Best Golf Courses in South Africa

Year on year South Africa is reaffirming its place as one of the top golfing destinations in the world partly due to its abundance of glorious championship courses but also as a result of the wide variety of things to do away from the golf. Renowned for the incredible wildlife and landscape, South Africa also boasts some of the world’s most famous wine regions including Stellenbosch and Constantia. Each and every golf course on this list has been perfectly sculpted to make the most of the stunning natural scenery and as a result every shot is one you will remember.

For those looking to escape the torrid winters of the U.K for some sun then South Africa is certainly the best option as its seasons are in reverse to ours with November through till March seeing sun soaked fairways. Anyone looking to tick off some of the world’s most iconic golf courses then South Africa is the place for you.

Read on to discover the courses our experts have played and consider the best in South Africa or check out some of the best golf holiday deals in South Africa >>.

The Links at Fancourt opened for play in 2000 and quickly turned heads in the world of golf, hosting The Presidents Cup in 2003. Designed by the legendary Gary Player, this is now regarded by many as the best golf course in Africa, quite the achievement when you consider the endless list of world-class courses on offer on the continent, particularly in South Africa itself. Player, who has also designed many other great golf courses in South Africa, said of The Links at Fancourt:

“I feel this is one of the very best golf courses in the world, even though it may have been built on the worst piece of ground – clay as flat as an airport. I’m proud to have worked as the course designer and could not be happier with how it turned out. It has been designed to make golfers feel as though they were at Ballybunion, Dornoch, or St Andrews with rolling fairways, pot bunkers, big greens, high rough, and a seascape appearance.”

The Links at Fancourt does indeed bear plenty of the hallmarks of a classic links course from Britain or Ireland, with rolling fairways, dramatic bunkering, and upturned saucer-shaped greens, but with the stunning Outeniqua Mountains as a backdrop, there’s no mistaking that you’re playing golf in one of the world’s most beautiful countries. Fancourt Links is a must-play golf course for anyone heading to the Rainbow Nation for a South Africa golf holiday.

More info on Fancourt Links >>

"I encourage you to trust in your caddy whilst playing The Links, they have bundles of experience & know the undulations on the greens. Be sure you get to the course about an hour prior to your tee time to enjoy the incredible practice facilities."
Richard (Long Haul Team: Handicap 9)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Richard about playing this course.

Durban Country Club ranks firmly inside the world’s top 100 golf courses in the perfect combination of the old with the new. The course is set along Durban’s stunning natural coastline with towering sand dunes and views of the Indian Ocean being a constant feature of the round.

Having played host to the South African Open on no less than 16 occasions and Volvo Golf Champions (an annual event on the European Tour in years gone by), Durban Country Club’s pedigree as a championship course is unrivalled. Since its inception in 1922, many consider this to be the country’s premier golf establishment and is one every golf fanatic should experience.

More info on Durban Country Club >>

"Durban Country Club is a fully fledged demanding championship layout that has well and truly stood the test of times."
Rory (Marketing: Handicap 7)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Rory about playing this course.

Situated in the Western Cape along the world famous Garden Route lies one of the best pit stops a golfer could take. Arabella Golf Club is often seen as one of South Africa’s leading golf course and is a great place for everyone to play.

Measuring in at just over 7,000 yards the course is designed in such a way that it offers a unique challenge to all golfers depending on which tees you play from. On top of the stunning layout, the course also looks out over the beautiful Bot River Lagoon and makes an incredible setting for a round of golf.

More info on Arabella Golf Club >>

"The course offers arguably one of the most beautiful golfing backdrops in the Western Cape running along the Bot River Lagoon and looking out onto the fynbos covered Kogelberg mountains."
Richard (Long Haul Team: Handicap 9)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Richard about playing this course.

Sitting in the hills overlooking the beautiful town of Knysna is one of the Garden Route’s most aesthetically pleasing golf courses. Simola Golf Estate is a truly outstanding all round golfing destination with the facilities being the perfect accompaniment to the setting. Designed by golf’s most celebrated player, the course is no walkover and is setup to challenge the most assured golfers.

However, its ability to be stretched and or shortened is what makes this place the perfect place to play as it is more than accessible for the average player. The course’s signature hole is the 4th where the tee box is perched a considerable height above the fairways providing panoramic views of the beautiful surroundings.

More info on Simola Golf Course >>

"The course is no walkover when played right from the back, but can still provide an enjoyable challenge for golfers of all abilities when played off the correct tees."
Richard (Long Haul Team: Handicap 9)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Richard about playing this course.

