South Africa
Leaving ordinary golf behind is easy when visiting South Africa, as golf has never been ordinary in this remarkable country.
A vast canvas of varying landscapes, cultures, sensational scenery with wraparound beauty have inspired numerous local and international golf course designers to weave a quilt of memorable layouts throughout the land.
The country now boasts over 400 golf courses, many having hosted word class golfing events and it must be mentioned that two South African courses are now listed in the top 100 in the world! The region has been split into four distinct golfing regions namely the Cape, the Garden Route, Gateway Johannesburg with Limpopo and Kwazulu-Natal.
South African also has an ideal climate for spending time on fairways under a dazzling African sun and the selection of choices adds spice to the challenges available. Coastal courses, mountain locations, wine lands, valleys and rivers, high altitude and the courses bordering the wildlife game parks all create a kaleidoscope of wonder for any visiting golfer.
Among these environments golf has blossomed continuously since Henry D’Oyley Torrens, commanding the British forces based in Cape Town, first introduced golf to the southern tip of Africain 1885. As a sporting nation, South Africans took to the game with remarkable enthusiasm and golf courses sprouted apace. It is a testament to how quickly the game grew when noting just how many golf clubs have celebrated their centenary in the past two decades.
Without doubt, however, an additional ingredient to leaving ordinary golf behind came in 1994 with the advent of democracy and the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela. International travelers were suddenly pleased to visit South Africa following the demise of apartheid. In the arena of golf, legendary golf course designers found our ‘world in one country’ an attractive lure for their talents. Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf, Robert Trent Jones have all subsequently left a legacy to complement the highly regarded local designs of our own legends such as Gary Player and Ernie Els.
Today’s South African golfing landscape is blessed with a mix of the traditional historical tree-lined wonders of the past and the modern glorious designs, many of which are at the heart of real estate or resort developments.
Wherever the visitor travels, the impact of South Africa’s scenic wonder will be foremost on the eye. Much has been done in recent years to protect and care for these environments, both on course and off course, and all those involved in promoting this extraordinary golfing destination look forward to fulfilling the promise that on course we are great and off course we are the best!
