Golf in South Africa

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cvieri32

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Hi All,

Looking for golf course recommendations in the Cape Town / Cape Winelands area including Stellenbosch and Franschoek?
Appears to be plenty to choose from!

Thanks
 
I’ve played Stellenbosch, Erinvale and Royal Cape Town down there. Royal Cape is quality and has a good reputation , Erinvale is more of a resort course and Stellenbosch more of a members club (though it did host the SA Open). All courses I’d happily revisit. We tried to get on Paarl which had good reviews but it was booked up.
 
Bit further from where you are looking, but if you find yourself on the Garden Route with time, in the Knysna area the courses there and nearby in George come very highly recommended. I played Pezula and it was very enjoyable, and what a spectacular location. I was put with three guys from Hamburg and they were great company.

My Mrs spent the time as I played in the Pezula Resort Spa (her quid pro quo for me playing) and by her account that too was splendid.
 
D-S said:
If you ever go further afield in SA (and I’d strongly recommend doing so) there are some amazing golfing experiences to be had in Durban, Jo’burg and especially in and around the Kruger Park - difficult to match anywhere else.
Click to expand...

Would love to do this, but, tied to within about 90mins of Cape Town - one for another day!
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
Bit further from where you are looking, but if you find yourself on the Garden Route with time, in the Knysna area the courses there and nearby in George come very highly recommended. I played Pezula and it was very enjoyable, and what a spectacular location. I was put with three guys from Hamburg and they were great company.

My Mrs spent the time as I played in the Pezula Resort Spa (her quid pro quo for me playing) and by her account that too was splendid.
Click to expand...

Have read quite a bit about Pezula and seems highly ranked, but, may be a bit far from Cape Town / Winelands area unfortunately
 
I had a great trip to the Western Cape last year and played a fair few excellent courses. Researching the courses, I found where2golf.com very useful.
 
Royal Cape, Erinvale and Clovelly in the immediate Cape Town vicinity.
Stellenbosch and De Zalze are almost next to each other in Stellenbosch and just over the road from some great vineyards for tastings.
Arabella is very good, about an hour away on the road up to Hermanus.
Pearl Valley, (a Nicklaus course), is very good and close to Franschoek.
 
Last edited:
I stayed at De Zalze in Stellenbosch - very decent track and great location - 30 mins from airport. I have visited most others in the area and on garden route although the only other games was at Arabella, probably 1.5 hours from Cape Town, jyst over an hour from airport. This is a lovely course. If you do go there on the N2 over Sir Lowry's Pass, make sure you come back on the coast road - my favourite coastal journey in South Africa - turn left out of the resort and go on Clarence Drive (R44), through Betty's Bay (get out abd have a walk alongside thousamnds of penguins), Pringle Bay and Rooi Els and back into Gordon's Bay - make sure you have a few pitstops for pictures etc. The other drive to do that is similar is Chapman's Peak south of Hout Bay that is also a must if you have time - and hopefully do the whole Cape peninsula over a day, coming back the other side through Boulders Beah (more penguins but you have to pay) and Kalk Bay.

I really wanted to play Milnerton last year but never got the chance. This is 5 miles north of The Waterfront and a lovely basic links-like course. Even if you don't get to play try and go there before sunset and have a drink and watch the sun go down from the bar next door as it is amazing. My tip at the Waterfront is to have drinks on roof and dinner at The Silo - again, get there before sunset. if you want to splash out on fancy meal a -a Fat Duck, go to La Colombe in Constantia - we did lunch and it was unbelievable! In the area, you have some classic wine farms like Groot Constantia, Constantia Glen, Beau Constantia.

Other tips - the wine farms in Stellenbosh and Farnschhoek are amazing - stay in Franschhoek given the option. Lunch at Die Strandloper in Langebaan - 90 mins north of Cape Town

strandloper.com

Die Strandloper Seafood Boma, Langebaan, South Africa

Join us on the beach at Die Strandloper Restaurant for lunch or dinner and a great time! We have something for everyone and a place for you
strandloper.com strandloper.com
 
woofers said:
Royal Cape, Erinvale and Clovelly in the immediate Cape Town vicinity.
Stellenbosch and De Zalze are almost next to each other in Stellenbosch and just over the road from some great vineyards for tastings.
Arabella is very good, about an hour away on the road up to Hermanus.
Pearl Valley, (a Nicklaus course), is very good and close to Franschoek.
Click to expand...

