Golf in South Africa

This country profile highlights some of the key aspects of golfing in South Africa.

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About the Country
Big and impressive in its proportions; a major influence as one of the continent's most prosperous nations - understandably, South Africa is regarded by many as the jewel in the African crown. With its apartheid history behind it, it is a welcoming place for visitors of all nationalities and races, and visiting golfers are especially well catered for. Combining golf and big game safaris is possible in many locations, with National and private game parks spread throughout the country. Many a golfer has returned home with tales of birdies and eagles, but here you can add in your game park encounters with South Africa's "big five" : the lion, the African elephant, the African Buffalo, the leopard and the rhinoceros. (The members of the Big Five were originally chosen by big game hunters, not based on their size, but on the difficulty in hunting them, which is why the leopard is on the list but the enormous hippopotamus and towering giraffe are not).

About the Golf
You may already have heard of southern Africa's big five game animals; they are perhaps matched by another big five who have straddled the world's golfing elite in recent years : Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Nick Price, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. Its no wonder that golfers of this quality come from the southern part of Africa - the golfing environment is just made for the development of top quality players. The courses themselves are both numerous and of a high and testing standard. The biggest concentrations of courses are to be found around Durban and KwaZulu-Natal; Cape Town and the Garden Route, and also in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria, not forgetting nearby Sun City. In few other countries will you find such well presented courses which can also boast a huge variety of flora and fauna. On most golf courses you will be entertained by a spectacular array of birdlife, while some of the more notable wild animals may also put in appearances depending on where you are playing - vervet monkeys and baboons are not uncommon, while hippo, crocodile, giraffe, warthogs and the like can be seen on a few specific courses. South Africa is impressively set-up to support the visiting golfer.

Golf Good Points
The longevity of golf in South Africa ensures a wonderful array of old, established courses, which are increasingly being supplemented by excellent new resort courses. Some of these newer courses, especially the coastal layouts, can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's best courses. Green-keeping is generally of a high standard, and the almost obligatory halfway-house facilities could be a model for food standards and friendly service the world over, even if they do add 10 or 15 minutes to your round. The availability of good quality, well-trained caddies is very well developed, due in large part to the Vodacom Caddy Foundation, which supports and trains caddies throughout South Africa.

Less Good Points
Difficult to be critical of golf in South Africa, it is usually such a pleasure to play here. Don't worry too much about any stray big cats or dangerous wildlife - its usually not to be found wandering around on the golf courses. But do take care in the scrub and coastal fynbos beyond the fairways, where dangerous species of snakes might just be lurking. Around Jo'burg and Pretoria the courses dry out in the winter (June - September). Unless the course has a watering system, you may find the fairways are a paler shade of brown, rather than the lush green colour that you can expect in summer.

Golf - Booking
Booking ahead of time is well worth doing, especially for weekend golf and for the busier resort courses. A few golf courses have weekend restrictions where only members and their invited guests can play, especially the case in the bigger cities (e.g. Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban). Some courses also close on Mondays. Telephoning ahead of your visit and confirming by fax or e-mail is well worth doing. You can also let one of the tour operator companies (e.g. Green Jacket) make all the necessary arrangements for you (www.greenjacket.co.za).

Weather
Virtually all of South Africa is fine for year round golf, with the best weather coming during the summer period (December - April). In the winter months (June -September) many courses undergo something of a visual transformation, with the fairway grass becoming much browner in colour. The winter in South Africa can also be accompanied by strong winds and rain, which does not stop the locals playing, but can make conditions significantly more challenging - especially on the more exposed coastal courses.

Getting around
South Africa is served by a good road system and internal airways. Take advice from local tourist offices on any areas where it may not be safe to drive, especially at night.

Accomodation
The bigger South African cities and towns are well-served by good quality hotels, but these can often get very booked-up. Outside these bigger cities, hotels can be scarcer than you might think and of variable quality, so its best to identify and book your accommodation reasonably well in advance..

Currency
South African Rand (ZAR). Exchange Rate in February 2008 : £1 = R15.00; ?1 = R11.20; US$1 = R7.6

Language
South African recognises 11 official languages : English and Afrikaans, Xhosa and Zulu are the most widely spoken.

Visit our South Africa Golf Course Guide for ratings, reviews and contact information for South Africa?s main golf courses.

Useful Links

Golf
Green Jacket Be it a golf tour, wildlife safari, cultural experience or just a relaxing beach break, Green Jacket can make all the necessary arrangements to ensure your visit to South Africa is a holiday of a lifetime, which may also "improve the course of your life !".

Accommodation
Where to Stay in SA On-line accommodation finder service for South Africa
City Lodge Through their portfolio of Courtyard, City Lodge, Town Lodge and Road Lodge hotels, the City Lodge Hotels group has an extensive coverage of 2, 3 and 4-star hotels throughout South Africa.
Protea Hotels Africa's largest and leading hotel group, Protea Hotels, displays its special brand of hospitality in nine African countries, as well as opening hotels soon in Dubai! Each Protea Hotel is different in character and ranges from small country hotels, sea- and lakeside resorts, mountain retreats, bustling city centre hotels and a prestigious portfolio of Game and Safari Lodges.
Southern Sun Southern Sun's extensive portfolio of hotels provide accommodation across all markets, and offer the widest distribution of hotels in South Africa in major urban centres and key leisure destinations. They are designed to meet the needs of all guests, whether they are travelling for business or leisure.
Sun International A leading African hotel group, boasting some of the best known resort destinations in South Africa, including Sun City, Fish River Sun, Wild Coast Sun and Royal Swazi Spa (in Swaziland).

Travel
Budget Car Rental One of the leading and most extensive car rental operators in South Africa.
Green Jacket Be it a golf tour, wildlife safari, cultural experience or just a relaxing beach break, Green Jacket can make all the necessary arrangements to ensure your visit to South Africa is a holiday of a lifetime, which may also "improve the course of your life !".
South African Airways The national carrier with the most extensive flight coverage to destinations in South Africa, the African continent and farther afield.