by Barry Lotz of www.pgtaa.com

The land of Nelson Mandela, the heartache and the joy, the diversity, the unparalleled beauty, this all makes South Africa a truly fascinating and enchanting destination. The fairest of them all, the Cape Province, is one of the world’s most beautiful destinations. This is where Mandela spent 23 years of his life - on Robben Island just a short ferry ride from Cape Town.

As for golfers; Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Tim Clark and Rory Sabbatini are the golfing icons of this beautiful part of the world.

South Africa is a favorite destination for U.S. and European golfers and travelers because of its remarkable fusion of cultures, cosmopolitan cities, scenery, unforgettable wildlife-viewing opportunities at game parks and private game reserves, its popular wine regions, fabulous and inexpensive golfing and the high-quality of accommodations and outstanding cuisine (more…)

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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. (more…)

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Early life
Growing up in South Africa, he played rugby union, cricket, tennis, and, starting at age 8, golf. He was a skilled junior tennis player and won the Eastern Transvaal Junior Championships at age 13. But by age 14 Els was a scratch handicap, and from then on decided to focus exclusively on golf.

Els first achieved prominence in 1984, when he won the Junior World Golf Championship in the Boys 13-14 category. Phil Mickelson was second to Ernie that year. (The Boys 9-10 category was won by Tiger Woods.) (more…)

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In 1926, Mr. A. M. Copland, the club’s first professional, did a fantastic job of designing and laying out the course on a densely treed, undulating piece of land. Ponds and dams are features of the course and an abundance of flowering shrubs, exotic plantlife, indigenous trees and all kinds of birdlife provide great variety and colour that make your round an extremely pleasing visual experience.

At lengths of 6542 metres from the championship tees and a more friendly 6135 metres from the club tees, Houghton offers a tough but fair challenge to players of all levels. AÂ mouthwatering selection of four par fives, ten par fours and four picturesque par threes await the discerning golfer who is fortunate enough to play this stunning championship layout. Perfectly manicured fairways, shaped by bands of kikuyu semi and fescue rough are framed by tall and majestic trees which make accuracy from the tee an absolute must if golfers are to safely navigate their way around this fine parkland golf course. Straight hitting will be rewarded with the chance to hit everything from metal wood, long, medium and short irons into well guarded targets with water being a major factor on quite a few of these already challenging holes. Once there, the large, fast and undulating USGA Spec Bentgrass greens require good reading skills and an extremely smooth putting stroke.

Always rated in the top ten courses of South Africa, Houghton is a great test of golf, and its comfortable clubhouse with excellent bar, restaurant and conference facilities is serviced by a highly efficient and friendly staff who like to see their guests enjoying long cold sundowners in the clubhouse or on the outdoor patio which offers stunning views of the golf course in idyllic, tranquil settings and creates the perfect ambience for a tough, challenging but ultimately satisfying nineteenth hole!

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf

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A parkland course, Killarney has one of the finest layouts in South Africa. It has played host to various Sunshine and Winter Tour events over the years and could have hosted many more. Understandably, the club members would rather have the venue to themselves! This will come as no surprise to anyone who is fortunate enough to play this fine championship golf course.

Accuracy and shape of shot are vital on the twelve outstanding par fours which present themselves to the golfer on this fine layout. Generously wide fairways, framed by majestic trees and bands of kikuyu semi and fescue rough, will reward straight hitting with the opportunity of playing medium to short irons into well guarded targets. Once there, the large, quick and undulating USGA Spec Bentgrass greens require excellent reading skills, judgment of pace, and a smooth, steady putting stroke. With water coming into play on the two par fives at Killarney, a combination of solid striking, sound course management and decision making can result in the chance of a birdie or an easy par, but this is golf, and if none of the aforementioned have been achieved, there is plenty of trouble around to snag any errant shots and high numbers are a possibility! Four stunning par threes complete this golfing masterpiece and your short game and bunker play will come under close scrutiny if you miss the ”dance floor”.

Ponds and irrigation lakes surrounded by beautiful weeping willows are gathering places for a huge and abundant variety of colourful bird life. Indigenous trees, shrubs, exotic plantlife and a diversity of wild flowers make your walk around this fantastic layout an extremely relaxed and pleasing visual experience. This course is a jewel in the crown of South African golf.

Also home to the Transvaal Automobile Club, Killarney’s palatial clubhouse offers full bar, restaurant and conference facilities and is serviced by highly skilled, friendly staff who like to see their guests have fun on the golf course and enjoy a challenging nineteenth hole afterwards!

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf

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Significant investment in recent years led to the installation of USGA Spec Bentgrass greens and this, along with the building of new tees and strategic fairway bunkering, has stretched the course and helped it keep pace with the modern game.

At a length of 6426 metres from the club tees, Krugersdorp’s stunning par 72 championship layout is a tough but fair test of golf, and this fine piece of course architecture and design requires intelligent, accurate play from tee to green and a good touch when you find them! Depending on the individuals’ prowess, the four outstanding par fives are reachable in two powerful blows but, more often than not, the cautious three-shot route to the green will result in a safe par or possible single-putt birdie. The ten par fours which nestle perfectly into Krugersdorp’s gently rolling and undulating landscape never look out of place and demand accuracy and shape of shot from the tee in order to leave a choice of long, medium and short iron approaches into well protected, fast, undulating greens. Hit the target on four par threes of matchless beauty and a birdie or safe par could be your reward, but danger awaits any misshits or loose play in the form of heavy rough, water and substantial bunkering, thereby placing the golfers short game skills under close scrutiny.

