Fun and Interesting Facts about Golf in SA

If you like outdoor activities but are out of ideas on what to do this summer, why not play a round or two of golf?

South Africans are fortunate enough to be surrounded by a number of unique word-class golf courses set in landscapes of exceptional beauty, ranging from wild bushes roamed by animals to immaculate greens set on the coast. If you've never teed off in your life, you may want to use these warm summer days to hit your first ever golf ball ever and see if, like many before you, you get hooked for life.

  

Play Golf Across South Africa

  

Stretching from Mossel Bay to Storms River, the Garden Route is considered to be a golfer's paradise thanks to its magnificent coastal landscape and mild climate. It's home to several renowned golf courses, such as Fancourt Country Club Estate situated in George, and the Pinnacle Point Golf Course which was the first ever South African course to make it to the World's Top 10 Best New Courses back in 2006.

The Eastern Cape offers 20 courses in beautiful settings, boasting local favourites like the East London Golf Club, The St Francis Bay Links, Wild Coast Sun Golf Course and Royal Port Alfred. The sub-tropical KwaZulu Natal is considered to be one of prime golf destinations with an offering almost as rich as that of the Cape Town area. That's where you'll find Durban Country Club which has frequently hosted South African Opens, and enjoy long hours of sunshine at Umhlali Country Club and the links-course of Prince's Grant. 

Among more than 50 golf courses situated in the Gauteng province, 36 rank in South Africa's top 100, and if that's not a good enough reason to visit for a golfing holiday, we don't know what is. A number of those at Johannesburg have played a host to European PGA Tours and South African Sunshine Tour events, but whether you're an amateur or a seasoned pro, you'll find an appropriate challenge to fit your skill level.

Should you be visiting the Free State, make sure to check out the par 71 Clarens Golf & Trout Estate, as well as the Bloemfontein Golf Club which has been around for more than 100 years. Golfing in the Northern Cape of South Africa is a unique experience in its own way, boasting beautiful coastline and mesmerising sunsets, wide open spaces and a number of national parks. If you fancy having a giraffe as a spectator, take your irons, drivers and putters to Mpumalanga; it will be a 2-in-1 deal thanks to the Kruger National Park and private game reserves. Limpopo offers yet another chance to taste the untamed Africa and experience a golfing safari.

  

Where are some of the Best of South Africa's Golf Courses located?

  

Cape Town and the Western Cape are home to a number of excellent golf courses which have been rated as some of the best in South Africa. One can pick among 9-hole courses such as Shelley Point Golf Club in St Helena Bay and De Hoek Golf Club located just outside of Piketberg, or opt for a more challenging golfing experience at one of many 18-hole courses in the vicinity, like the championship links-style course Langebaan Golf Club located in the seaside town of Langebaan. Atlantic Beach Golf Club, another 18-hole course, lies only 700m off the Atlantic Ocean and offers exciting challenges thanks to coastal winds. Situated in Silvermine Valley, Clovelly Golf Club is one of the most scenic courses in South Africa and without doubt one of the most challenging ones. Arabella Golf Club ranks among the country's top ten, featuring tricky bunkers and creative water hazards, with its 18th hole known as one of the most beautiful par five’s in South Africa. Bellville Golf Club, situated close to Cape Town’s city centre, is yet another 18-hole course with long heritage and challenging enough to cater to golfers of different skill levels.

So many choices, so little time, but one has got to start somewhere. Pick one which sounds the most appealing, then work your way through the rest during this summer or one of those to come.

  

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