South Africa is the land of Mandela and the apartheid movement, the land of wild safari’s and modern urban centres, the land of Player, Els & Goosen, the land of beautiful golf courses and challenging golf holes and so to the challenge of picking a signature 18 in South Africa.

Pezula Championship Golf Club
Hole No 1 PAR 5 Yards 540
Pezula Championship Golf Course was awarded South Africa’s best new course shortly after opening and is certainly a sweeping spectacle of fairways and greens rolling through the pristine Southern Cape landscape. The first offers amazing vistas.

Durban Country Club, Durban South Africa
Hole No 2 PAR 3 Yards 176
Apocalyptic dunes, the Indian Ocean and the Durban Skyline are all in view from the tee on Durban’s signature second hole. From an elevated tee you will carry a small valley to the green which is surrounded by 4 well placed bunkers.

Durban Country Club, Durban South Africa
Hole No 3 PAR 5 Yards 513
Durban Country Club was largely reclaimed from old swampland yet the 3rd hole gives mixed messages as to the courses genesis. Beginning as it does from over 60ft in elevation, you quickly descend into a dune safari; giving this hole the aura of South Africa’s finest. Having negotiated the fairway you return to an elevated and sloping green defended by a signatory bunker at the rear. (Read the article)

Portugal, along with its Iberian partner Spain has long been the sunshine golf destination of Europe. The popularity of Portugal as a destination has continued apace, as a result many fine courses have been developed and refined particularly in the Algarve. It is from this selection of stunning creations we look to select a signature 18.

Hole No 1 – PAR 4 – Yards 417
Vila Sol – The Algarve, Portugal
The greatest challenge on this opening hole is to keep the ball on the fairway. The contoured fairway slopes sharply left, while numerous tall pines block routes to the green. As befitting the toughest opening hole in Portugal a large bunker guards the green from the right.

Hole No 2 – PAR 4 – Yards 438
Le Meridien Penina & Resort – The Algarve, Portugal
The Meridien is a beautiful Henry Cotton creation, sitting on a former rice field. The second is a tough hole, a good drive will provide a challenging second across a water hazard. A goose egg green sheds anything but the most accurate approach.

Hole No 3 – PAR 5 – Yards 622
Clube Golfe de Ponte de Lima - Ponte de Lima, Portugal
A mountain course, covering six square kilometres amongst mature chestnut, cork and old oak trees leading, through a ravine, to the Quinta do Anquiao, with fantastic views over the Lima valley. The third at some 622 yards, is the longest drive in Portugal and one of the longest in Europe.
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In looking to identify a signature 18 in the home of golf we first have to define some terms of reference. A signature hole represents a hole that personifies golf in Scotland. Reflecting the history, the landscape, the character and in some ways the people. We have also opted to chose a hole only if it corresponds to the layout, so for instance hole no 1 is our pick of all the first holes in Scotland and so it is for the entire 18. So here goes

Hole No 1) St Andrews (Old Course)
Length: 370 yards Par: 4
Excitement tempered with humility is the overwhelming emotion when you tee up on the first at the home of golf. A generous fairway will accept all comers, but beware of the out of bounds on the right. Having reached the green with your second carrying the Swilcan Burn putt out in two for par, taking a moment to reflect on the hallowed names who have gone before.

Hole No 2) Cruden Bay
Length: 331 yards Par: 4
A short par 4, we have include in part due to our love for the beauty of the Cruden Bay Course. The green is defended with bunkers left and right, while the plateau green is the primary feature.

Hole No 3) Prestwick Golf Club (Old Course)
Length: 482 yards Par: 5
With peers like Turnberry, Glasgow & Western Gailes the pressure is on Aryshire Clubs to come up to the mark and Prestwick Golf Course certainly has. “The Cardinal” 3rd at Prestwick is not overly long at just 482 yards yet it provides a great test from tee to green. Fairway bunkers are set to catch any wayward tee shots while the Pow Burn on the left will catch any shot akin to a hook. Marking 5 on the card is no bad result here.
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