When you’re teeing off at the first on one of the world’s most beautiful golf courses, you don’t want to start the round with an ugly shank into the rough. Despite its club-bashing frustration at times, many people forget golf is a sport normally played when you’re at your happiest and gulping down lovely fresh air.
Take the professionals, they almost never play when it’s raining, competitions are hosted at some of the most beautiful and iconic spots in the world and they are treated to around 7,000 perfectly manicured yards of grass most RHS gardens would be proud of.
And in South Africa, enthusiastic amateurs can check every one of those boxes. Not to mention the five-star food and wine away from the courses.
Off to a tee
Being a country that has produced four-time Major winner Ernie Els, 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and golf legend Gary Player, it’s no surprise to see South Africa takes real pride in its courses.
The first we played was Clovelly Country Club, nestled nicely on Cape Town’s outskirts near Fish Hoek. Perfect for those staying in the city itself. Surrounded by hills, these 18 gorgeous holes are home to lush fairways, greens and trees. As with all courses we played in South Africa there is an immediate sense of status – the clubhouses are grand, the putting greens are freshly cut and everything is extremely well looked after.
At Clovelly, the first and 10th tees play down from an elevated clubhouse, giving you the confidence to really spank your drive. Its layout is akin to city courses you may have played before with plenty of straight holes, but the length, trees, bunkers and sometimes hidden tee shots keep every hole interesting.
And the signature par-five 15th is a stunner. Water follows you up the entire right side of the fairway and then wraps around the back of the green. It’s a great hole and one that I’m proud to say I kept my ball dry on.
Last but not least, it’s worth mentioning the halfway house. A piping hot beef pie with gravy and a little packet of biltong to keep you going. Absolutely delicious.
The next day we ventured a little further out to Erinvale Golf Estate, around an hour’s drive from the city centre. Enclosed by gated security, this extremely safe and secure spot was a beaut.
The first nine holes are played on fairly flat ground, woven through some of the estate’s finest houses. But it was the back nine that really sparkled as we got our first flavour of countryside golf in South Africa.
Designed by Gary Player, an ascent to the 10th immediately places you at the foot of Helderberg Mountain as you’re treated to vineyards and sweeping views over False Bay.
And if that’s not enough, the 18th green might just be the biggest I’ve had the pleasure of playing on. Though the greenkeeper must have been in a particularly bad mood that day as he slotted the pin back right, over two menacing bunkers.
The clubhouse boasts a large terrace that overlooks the last so you can enjoy a crisp beer while watching others take on the mighty green. And the quality of the course is matched by the hotel itself.
Picturesque thatched roofing and huge rooms, this converted farmstead smacks five-star luxury. The mussels at dinner were to die for.
Wondering if anything could top what we had experienced so far, the quality in South Africa did not waver. If anything, it got better. The next morning we hit the road again and travelled around an hour further down the coast to arrive at Arabella Hotel Golf and Spa, near Hermanus.
Carefully placed on the Botriver Lagoon that opens up to the South Atlantic Ocean, this all-in-one resort is a visual spectacle and a golfer’s dream if you’re looking for a bit of everything.
A jaw-dropping entrance at reception, with floor to ceiling windows introducing you to the course, really whets the appetite. It is ranked in the top 10 of all courses in South Africa and for that reason it was also our most challenging yet.
The layout was creative and a feast for the eyes. The eighth and ninth holes are coupled in a corner on the edge of the lagoon and were some of the most imaginative I’ve ever played in golf. And the greens run like ice. One inch too heavy past the hole and you’re staring down the barrel of a dreaded three-putt.
New day, new fairways and our last course of the trip – and possibly the best. Pearl Valley Golf Estate and Spa is located half an hour from the famous wine towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. Designed by Mr Major himself, Jack Nicklaus, this course, ranked third in the country, is an outstanding feat.
Oozing class from clubhouse to course these 18 holes give us amateurs a chance to feel like the pros. It has the views, the fast greens, the quality and an incredibly exciting layout. A gem.
Views from the top
For courses such as Erinvale, Arabella and Pearl Valley, it is advisable to stay on site and soak up as much of the experience the resorts have to offer. But if you’re sticking to city courses, or perhaps want a few days for some of the more touristy stuff, which I highly recommend, I would stay at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
Located on the harbour, this area is a vibrant hotspot of restaurants, shops and hotels with a magnificent backdrop of Table Mountain. Take the rotating cable car to the top, or tackle the scenic hike, for must-see views.
On one side there’s Cape Town, the coast and Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. On the other, a breathtaking sight of Hout Bay and Chapman’s Peak, which is well worth a drive by the way. And if you’re lucky, like we were, you’ll be treated to a memorable sunset.
Just outside of Cape Town we visited Stellenbosch and Hermanus. Stellenbosch is a university and wine town with a lively, modern but retro feel to it. Obviously it’s surrounded by vineyards and beautiful countryside.
We paired a trip to Hermanus with our visit to Arabella and had one of the meals of the trip at La Pentola. The food throughout our entire stay in South Africa was top drawer. From fresh seafood to juicy steaks and springbok, just like their golf courses, Cape Town takes it very seriously.
It’s wine o’clock
It would be a major sin to forget South Africa’s other star attraction – the wine!
We squeezed in two vineyard trips away from the golf courses, though there is so much more to see and taste – including the famous wine tram of Franschhoek (sadly we ran out of time for that).
We first hit Rickety Bridge, a top class Franschhoek estate where you can have lunch, chill out for an afternoon and, more importantly, drink wine.
We sampled the vineyard’s sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon as my taste buds immediately came alive to yet another stunning backdrop. Needless to say I purchased a bottle on my way out.
Next came Ernie Els’ winery near Stellenbosch – an estate like nothing I’ve seen before. Its modern and contemporary design offers panoramic views of its vineyards, Cape Town and its surrounding mountains.
With plenty of space for tasting, drinking and hanging out with friends and family, there’s even a small pitch and putt hole. Should you get a hole in one then you take home a free bottle of Ernie Els’ finest!
Join the club
This was my first time playing golf abroad and the process of checking in clubs at the Virgin Atlantic Heathrow bag drop couldn’t have been easier. There’s no need to pre-book your luggage, simply arrive at the drop-off as normal and present your clubs.
Once you’re checked in, your suitcase has hurtled off down the conveyer belt and your golf travel bag has its tag, you’ll be asked to take it to the oversized luggage section just a few steps away. And that’s it. No need to worry about your clubs and mine arrived unscathed – £65 one way per set of clubs.
Book the holiday
Your Golf Travel offers a 10-night trip to South Africa from £2,995 per person including return flights from Heathrow to Cape Town, accommodation, some meals, five rounds of golf, game drive, and a private guided tour of the Cape Winelands with various wine and food tastings. yourgolftravel.com.
You can also get more information at southafrica.net.
