Malelane Gate,
Malelane, Mpumalanga 1320
Office
+27 (0)13 791 2000Pro shop
+27 (0)13 791 2000Fax
+27 (0)13 790 3334Website
Visit websiteThe Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Undulating terrain - several slopes to climb, especially on the back-nine.
Surroundings:
Woodland and bushveld
Designer:
Gary Player
-25.441898
31.533122
65km E of Mbombela (Nelspruit).
From Mbombela (Nelspruit) take the N4 heading east. After 60 km take the Malelane Gate turn-off, and follow signs to Leopard Creek.
Leopard Creek
Leopard Creek Country Club: Located alongside the Crocodile River, with the southern edge of the vast Kruger National Park stretching away on the opposite bank, Leopard Creek is both spectacular and wonderfully scenic. Playing the course is one of the best golfing experiences in South Africa.
Elevation changes, excellent bunkering, fast and true greens and no end of water hazards all contribute to the golfing challenges of this Gary Player-designed masterpiece. At the downhill par-5 9th all the essential elements of a great golf hole come together, with an island green spicing up the risk-reward character of the hole. The parallel par-4 18th, also played downhill to a water-protected green, is another absolute belter. Here the final outcome of a match or tournament can hang in the balance all the way down to the final putt.
The relatively open aspect of the front-nine, gives way to some hillier climbs on the back-nine that provide the opportunity to take-in many stunning views. Perhaps the best vista of all comes at the 13th green. Here you look down onto a wide sweep of the Crocodile River, where crocs and hippos provide an always engaging and dramatic scene.
With its magnificent thatched clubhouse and a leopard statue at every tee-box, Leopard Creek guarantees a sumptuous and unforgettably African golf experience. Even more so if you are one of the lucky few (in fact, very few) to catch a glimpse of the resident leopard.
Private club - Lodge guests (staying at selected local lodges; see Leopard Creek website for listing) can book to play on weekdays and weekends.
Must book through the Lodge at which you are resident. No outside visitor play available. Handicap required
Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].
Non-metal spike facility. Predominantly white socks must be worn to accompany shorts.
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Leopard Creek is the creation of Johann Peter Rupert, one of South Africa's most successful business tycoons and committed conservationists. Since its opening, Leopard Creek has become a revered and established name throughout the golfing world. It has already hosted many top level tournaments, attracting the world's best players (see our Tournaments section >by Venue >Leopard Creek).
The sculptures at each tee box are the work of Dillon Lewis and stunningly depict "A Day in the Life of a Leopard". In addition to a course map, it would be more than a little interesting if you also had access to a Hollywood style star-map, to spot who owns the relatively small number of fabulous course-side properties.
South Africa's No.1 course (SA's Top 100 Courses, 2024).
off the N4, Malelane, 1320 Mpumalanga.
+27 (0)82 909 5941
Visit websiteLocated on the banks of the Crocodile River and bordering Kruger National Park, Buhala Lodge features elegant rooms, an outdoor pool and open deck spa. Many of the elegantly decorated rooms and suites feature verandahs offering views out onto the Crocodile River and across to Kruger National Park.
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Leopard Creek
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Kruger National Park (Southern Region), nr Skukuza 1351.
+27 (0)13 010 0019
Visit websiteAs the first private concession granted within Kruger National Park, Jock Safari Lodge is the original safari legend. Located in Kruger’s southern region, where the Mitomeni and Biyamiti rivers meet to become one, it will feel like you’re stepping back to South Africa’s gold rush era. This extraordinary location and the history behind it are what make Jock Safari Lodge a unique experience.
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Leopard Creek (35 km); Skukuza (40 km).
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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