When it comes to famous parents Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus are the ‘Beckhams’ of the golfing world and in 2003 they opened one of the country’s most stunning golf courses. Nicklaus is renowned well world for his stunning golf courses and it is no surprise that his Western Cape creation was recognised as the world’s best golf course in 2005.

In typical Golden Bear fashion, the course features vast expanses of sand and is tailored towards risk and reward style golf. Water hazards and shrubland line the fairways placing an emphasis on the ability to keep the ball in play over sheer power.

More info on Pearl Valley Golf Club >>

"It really is a fantastic course with stunning views and many memorable holes.The stand out holes for me were the 4th, a par 5 that has a creek twisting and turning throughout. You have to place your drive up the right hand side, a second across to the lay up area on the left with water in play again and then a third shot over a green protected by the creek at the front and bunkers behind."
Jason (Long Haul Team: Handicap 7)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Jason about playing this course.

Gary Player Country Club is one of the country’s most recognisable golf courses having hosted the Nedbank Million Dollar Challenge since 1981. The course can be stretched to a mammoth 7,700 yards and is set in the foreground of the magnificent Pilansberg Mountains.

Featuring vast expanses of water and the occasional exoctic animal, a round at Gary Player Country Club, Sun City is one that will long in the memory of every golfer.

More info on Gary Player Country Club >>

"I highly recommend playing both golf courses at Sun City as they compliment each other perfectly. If you can, I'd also recommend upgrading to stay in The Palace of The Lost City."
Richard (Long Haul Team: Handicap 9)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Richard about playing this course.

Commissioned by South Africa’s most wealthiest man it is no wonder that Leopard Creek is one of the most exclusive golf courses in the world. Located on the banks of the Crocodile River in the heart of the Kruger, the course gives guests unbelievable views of one of the world’s largest animal reserves and quite often a chance encounter with some incredible wildlife.

The course has played host to the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Championship and is an exceptional championship layout renowned for its immaculate condition as much as it is for its stunning setting.

More info on Leopard Creek Country Club >>

"Carved around the majestic hippo and crocodile filled lakes, the first class championship course is among the very best."
Richard (Long Haul Team: Handicap 9)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Richard about playing this course.

Pinnacle Point is arguably South Africa's most dramatic golf course with a number of its holes perched on the edge of a cliff, high above the ocean. The course only opened in 2006 but since then has gone from strength to strength and is now widely regarded as one of the best places in the country to play.

The course stretches to over 7,600 yards from the championship tees, but these aren’t for the faint-hearted, with plenty of forced carries which are simply too long for the average handicap golfer to manage. Fear not though, there are 5 tee positions to choose from, allowing golfers of all abilities to find their comfort zone and enjoy this spectacular course.

More info on Pinnacle Point >>

"Even holes set back from the cliff’s edge add to the experience, climbing to higher ground & boasting mind boggling panoramic views."
Rory (Marketing: Handicap 7)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Rory about playing this course.

Located in the tourist hotspot of Knysna, Pezula Golf Estate is a must play on any golf tour of South Africa. The course is a combination of masterful course design with the stunning natural landscape of the Knysna Hills with pristine fairways skirting shimmering water hazards to create a truly unforgettable setting play in. The course has been designed in such a way that it tests the best golfers out there whilst remaining challenging for the more social player.

More info on Pezula Championship Golf Course >>

"The fairways and greens are beautifully sculpted, and are typical of the most modern construction techniques."
Richard (Long Haul Team: Handicap 9)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Richard about playing this course.

Set in the heart of one of the world’s most famous wine region is Erinvale Golf Club. Designed by Gary Player, the championship layout is the perfect way to spend a morning before sampling some incredible wines.

The undulating terrain provides golfers with stunning views over Capetown and the Cape Fold Mountain range. For any player visiting the coastal city of Cape Town then Erinvale Golf Club is a must play.

More info on Erinvale Golf Club >>

"The opening nine holes span the low and relatively flat ground of the estate, while the closing stretch climbs into the more undulating slopes, providing fantasticviews and no little challenge."
Richard (Long Haul Team: Handicap 9)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Richard about playing this course.

Handicap: +3
Favourite Course: Pinehurst
My 'Expert' areas: Turkey, Portugal, USA & South Africa
Best trip I've done: Scotland playing Royal Dornoch & Gleneagles
Where my next trip is to: Costa Navarino

Give Matthew a call on 0800 043 6644 to arrange your next golf break.