South Africa is quickly gaining attention as one of the best spots to golf in the world. With more than 550 golf courses, 36 golf estates and 6 golf resorts, South Africa boasts more golf courses than any other country outside the US! This is a golf lovers’ paradise. Discover why you need to add South Africa to your global golf bucket list.

1. Incredible Climate

The golf courses in South Africa are great to visit any time of year. The climate generally ranges from Mediterranean in the southwestern corner of South Africa to temperate in the interior and subtropical in the northeast. Most of the country has warm, sunny days and cool nights. Rainfall generally occurs during summer (November through March), although in the south-west, around Cape Town, rainfall occurs in winter (June to August). It’s truly a golfing paradise.

2. World Class, Championship Courses

There are at least 50 championship courses in South Africa that have been designed by some of the most renowned golf architects. Here are just a few of our favourites:

  • The Links at Fancourt #1 ranked course in SA – Has hosted The Presidents Cup (2003), The SA Open (2005) and the 2012 Volvo Golf Champions European Tour. It currently hosts the Dimension Data – Sunshine Tour. The course is the collaborative handiwork of golfing icon, Gary Player, course designer, Phil Jacobs and Fancourt’s owner, Dr Hasso Plattner.
  • Leopard Creek – #2 ranked course in SA – Host to Alfred Dunhill Championships on European and Sunshine Tour. The course architect was Gary Player.
  • Sun City –# 3 ranked in SA – Host to the Nedbank Golf Challenge. The course architect was Gary Player.
  • Arabella Golf Estate – Host of the Sunshine Tour events. The course was designed and built by the highly acclaimed South African golf course architect Peter Matkovich in 1999.
  • Pearl Valley – Hosted the South African Open. This is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in which Jack himself provided extensive involvement in the design and promotion.
  • Stellenbosch – Hosted the South African Open (1999) as well as five South African Masters tournaments.
  • De Zalze – Hosted the World Amateur Championships. The golf course architect was Peter Matkovich.
  • Pezula – Host to Sunshine Tour Events. The course was designed by David Dale and Ronald Fream of GolfPlan USA.

3. Best Value for Money

The green fees in South Africa are by far some of the best value for money in the world. And with the weakened exchange rates, this makes it an even more attractive spot for any international traveller that is seeking out a world-class experience at a very reasonable cost.  

4. Surrounds: Wine, City and Safari

For the travelling golfer, there is no place else in the world that offers wine, safari and city sightseeing like South Africa. Whether by helicopter or road, spend half the day on the course and the other half tasting incredible local wines. Or travel down the Cape Peninsula to see penguins playing on the beach, hike Table Mountain, and dine at world-class restaurants in the city of Cape Town. And for a true African adventure, pair your golf trip with a wildlife safari. At one of the most prestigious courses, Leopard Creek, golfers often spot crocodiles, hippos, antelopes, buffalo and elephants meandering alongside them on the green. There’s no question that South Africa’s diverse landscapes offer a once in a lifetime golf adventure.

5. Follow in Famous Footsteps

If you follow the game of golf, you might start to think there’s something in the South African water. With world renown heavy hitters like Ernie Els and Gary Player, there’s something to be said for the ability for these legends to dominate on the global stage. In case you didn’t know which golfers were South African, here’s a list of some of the greats.

  • Ernie Els
  • Gary Player
  • Brandon Grace
  • Louis Oosthuizen
  • Charl Schwartzel
  • Retief Goosen
  • Brandon Stone
  • Jaco Van Zyl
  • Dean Burmester
  • Dylan Fritelli
  • Tim Clarke
  • David Frost
  • Fulton Allem
  • Hennie Otto
  • Tyrone Van Aswegen
  • Dawie Van Der Walt
    and the list continues….

Now that you’ve added South Africa to your golf bucket list, allow us to plan your trip! We’ve got access to all the most exclusive, private golf clubs in SA. From Fancourt to Leopard Creek, nothing is beyond grasp. Choose to fly in via helicopter or drive in with 2 professional league golfers as they accompany you for every part of your exclusive itinerary. This is a once in a lifetime trip and we want to make sure you maximise every moment. Let us plan every detail down to the tee.

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