Some great suggestions here, thanks! Did you have any preference between Stellenbosch GC and De Zalze? Was eyeing up the latter and potentially to stay there to.

Planned on having a night in Hermanus and noticed Arabella was very highly rated, but, also saw Hermanus GC was centrally located and may be more convenient? Very tempted by Arabella though as according to Golf Digest appears to be one of the best in the country.

Any preference on the Cape Town 3 mentioned? They were all on my shortlist and leaned towards Erinvale based on reviews etc.
 
PNWokingham said:
I stayed at De Zalze in Stellenbosch - very decent track and great location - 30 mins from airport. I have visited most others in the area and on garden route although the only other games was at Arabella, probably 1.5 hours from Cape Town, jyst over an hour from airport. This is a lovely course. If you do go there on the N2 over Sir Lowry's Pass, make sure you come back on the coast road - my favourite coastal journey in South Africa - turn left out of the resort and go on Clarence Drive (R44), through Betty's Bay (get out abd have a walk alongside thousamnds of penguins), Pringle Bay and Rooi Els and back into Gordon's Bay - make sure you have a few pitstops for pictures etc. The other drive to do that is similar is Chapman's Peak south of Hout Bay that is also a must if you have time - and hopefully do the whole Cape peninsula over a day, coming back the other side through Boulders Beah (more penguins but you have to pay) and Kalk Bay.

I really wanted to play Milnerton last year but never got the chance. This is 5 miles north of The Waterfront and a lovely basic links-like course. Even if you don't get to play try and go there before sunset and have a drink and watch the sun go down from the bar next door as it is amazing. My tip at the Waterfront is to have drinks on roof and dinner at The Silo - again, get there before sunset. if you want to splash out on fancy meal a -a Fat Duck, go to La Colombe in Constantia - we did lunch and it was unbelievable! In the area, you have some classic wine farms like Groot Constantia, Constantia Glen, Beau Constantia.

Other tips - the wine farms in Stellenbosh and Farnschhoek are amazing - stay in Franschhoek given the option. Lunch at Die Strandloper in Langebaan - 90 mins north of Cape Town

strandloper.com

Die Strandloper Seafood Boma, Langebaan, South Africa

Join us on the beach at Die Strandloper Restaurant for lunch or dinner and a great time! We have something for everyone and a place for you
strandloper.com strandloper.com
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed response, this is super helpful! Whereabouts did you stay in De Zalze? Course looks good and rated well on all the usual lists.

Arabella seems to keep cropping up, so looking like is a must play (y)
 
cvieri32 said:
Some great suggestions here, thanks! Did you have any preference between Stellenbosch GC and De Zalze? Was eyeing up the latter and potentially to stay there to.

Planned on having a night in Hermanus and noticed Arabella was very highly rated, but, also saw Hermanus GC was centrally located and may be more convenient? Very tempted by Arabella though as according to Golf Digest appears to be one of the best in the country.

Any preference on the Cape Town 3 mentioned? They were all on my shortlist and leaned towards Erinvale based on reviews etc.
Click to expand...
De Zalze every time, and it’s a very convenient location, stayed in a house overlooking one of the fairways years ago, sadly not available now but was a great base.
I’ve not played at Hermanus GC but always play Arabella, it’s a quality course and has hosted some prestigious events.
Of the Cape Town 3, Erinvale would be the easiest to get to, both Clovelly (generally windy there) and Royal Cape involve more of a trek into town. Erinvale, in my opinion is the better, and more interesting, course of the 3.
If you’re going into Cape Town, just spend the day as a tourist, the hop on hop off open top bus is a great way to see everything, make sure you get the “full route”, and then chill down at the Waterfront.
 
cvieri32 said:
Thanks for the detailed response, this is super helpful! Whereabouts did you stay in De Zalze? Course looks good and rated well on all the usual lists.

Arabella seems to keep cropping up, so looking like is a must play (y)
Click to expand...

I just checked De Zalze - see below - can't believe the cheap deal we got in 2019 - was circa £50 per night! Arabella is the best course within a couple of hours of Cape Town from what i have seen. Remember to do Clarence Drive on the way back to Cape Town

Hop on hop off bus is also well worth doing in Cpe Town

1761900412766.png
 
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