Garden Route Golf Courses

Oubaai

Oubaai is Ernie Els first signature design golf course in his home country of South Africa.

Els has created a gem on an impressive piece of land with the backdrop of the Outeniqua Mountain range to one side, the magnificent Gwaing River valley to the other and the Indian Ocean in front.

The course has been built with classic links in mind, but there are subtleties and features adding character here that will not be found on any of the traditional links courses of the world.

The wind is a major defence for the course and it is unusual to experience complete calm at Oubaai so if golfing in the wind is not for you, you may want to relax in the luxurious clubhouse and watch others take on the doglegging finishing hole. It would be a pity though to waste an opportunity to take on this fantastic course where wind is the single major challenge.

Pinnacle Point

Set on the edge of a magnificent coast, Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort is situated at the gateway to the Garden Route.

The Pinnacle Point Golf Course is an immaculate eighteen-hole championship golf course, The emerald green fairways and tees provide the perfect surface for making shots and the bent grass greens will ensure a challenging and entertaining game is had by all.

The views are awe inspiring, with dramatic coastal views of the ocean from all areas of the course. Some of the holes are situated along the cliff side. In addition to this, the natural beauty of the indigenous flora and fauna complete this unique golfing experience.

With fantastic weather and breath-taking landscapes, Pinnacle Point has already been rated as the best golf course on the planet by pro golfer Darren Clarke.

Remember to pack lots of balls and extra batteries for the camera as there is a picture waiting to be taken from almost any position on the course.

Simola

Keeping your head down at Simola will be a challenge; simply because the views around the course are awe-inspiring, and with this, it is clear to see why Simola takes its place as one of South Africas premier golfing destinations.

The course offers challenging and rewarding golf amidst spectacular scenery. Set below the high ridges, its free from the wind that so often plagues coastal courses. Fairways flow with the natural undulating contours of the terrain and the unusual configuration of five par 5s and five par 3s adds a new dimension to the game.

Its par for the course that every hole boasts exceptional views; either out across the Knysna Lagoon all the way to the Heads or over the picturesque Knysna River as it twists and turns through the valley below.

Pezula

Pezula Championship Golf Course adjacent to Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa is a sweeping spectacle of fairways and greens rolling through the pristine Southern Cape landscape.

The breathtaking, award-winning 18-hole course which was designed by David Dale and Ronald Fream of GolfPlan USA, rates amongst the best and the most scenic golf courses in the world.

Covering 254 hectares on the Knysna cliff-tops, the Pezula Championship Course has views of both the Knysna Lagoon and the Indian Ocean. It is designed to include a full range of shots, making it a challenging, rewarding and complete golf experience for players of all levels. Signature holes have been earmarked as the 13th and 14th.

Fancourt Links

With the addition of the Links Course to the Fancourt Estate in November 2000, it was clear to see that this golf estate would become South Africas premier golf resort for many years to come.

Designed by legendary Gary Player, his team spent months studying the classic links courses of their counterparts in Scotland and Ireland. What they came up with was awe inspiring and when the course hosted the Presidents Cup in 2003, it became instantly recognisable the world over.

Every hole has received the attention to detail to ensure that the overall balance in terms of length, position of hazards and shot values are in harmony. The Links has some astonishing holes that will live long in the memory , like the par-3 second, with a bunker placed in the middle of the enormous green. Gary Player said, We included the bunker to break it up, but the front left of the green is severely sloped, so the golfer can use the contours to get the ball near the flag.

Fancourt Montagu

Fancourt has been widely regarded as the premier golf resort of South Africa, with three championship courses on site. The Montagu course is a much celebrated parkland course and has been ranked as the number-one golf course in South Africa in the past.

It has recently undergone some renovations with several holes being redesigned and has two completely new holes - the 1st and the 9th.

In line with its sibling the Outeniqua, the Montagu is always in immaculate condition the year round, with one of the most memorable holes being the Par 3, 2nd hole. With the tee boxes situated much higher than the green, you must take aim at green that has a creek that runs along the right and 3 pot bunkers positioned on the left, with the green sloping upwards form front to back with a bunker in place at the back of the green. Have your cameras ready.

Fancourt Outeniqua

Fancourt is South Africas premier golf resort, featuring three highly rated Championship golf courses, The Outeniqua course is one of the finest 18 hole parkland courses in the country, and any round on this gem really is a special experience.

