SOUTH AFRICA - GOLF TOURS

"The most sought-after New Golfing Destination in the World"

See the Wildlife	Enjoy the Golf

South Africa is a land of contrasts. You can drink the tap water, the telephone system is world-class and yet public transport is non-existent. Some of the most beautiful scenery in the world can be seen there, the sun is never far away and the seasons provide ideal golfing conditions that vary from mild to hot. Considerable wealth in the urban regions contrasts vividly with the African poverty in the rural areas. Hospitals, restaurants and shops are probably on average better than will be found anywhere, and costs are low due to the weakness of the South African currency.

South Africans are by nature a friendly nation, yet their service levels can vary from great to non-existent. The choices within the country for golfing holidays is so vast that it is also advisable to make use of services of one of the reputable travel specialists, Executive Golf Tours have such Partners , especially if it is your first visit to the Country. Each golfing region within South Africa offers a different style of course and vastly different attractions away from the golf. The distances between the regions is considerable, with almost 2000 kilometres separating the 2 extremities.

Cape Town: Probably the most preferred of the regions for overseas golfing visitors, as it offers reasonably good golf courses, with the added bonus of breathtaking scenery and of course the winelands of the Cape. Cape Town also boasts the oldest golf course in the country, Royal Cape Golf Club. “Must play” courses include Erinvale, Paarl, Steenberg, the new Nicklaus designed Pearl Valley Golf Estate and Atlantic Beach which lies within a nature reserve and offers the golfer uninterrupted views across the bay of Table Mountain standing majestically above the city of Cape Town. The new Arabella resort is attracting interest from around the world, not only for its quality and beauty, but also its contribution to the eco-systems in the region. After the day’s golf, wine tasting on one of the many local wine estates, whale watching along the coast, sightseeing and going up Table Mountain by cable-car are the main attractions.

Garden Route: This region, so named for its verdant vegetation, also boasts some of the most spectacular coastline in South Africa. Ever-popular Knysna, world-famous for the post card beauty of its lagoon and surrounding hills, lies at the centre of this region. A four hour drive eastwards from Cape Town, the region offers a spectacular variety of courses and sightseeing, making it the undiscovered jewel on the South African golfing circuit. “Must play” courses include all three of the Fancourt resort courses (Outeniqua, The Links and Montagu), Sparrebosch (situated on the land above the entrance to Knysna Lagoon and offering arguably the most dramatic views from any golf course in the world) and George, which is consistently ranked as one of the top in the country. A cruise on the Knysna lagoon, a visit to the oyster farm (which must include a tasting) and a visit to the local forests should be included in the planning for the region.

Natal Coast: A further seven hours by car up the coast, the 200km long Natal coast opens up ahead of you. The humid, sub-tropical climate makes for some sticky golf, but ensures that the courses are always in the best of condition and the
fairways lush. Normally split into a South and North coast grouping, the courses that you select to play will be dictated by where you stay. At the southern end of the South Coast is the Robert Trent Jones designed Wild Coast Country Club, a relatively short course that winds its way over the hilltops and offers the most magnificent views of the region. The nearby San Lamer course is even more beautiful, although it does not offer the same views. The North Coast, very much the playground of the wealthy, has been further enhanced by the opening of the Zimbali Lodge course, now generally regarded as the most sought after course on the Natal coast.

Johannesburg / Sun City: With over 50% of the country’s population living within an hour’s drive of Johannesburg, it is no wonder that so many great golf courses lie nearby. Close to your hotel, Royal Johannesburg and the nearby Johannesburg Country Club always provide a good golfing challenge in style, while the internationally acknowledged courses lie to the northwest beyond the city limits. The first of these that you will encounter as you leave the city is the Nicklaus designed Pecanwood, lying along the banks of the Hartebeespoort Dam and in the shadow of the Magaliesberg mountain range. World class in every respect, the course is continually in demand and advance booking is essential. A further hour out of the city lies Sun City, an amazing resort that boast four hotels, its own game park and two top golf courses, both designed by Gary Player. For the golfer and the non-golfer alike, this resort is the perfect way to spend time in a true African environment while enjoying all the luxury of a 5 star resort.

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For Your Tailor Made Golf Tour to SOUTH AFRICA please e-mail: info@execgolftours.com