golf Course
teaching facilities.The exclusive River Club Golf Course in
Gary Player Country ClubJohannesburg is for members and their guests
Set in an extinct volcano in the Pilanesbergonly. The long course is kept in stunning condition,
Mountains, this iconic par 72, 18-hole course hostsand has one of the toughest finishing stretches in
the annual The Million Dollar Golf ChallengeSouth Africa.
tournament. One of South Africa's longest andWild Coast Country Club
toughest courses, it includes two holes that rankWith the Indian Ocean as your backdrop on nearly
in Golf Online's list of the world's 500 best holes.every hole, this 18-hole, par 70 course near Port
The course requires accurate approaches, due toEdward has a testing layout, with wide fairways
the many bunkers and water hazards.and huge greens, and is one of the most scenic in
George Golf Clubthe country. When the wind is up, this course is
Near Fancourt, in the southern Cape, this par 72,tricky. Carts are compulsory.