The 10 Best Golf Courses In South Africa

South Africa's courses offer some of the world'sfeatures wide fairways and requires accuracy,
best golfing and the climate is ideal for golfespecially on the long seventeenth, which is rated
year-round. Many of the courses have featuredone of the 500 best holes in the world. Glendower
on both the European PGA Tour, as well as theGolf Club Founded in 1937, the 18-hole, par 72
local Sunshine Tour. Compiling a list of the top tencourse hosted the Transvaal Open in which
courses will be contentious, but here goes.champion Bobby Locke made his world-record
Arabella Country Club Host to the Nelson Mandelascore. Over the years, the course has been
Invitational since 2003, and designed by Petereshaped and rebuilt, and trees, water hazards,
Matkovich, this Western Cape course was rankedand bunkers are plentiful. The fairways feature
among the top 100 best courses in the world,numerous hazards and the greens are excellent.
outside of the United States. Bordering a largeLeopard Creek Country Club Arguably South
natural lagoon, this demanding course stretchesAfrica's best-known course, on the border of the
over rolling fairways, and has deceptive bunkersworld famous Kruger National Park, was designed
and tricky water traps. Durban Country Club Theby Gary Player. Wild animals such as lions,
host of 16 South African Open Championships,elephants and rhinoceroses are separated from
this prestigious 18-hole, par 72 course has theplayers through innovative landscaping techniques,
honour of having three of its holes listed in theand over 200 bird species have been noted. The
top 500 holes in world golf. The course undulateselegant clubhouse is sited on the bank of the
along the coastline, not far from the Indian Ocean,Crocodile River. Pecanwood Golf and Country Club
and wind variations will have a big effect on yourEstate This Jack Nicklaus-designed, flat course,
game. Fancourt Hotel Country Club Located onbordering the Hartebeespoort Dam, and with the
the picturesque southern Cape, at the foot of thebeautiful Magaliesberg Mountains in the distance,
imposing Outeniqua Mountains, the four courseshas well-placed bunkers and caters for golfers of
here have something to suit all types of golfer.all standards. Carefully positioned water features
Designed by Gary Player, the main courses haveand strategically placed bunkers make the course
hosted major events, and Fancourt has one ofa challenge. River Club Golf Course The exclusive
the finest golf academies in the world, withRiver Club Golf Course in Johannesburg is for
state-of-the-art practice and teaching facilities.members and their guests only. The long course
Gary Player Country Club Set in an extinctis kept in stunning condition, and has one of the
volcano in the Pilanesberg Mountains, this iconic partoughest finishing stretches in South Africa. Wild
72, 18-hole course hosts the annual The MillionCoast Country Club With the Indian Ocean as
Dollar Golf Challenge tournament. One of Southyour backdrop on nearly every hole, this 18-hole,
Africa's longest and toughest courses, it includespar 70 course near Port Edward has a testing
two holes that rank in Golf Online's list of thelayout, with wide fairways and huge greens, and is
world's 500 best holes. The course requiresone of the most scenic in the country. When the
accurate approaches, due to the many bunkerswind is up, this course is tricky. Carts are
and water hazards. George Golf Club Nearcompulsory.
Fancourt, in the southern Cape, this par 72,Rod Ritchie writes for many publishers including
18-hole picturesque course, lined with trees,AA Publishing and Fodors.