World Golf Courses

If you’re an avid golfer visiting Pretoria, the Silver Lakes Golf Course challenges you to enjoy its championship layout. Designed by Peter Matkovich, it bears the trademark of his exclusive water design. The Silver Lakes Golf Academy offers you a complete range of golf-related services, regardless of your proficiency level, at a facility comparable to the best in the world. Other sporting activities at your disposal include tennis and squash. Silver Lakes Estate is justly proud of its indigenous vegetation and natural wetland. Game such as blesbuck, nyala, impala, duiker, kudu and zebra roam freely, inviting you to stroll along the demarcated nature trail. Or you could spend a leisurely hour or two atop the game-viewing platform. Numerous cycling trails traverse the reserve. In addition, the estate is a bird-lover’s paradise, more than 160 different species having been spotted here. When you’re ready to succumb to relaxation, the Fairways Restaurant offers a wide selection of tasty dishes, and is only a stone’s throw away from the Lodge.

Surrounded by the rolling Langeberg mountains in the Breede River Valley and bordered by vineyards and orchards, the new 18 hole Robertson Golf Course on the Silwerstrand Estate opened for play in April 2009. It is the only 18 hole golf course in the beautiful ‘Valley of Wine and Roses’. Described as a fun leisurely course, it is extremely golfer friendly with comfortable walks from tee to green. It has a great mix of long and short holes, with course designer Danie Obermeyer’s signature “rivet faced” bunkers providing punishment for the wayward shot!The tenth (par 4) and 12th (par 5) are expected to be the toughest holes, especially if the North Westerly wind is blowing, whilst the 18th (a par 5) is a rewarding finishing hole.

One of South Africa's best golfing destinations, Simola boasts overwhelming views and an outstanding Jack Nicklaus Signature course. Breathtaking vistas of the Knysna Heads on one side and the Knysna River on the other make it difficult to focus on the game. But in the midst of all this beauty, the course offers challenging and rewarding golf amidst spectacular scenery. Simola was one of the first Jack Nicklaus designs on the Garden Route, reflecting the maestro's philosophy of adjusting the layout and design to the natural features of the landscape. Fairways flow along the rising and falling natural landscape and every hole offers superlative views of the Knysna Lagoon all the way to the Heads or across the pretty meandering Knysna River and valley below.

Easily one of the most popular courses on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, Southbroom Golf Course continues to enhance its course and has become one of the top 100 golf courses in South Africa.The central point of Southbroom village, the course is surrounded by palm trees and lush tropical plants with superlative Indian Ocean views.The 18-hole Southbroom golf course is challenging enough, and becomes more so when the course gets windswept. The par-3 fourth is the best known of the two coastal holes. On calm days it's described as a wedge, but becomes a tiger when the wind is blowing into you.Players will encounter water in the form of both dams and a river. A cautious strategy is required to negotiate the features of this attractive course.Impressive views of unspoiled beaches and the ocean; the peacefulness of playing next to the indigenous foliage of the Frederika Nature Reserve; and the elegant atmosphere of Southbroom village make for a memorable golfing experience. Each of the 18-holes has a unique attribute and will even test the skills of the most proficient golfers.

Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the challenging St Francis Links Course is characterised by undulating terrain, greens and variation in length and direction. The consistent layout combines every element of shot making. The bunkers define the quality and character of this course, looking as if they have been ploughed out of the ground. The greens have simply been placed on top of the sand and follow the natural flow of the landscape. All players will find that St Francis Links present a stiff mental and physical test from the first shot. Facilities at St Francis Links include the Clubhouse, Lighthouse Restaurant, Jack’s Bar and Pro Shop. +27 (0) 42 2004500

The Steenberg Golf Club is an exclusive, private golf club set in the idyllic surroundings of the Constantia Valley. The course attracts golfers seeking a total golfing experience. Known for its hybrid plan, it offers traditionalists the opportunity to “bump and run” (a rare shot in South Africa) in the rough around the greens, and to meet the challenges of strategically placed sand pits and waterways. The par-three, not-so-short 14th hole, features the largest green in Africa at 76 meters in length; indigenous shrubs guard the green and the mound has been shaped to echo the distinctive mountain range behind. Steenberg has always been named as one of the best conditioned courses in South Africa Golf Digest’s annual Top 100, consistent in its improvement each year. The 18 hole course was designed to make full use of natural features and hazards such as the vineyards, pine forest and gentle waterways. Its environmental diversity gives the course its unique character. The well-designed and refurbished clubhouse has seen many golfers enjoying the 19th hole. Need to know? The Steenberg Golf Club is open to the public, but priority and special green fee rates are given to Steenberg Hotel guests and members.

Tee off on a scenic bushveld course on the greens accompanied by lovely ancient trees, abundant wildlife and birds. Situated alongside Ben Alberts Nature Reserve and just eight kilometres from Thabazimbi on the Rustenburg road, Thabazimbi Golf Course is home to the annual Billie of the Bushveld Tournament. The 9-hole course is designed by Glen Strydom and renowned Peter Matkovich, featuring bent grass greens, 18 Kikuyu tees and kweek fairways. Practice facilities, a mini pro shop, carts and caddies are available. Visitors are welcome to play a round or two every day. Open Monday to Saturday 07:00 – 20:00, Sunday and Public Holidays 08:00 – 18:00. For bookings call +27 (0)14 777 1839.