The comfortable clubhouse with its large, thatched African ”Lapa” (gazebo) is the perfect place to wind down after a pleasant round of golf with a long, cold drink in hand, viewing yet another stunning African sunset! Serviced by a highly efficient, friendly staff, Krugersdorp has full bar, restaurant and conference facilities and its affable members will be only too glad to join visiting groups of fellow golfers and help them navigate their way through what can be a long and difficult nineteenth hole!

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf

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At a length of 6633 metres, Kyalami offers a strong but fair challenge to golfers of all levels. The four par fives are reachable in two solid blows, but the safer three shot route can still provide a birdie or a safe par. Accuracy and shape of shot are vital from the tee on the par fours and straight hitting will be rewarded by leaving medium to short iron approach shots into the greens on this scenic, meandering layout. Miss the target on any of the picturesque par threes and your short game and bunker play will be thoroughly examined! The USGA Spec Bentgrass greens are well guarded, quick and undulating with intelligent reading skills and a smooth putting stroke being required on these perfectly manicured surfaces.

Ponds, dams and irrigation lakes surrounded by willow, indigenous trees, flowering shrubs and a huge, abundant variety of colourful birdlife complete the prettiest of pictures and make your walk around this fine golf course an extremely pleasing visual experience against a stunning African backdrop.

The cosy, amiable clubhouse atmosphere created by the friendly staff and members make Kyalami the ideal venue for a great days’ golf with its outstanding bar, restaurant and conference facilities offering exceptional quality and value.

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf

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Avenues of narrow, tree-lined fairways make accuracy from the tee the golfers’ prime consideration when playing this pretty and picturesque layout. Though not overly long at lengths of 6428 metres from the championship tees and 6131 metres from the club tees, hit the fairways on Observatory’s ten beautifully shaped and sculpted par fours and you will be rewarded with the opportunity to hit medium to short irons from closely mown kikuyu turf into small, well guarded greens. Miss the target on the four lovely par threes and your short game will be severely tested and any score is a distinct possibility. The four par fives on this little gem can be reached in two solid blows but, as with all the other great holes on this fine golf course, straight hitting is of paramount importance. Its highly skilled and motivated greenkeeping staff maintain Observatory to the highest standards of excellence and the small, fast and undulating USGA Spec Bentgrass greens will reward good reading skills and a sound putting stroke with the sound of dropping putts.

The late, great Bobby Locke was honorary professional at the club for many years and played in what was known as the Thursday Club every week. He loved the venue dearly and regularly regaled members and visitors alike with stories of his many past triumphs, tribulations and travels around the globe with an uncanny recall.

The small, functional clubhouse, with its friendly members and efficient staff is the ideal place to enjoy fine food and refreshments after your round and, if you think the course was a tough test, the Nineteenth Hole at Observatory is renowned for its length and difficulty!

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf

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At a length of 6552 metres, Reading boasts three excellent par fives which can be reached in two solid, accurate strikes with the safer three-shot route being an option for the shorter hitter. Avenues of tree-lined fairways with bands of kikuyu semi and fescue rough require accuracy from the tee in order to avoid strategic fairway bunkering on the ten stunning par fours which present themselves to the golfer fortunate enough to play at this exceptional venue. Good striking and pinpoint approaches into well guarded, medium-sized, fast and undulating USGA Spec Bentgrass greens are necessary otherwise shots will be dropped! Once there, excellent reading skills and a smooth putting stroke will be rewarded by the sound of dropping putts on these perfectly manicured surfaces. With water coming into play on all four of the pretty but dangerous par threes at this fine golf course, hitting the green is the golfers prime consideration when standing on the tee or their short games and bunker play will be closely examined.Â

Ponds, dams and irrigation lakes surrounded by various indigenous trees, shrubs, wild flowers, and exotic plantlife create a micro climate for the abundant and colourful birdlife that are a feature of this picturesque golf course. A family of Meerkats have inhabited parts of the layout for many years and these comical characters can often be seen during the course of a round.Â

The large, comfortable clubhouse is serviced by highly skilled, friendly staff with two full-size snooker tables just off the main bar area offering alternative entertainment. As with most South African country clubs, Reading can cater for large fields and has full bar, restaurant and conference facilities.Â

This wonderful example of golf course architecture and design offers a tough but fair challenge to players of all levels and is an absolute must for any golfer coming to South Africa.

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf

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Opened in 1986, it once hosted the now defunct Nissan Skins Matches where Gary Player and three other invited professionals fought battle over two days for big money. The event was played in a carnival atmosphere with huge hospitality marquees and beer tents situated at various locations around the course. The Winston Aerobatic Team provided spectators and players alike with a stunning display of high speed, precision aeronautical manoeuvres before the action began in earnest on the first tee. One year long-hitting American John Daly and South Africa’s Wayne Westner were given the chance to win a Ferrari for eagling the short par four 13th. Westner missed the green pin high left and Daly drove the green only to leave his putt an agonising half inch short of the hole for the eagle which would have given him the keys to the flaming red sports car! This deceivingly open layout requires accuracy from the tee in order to avoid well placed fairway bunkering, with bands of kikuyu semi and fescue rough awaiting any wayward shots. The well guarded medium-sized USGA Spec Bentgrass greens are super quick with some severe undulations demanding excellent reading skills and a silky smooth putting stroke. Touted as a future South African Open venue, this typical Player design offers a tough but fair challenge to golfers of all levels.

The stunning variety of birdlife which inhabit the course, use ponds and irrigation lakes as gathering places with colourful indigenous trees, shrubs, wild flowers and exotic plantlife creating the perfect backdrop for a pleasant round of golf.

This fine venue has full bar, restaurant and conference facilities and is serviced by a highly efficient, friendly staff. Panoramic vistas of the course and surrounding areas are on view from the large clubhouse verandah making a possibly long and difficult Nineteenth Hole perhaps not such a hardship!

Review by William Wilson of Egoli Golf

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