Summary of South Africa’s Premier Golf Resorts
Blessed with ideal weather, plenty of space, wonderful scenery, and a population obsessed with sports and outdoor life, South Africa is the perfect golfing country. Moreover, featuring one of the world’s all-time great champions, Gary Player, as a national sporting hero, it is little wonder that both South Africans and tourists alike flock to play on some of the world’s best and most affordable courses. Some resorts even allow you to combine your time on the green with safari game drives and sessions in the spa. This list focuses on 10 South African golf courses with tourist accommodation on-site.
Sun City Resort
Address:
R556, Sun City, 0316, South Africa
Phone: +27 14 557 1000
A vast playground with six different accommodation types, Sun City offers entertainment day and night with a casino, spa, water park, nightclubs, and shows. Then, there is golf. The huge desert-style Lost City course has real crocodiles at the 13th hole! The Gary Player Country Club and Golf Course is known as one of the most famous in the nation, home to the prestigious Nedbank Golf Challenge.
Pezula Hotel
Address:
1 Admiralty Avenue, Sparrebosch, Knysna, 6571, South Africa
Phone: +27 44 302 5310
A superb setting between the Knysna Lagoon and the Outeniqua Mountains makes Pezula Hotel‘s 18-hole championship golf course a joy to experience. Accommodation is provided by deluxe suites and villas, while two restaurants and a Champagne bar offer sustenance after a challenging day. Furthermore, a spa, two swimming pools, and nearby beaches make this a great option for non-golfers as well.
Fancourt Resort
Address:
Montagu St, Fancourt, George, 6530, South Africa
Phone: +27 44 804 0000
Fancourt is the country’s premier golf resort. It boasts three championship courses designed by Gary Player (of which one, The Links, is rated number one in South Africa), a Golf Academy, PGA professionals on staff, and a Pro Shop. Additionally, there is a world-class spa for those not golfing, along with a range of accommodation from two-bedroom suites in the hotel to rooms in the original Manor House.
Steenberg Golf Club
Address:
11111 Tokai Rd, Tokai, Cape Town, 7945, South Africa
Phone: +27 21 713 2233
In a stunning setting just south of Cape Town, Steenberg Golf Club‘s beautiful 18-hole course is overlooked by mountains and winds its way through water features, vineyards, and mountain fynbos. The par-three 14th hole also offers players the largest single green in Southern Africa. After your round, unwind at the course’s luxury boutique hotel complete with a gourmet restaurant and spa.
Hans Merensky Hotel & Spa
Located on the boundary of the northern section of the Kruger Park, Hans Merensky Hotel & Spa offers the opportunity to enjoy golf games and game drives in a single vacation. In fact, giraffe, zebra, crocodiles, and other wildlife often find their way onto the Bob Grimsdall-designed course. Besides the spa, the resort boasts a choice of rooms, a swimming pool, and two restaurants.
Wild Coast Sun
Address:
01 Main Bizana Road, Bizana, Port Edward, 4295, South Africa
Phone: +27 39 305 9111
The Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast Sun resort is perfectly positioned to take advantage of South Africa’s most beautiful stretch of coastline. You can admire it in all its rugged glory on the only golf course in the country designed by renowned golf architect, Robert Trent Jones II. This short but rugged 6,000-meter course has hosted several PGA tournaments, and its 13th hole is played across a ravine and waterfall.
Mount Edgecombe Golf Lodge
Address:
47 Far Ln, Hoylake Village, Mount Edgecombe, 4302, South Africa
Phone: +27 11 789 1643
Accommodation is limited at this charming colonial lodge. Located near Durban, it’s situated on the 9th tee of one of two championship golf courses on the Mount Edgecombe estate, within easy walking distance of the clubhouse. The courses wind through lush subtropical vegetation, offering plenty of challenges in addition to fabulous scenery. There’s also a driving range and two restaurants on-site.
The Fairway Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort
Address:
Setperk Rd, Randpark 268-Iq, Randburg, 2125, South Africa
Phone: +27 11 478 8000
A 15-minute drive from Sandton City center takes you to The Fairway, a luxurious resort that overlooks Randpark Golf Club and is situated within easy reach of the clubhouse at the 1st hole. Choose between two immaculate 18-hole courses and one 9-hole mashie course, then return to the hotel for a massage in the spa or a dip in the indoor pool. The hotel is a popular venue for meetings and weddings.
Arabella Hotel & Spa
Address:
Arabella Country Estate, R44, Kleinmond, Hermanus, 7195, South Africa
Phone: +27 28 284 0000
Luxurious Arabella Hotel & Spa has been thoughtfully designed around the curves of the landscape to blend into the hillside near whale-watching capital Hermanus. It stands within the Kogelberg Biosphere, and its 18-hole golf course is ranked among South Africa’s top 10. Designed by Peter Matkovich, it has hosted Ernie Els and Gary Player along with celebrities like Samuel L. Jackson.
Zebula Golf Estate and Spa
Address:
Farm 534 Mabula, Bela-Bela, 0480, South Africa
Phone: +27 14 734 7700
There is action aplenty at Zebula, an entertaining Waterberg estate where you can meet lion cubs, go on an elephant-back safari, ride quad bikes, or sink into the spa. Alternatively, you can play golf on a Peter Matkovich-designed course with views across the magnificent Waterberg Mountains. The course also boasts a spectacular clubhouse and a well-stocked Pro Shop.