Serenely situated on the scenic Hans Merensky Dam, Tzaneen Country Club is an undiscovered challenge for the serious golfer. The course is alleged to be one of the fairest tests of golf around and should have the high and low handicapper alike urging to book the next round. Rolling fairways and punishing but fair roughs merge to present a ‘shot makers’ ideal challenge. A well stocked bar with a cosy fireplace creates a friendly setting for socialising after many rounds. Tzaneen Country Club hosts some of the major tournaments on the PGA Winter Tour. Local and visiting golfers gather here every May for a weekend of golfing and good times at the annual Koraalboom Tournament.

Umdoni Golf Course has a considerable reputation in Kwa-Zulu Natal, being regarded as breathtakingly beautiful and hugely pleasurable to play. The course of 18 holes is over truly striking terrain, with the front 9 running alongside the sea and the back nine stretching inland through dense indigenous forest vegetation. Anything but flat, Umdoni Golf Course and it's elevation changes not only translate into an adventure of judgment and shot-making but provides any number of 'view-site moments'. On a fine day, lush fairways underfoot and with the ocean swells just breaking into whitecaps, a round at Umdoni is food for the soul - this is how golf is meant to be.

In 1961 Umhlali Country Club was established as a 9 hole golf course, some years later and under the skilful hand of Peter Matkovich, the course was redesigned and a 2nd nine holes were added. Both the course and the club underwent a total transformation in 2006, still under Peters’ watchful eye, and the results speak for themselves. Today this world class 18 hole golf course has a halfway house, pro shop, golf cart hire, bowling greens, five tennis courts (of which two are floodlit), secluded swimming pool and two glass-backed squash courts.

The congenial atmosphere of Walmer Country Club and the challenging course present an attractive golfing experience in the leafy suburb of Walmer, Port Elizabeth. Dense coastal scrub, tree lined fairways and the prevailing winds all contribute to testing amateur players. The standard 18-hole course has fairways running mostly in westerly or easterly directions. The first shot starts with a demanding Par 4, frequently into the teeth of south-westerly gales. Walmer Country Club house offers a restaurant, Pro shop, modern changing rooms and golf cart hire. +27 (0) 41 581 3401 1 Victoria Drive, Walmer, Port Elizabeth

White River Country Estate is a scenic golf course situated on the outskirts of White River and not far from Kruger National Park. The 18-hole course offers a good mental and physical challenge for golfers of all skill levels. With Gary Player behind the design of the course, White River Country Estate is considered a world-class facility. The estate also offers a swimming pool, tennis courts, squash courts, and plenty of entertainment for the whole family.

Zebula Golf Course offers a superlative golfing experience on a Peter Matkovich designed golf course. Teeing off on this pristine 1 200-hectare bushveld estate is a considerable pleasure with its wildlife spectators, tranquility and vast open spaces. Giraffe, zebra, eland, kudu, gemsbok, Nyala, impala, Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, warthog, bushpig and many more species could be watching while you hit an ace. Combining the wonders of golf with wildlife and the quintessential African environment is the fulfilment of a long standing dream for Peter Matkovitch. Designed to blend unobtrusively into the bush, Zebula also adheres to eco-sensitive development guidelines. Other celebrated Peter Matkovitch courses are Leopard Rock, Spier, Steenberg and Arabella, the highest ranked new course in South Africa. Zebula Country Club also features a restaurant, cocktail bar, TV lounge, swimming pool, fully equipped gymnasium, Jacuzzi, squash court and tennis courts.

Irresistible ocean and forest views, exceptional water and wetland features and an inspiring natural setting where conservation takes precedence as well as a memorable course with charisma and challenge - could anyone ask for more? The exclusive Zimbali Country Club is situated along the coastal area of KwaZulu-Natal, an area featuring some of the best golf courses in South Africa. Having been described as 'an enthralling journey through 18 holes', the changing terrain stretches the skill yet captivates its participating golfers. Designed by Tom Weiskopf, his philosophy of "presenting a fair challenge to any level of play" the essence of this course is that it will reward the good shot and punish the bad. Zimbali Golf Course is just 50 km from the top golf course in South Africa, the Durban Country Club. Other world class golfing venues situated on this coastline are Prince's Grant, Umhlali Country Club, Royal Durban Golf Club, and Mount Edgecombe. The Country Club provides full amenities for golf, including compulsory golf carts, a halfway house, putting greens, a driving range, tennis courts and a bar and lounge facility. Zimbali truly is the ideal venue for the discerning golfer who would like to not only test his/her abilities on some of the finest golf courses in Africa, but who would also like to do so in style. In terms of the ultimate golfing experience, Zimbali is amongst the top 10 courses in South Africa to receive the Complete Golfer's Five-star Golf Experience Award; based on service excellence, top-class clubhouse facilities, golf course conditioning and last but not least the overall lingering experience. Zimbali Country Club and Golf Course is rated independently by Golf Digest magazine as a top 250 South African golf course, as well as a top five finest golfing experiences in South Africa.