Golf Holidays in South Africa

South Africa has so much to offer as a Golf destination with over 500 quality courses. The courses are of the highest quality, well presented and fully equipped with the bonus of having stunning surroundings and fantastic scenery. Visitors always receive a warm South African welcome while the prices are extremely competitive.

How Many Golf Courses Are There in South Africa?

There are genuine world-class golf courses in this stunning county, with diverse conditions from rugged coasts of the south to the open plains of the north. There are over 450 courses in this remarkable country.

When is the Best Time to Visit South Africa to Play Golf?

South Africa is based in the Southern Hemisphere and therefore have the opposite seasons to those in the UK. Therefore it makes for a perfect Winter Golf destination. Our recommendation is to visit between November and March when conditions are perfect for laying golf.

How Much Does it Cost to Play Golf in South Africa?

This depends on where you travel to and which time of year you visit. Generally, the South African golf courses are fantastic value for money, especially with the Rand exchange rate in 2020. If you are looking for bucket-list golf on luxurious resorts such as Fancourt then you will need a higher budget.

However, our expert team can help tailor-make your golf trip to South Africa within budget.  There are a lot of “moving parts” such as flight options, tee times and early booking discounts to take advantage of.

Where to Play Golf in South Africa?

Why not start in the colourful region of Cape Town and the Winelands of Stellenbosch, with a backdrop to Table Mountain. The superb Milnerton golf course is a sight to be experienced. Although more regular visitors will make the trip year-after-year to the Garden Route gem of Fancourt Links which is one of the finest set amongst the Outeniqua mountains.  Here are a few ideas for you to decide from:

Arabella Golf Resort (Cape Overberg) Kleinmond Western Cape

Combination of Links & Parkland. (18 hole, par 72, 6,300m)

Sitting proudly amongst the Kogelberg mountains and overlooking the Bot Rivier Lagoon is the outstanding golf resort of Arabella. Just 25 km from Hermanus Golf, this golf complex is first class and voted amongst the top 10 courses in South Africa. The immaculate Kikuyu grass fairways lend themselves to golfers of all abilities. The fairways may be inviting however, there are bunkers and water hazards strategically placed to remind the golfer that the course is in charge and will not be overwhelmed whoever you may be. Lee Westwood, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Ernie Els to name a few have all tried to tame the course and failed. Check out the 18th hole as it has a reputation throughout South Africa and the par-five 8th hole is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the country. The resort has all the facilities you would expect from a top golfing venue. There is also plenty of suitable accommodation available in Kleinmond.

Fancourt Golf Estate (Garden Route) George.

Combination of Four courses. Three Parkland and One Links. (All championship 18 hole 72 par)

This can be classed as South Africa’s most prestigious golf resort with the Black Knight (Gary Player) designing and working on all of the courses. It boasts a luxury 5-star hotel and 4 quality championship courses with three of the courses reserved for Hotel guests only. They are the “Montagu”, “Outeniqua” and the famous “Links” which Gary Player designed to emulate a typical Scottish links course. The links have hosted some prestigious golf tournaments over the years. In 2003 it held the Presidents Cup, in 2005 the South African Open and in 2012 The Volvo Golf Champions European Tour. These three courses are stunning with some extraordinary holes and fairways in addition to some spectacular features. If you are looking for a stress-free round of golf then the fourth course at Fancourt could be a perfect choice. The “Bramble Hill” course is open to the public, therefore, you are not required to be a hotel resident to play it. The course is 18 holes and challenging even to the most proficient of golfers. There are similarities between the Bramble Hill Course and the “Links”. They both have undulating fairways, raised greens and of course the mandatory multitude of difficult hazards. Whichever course is played at the resort you are guaranteed a round of golf to remember.

Sun City Resort (North West Province) Sun City.

Parkland Courses

Two courses at Sun City. “Lost City” & “Gary Player Country Club” (both 18 holes 72 par)

At the Sun City Resort, the Golf courses are designed by Gary Player and are part of the Sun City Complex. The “Gary Player Country Club” was built in an extinct volcanic crater and is regarded as one of the longest courses in the world. It was recently voted South Africa’s best golf course and is home to the “Million Dollar Challenge” sponsored by Nedbank which has the best players in the world competing. The course is certainly challenging with many water features with the most interesting hole being the spectacular 9th hole which is the par-five island hole. A long difficult course and a challenge for all.

The “Lost City” course should also be considered as one of the best in the world. Built on rocky desert terrain, the course has spectacular views with many of the holes containing difficult water hazards. In fact, the course contains 28,000 square meters of water features so caution should be taken when playing the 13th hole. This course will test all golfers, however, the experience gained will live in the memory for a long time to come.

Sun City is the place to go if you want a mixture of family holidays and golf. Within the complex, there are casinos, cinemas, Waterworld, variety shows, sports facilities, hotels and restaurants. In nearby Pilanesberg, there is a game reserve making it possible to book a safari tour to observe the enchanting wildlife and surroundings.

Hermanus Golf Resort. (Cape Overberg) Western Cape

Parkland Course (27 holes various distance 3 courses)

Situated 120 Km west of Cape Town lies the small distinctive fishing village of Hermanus which is home to the Whales who return annually (July – December) when it is calving season. If you time your visit to coincide with this event, it is sure to impress. The Whales are not the only thing that will impress you in the quaint fishing village. It is home to a superb golfing facility, which has been improved by the renowned golf course architect Peter Matkovich who has added an additional nine holes. The 27 holes, which are played as three separate courses are breathtaking and are a challenge to professional, mid-handicap and high handicap players. The greens are always in perfect condition with the fairways giving you an adrenalin rush as you anticipate your next stroke. Throw into this the swirling wind and you can understand exactly how this course delivers an enjoyable, yet a fantastic challenge to golfers of all standards. Club facilities are superb with an elegant bar, restaurant, half-way house, locker rooms with full facilities, pro-shop with practice facilities, golf buggy hire, trolley and club hire. To further enhance your South African golfing experience, there are also graded caddies to assist you with their local knowledge of the courses. There are many top-class accommodation facilities close to the golf course to take your golfing trip to the next level.