Designed by the legendary Gary Player, it is very similar to its sibling the Montagu with its fine conditioning and design, which will prove a real test for golfers of all levels.

The course is a visual delight from start to finish, with many of the holes having water features in play. The surrounds of the tee boxes and greens are constantly an abundance of colour.

George

The George Golf Course is a beautifully manicured course located in the heart of the Garden Route

Year after year this course proves to be a real favourite stop for golfers from all over the world, with the warm climate here lending itself to producing lush fairways and immaculate greens.

The courses signature hole, the 17th Par 3 measuring in at 181m from the Championship tees was voted in the top 500 holes in the World and was voted the best par 3 in South Africa.

Kingswood

Designed to blend in with the magnificent background of the Outeniqua Mountains, Kingswood Golf Estate, is the newest world-class 18 hole golf course to be added to the renowned Garden Route.

The course is set in the heart of George, the capital of the Garden Route , and with its rolling and undulating fairways, truly intimidating bunkers, grassy greenside swales and quite superb greens are all consistent features.

There are varying moods while playing the course, with high vantage points allowing dramatic views of the surrounding Outeniqua Mountains, contrasted by natural valley holes and environmentally protected areas carved out across and accompanying many of the holes.

Despite the noticeable housing component, there is a sense of being out in the country, especially as the natural indigenous ingredients of the area have been fanatically protected to ensure the long-term quality of living and playing in this environment.

Goose Valley

The Goose Valley Golf Course is situated in stunning surroundings, only 2km from Plettenberg Bay and bordering on the Keurbooms Lagoon. This magnificent estate offers a Gary Player designed 72 par, 18 hole golf course in the heart of the Garden Route.

Golfers will experience breathtaking views of the lagoon, the ocean and the Tsitsikamma Mountains,

The course has immaculate fairways and fantastic greens which complete its natural environment, positioned within a protected and sensitive nature reserve. With the protection of this environment being of upmost importance, golf balls that go into the hazard are deemed to be lost.

Mossel Bay

The course is an easy walk and very playable from tee to green for all golfers, even if you have just taken up the game.

The beautiful views of the Indian Ocean or the Springbuck roaming on the course might distract you, but they will most definitely leave you with lasting memories.

The Mossel Bay golf course signature hole is the 3rd hole, which is a par 4. At almost 400m, and a stroke two, this can be challenging especially when playing into the sea breeze.

The tee is situated high above the fairway with magnificent vistas over the estate, and the hole runs downhill towards the green with the Indian Ocean as your backdrop. Well-placed bunkers on either side of the fairway will catch any errand tee shots. The green is a large two level undulating green, which makes a guaranteed par 4 on the hole uncertain, should you find the green with your second shot.

Humewood Golf Course

Found in the coastal town of Port Elizabeth, Humewood Golf Course is one of the most challenging links courses in the world, and is consistently ranked as one of the top courses within South Africa. Humewood has been host to the South African Open 4 times and the SA Amateur Open 9 times.

The late Bobby Locke once described the course as the best in South Africa and compared it favourably against its counterparts in the British Isles.

Humewood is still one of only a few genuine links courses found outside of Britain. It is situated on the sand dunes on the shores of Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth. The fairways are exposed, undulating and wide to compensate for strong winds, bunkers are few with steep faces, greens are firm and fast, the rough is thick coastal bush and there are no water hazards.

The course centres around the old, white-walled, double-storey Club House. Elegantly set, it extends a warm and welcoming feeling to all. Indulge in some superb views over the course and Algoa Bay from the 19th. A round at Humewood is a must for any golfers visiting the Eastern Cape.

St Francis Links

A relatively new course, St Francis Links is a true Links course, designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus. St Francis Links will challenge all who play it and reward those who respect it.

St Francis Links has put St Francis Bay on the golf-map and has captured the imagination of all golfers who simply love the game. The course demands a wide range of shots because of its unprotected exposure to the elements, its undulating and often unpredictable terrain, the fine coastal grasses and firmness of soil. It may not be as pretty as a traditional course, but it possesses an untamed raw beauty that is both inspiring and challenging. A true Links.

The shape of the greens comes from the natural movement of the land. The greens have simply been placed on top of the sand, changing shape in construction as the wind changed its mind. Some are more undulating than others. All putting surfaces and green surrounds present a mental and physical test.

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