We are delighted to welcome Sue Giddings to the Golf Planet Holidays team. Born in the UK Sue moved to South Africa for work and is now a proud resident of this beautiful country. With such a wealth of fantastic golf courses surrounding her, Sue was bitten by the golf bug and is now a self-professed addict to our favourite game.

She has played about 90 golf courses in South Africa, mainly in her home province of the Western Cape. By way of introduction, here are Sue’s thoughts on the courses featured in the November tour and her views on a few others.

Steenberg– one of our newer courses, created on a very old wine estate. Nestled against Table Mountain Steenberg makes the most of the indigenous flora and forest to make it an interesting and challenging set up. It’s certainly a 5 star experience.

Erinvale – Apart from being a championship course and quite a challenge, it’s all about the views. Trying to keep your eye on your game with Table Mountain and False Bay as the backdrop is very hard. But the huge greens and tight fairways require your full attention. Perhaps save staring at the view until the 19th hole.

Devonvale – Quite a contrast to the others, Devonvale is n a beautiful valley. It’s a tricky course where the slopes love to steal your ball into the rough and the small greens are a test. Watch out for Springboks (small antelope).

Stellenbosch – Another Championship course which will be in immaculate condition after the South African Open in February 2026. Plenty of trees here but a very enjoyable course regardless of handicap. The views are beautiful from every hole and the clubhouse serves excellent pizzas to enjoy with your cold beer or glass of wine after the round.

Metropolitan – Don’t be put off by the fact this is a nine hole golf course. This super course has 18 different tees and greens so the second nine plays completely differently. The layout follows a path around the iconic Cape Town Stadium with the backdrop of Table Mountain. Definitely requires course management for a good score.

Royal Cape – Our oldest course (1885) with old world charm to go with it. With a classic parklands design, which is challenging. Keeping on the fairway is a must, plenty of lost shots can be had in the trees, unless you can bend it like Bubba…

My Favourites

Western Cape– So hard to choose but I’m going for the Metropolitan. It’ s such a great design, a real challenge and good for any handicap. To have such a treasure in the centre of the city is rare. Every time I play I am amazed how different the second 9 is, quite a lot of water in play and lots of raised greens so often an extra club is required, especially on a windy day. Sitting afterward in the clubhouse with a cold one and admiring the mountain is the cherry on top.

Garden route– Simola, up in the mountains above Knysna. Lots of slopes, of course, lush fairways with abundant water off the mountains. My favourite feature is the elevated tees with the fairways way below, great fun to hit a good drive from there.

Durban area -Zimbali is incredible, lush tropical jungle two inches from the fairways, monkeys and small buck everywhere and the ocean views, it’s worth the walk even if you do not play golf. The course itself is very challenging, straight, of course, is key, losing a ball is easy, course management is essential . It’s a   buggy only course and the GPS on each one is very valuable.

Mpumalanga- Kruger Park area– has to be Skukuza, actually in the Kruger Park and unfenced Hippos and crocs wade in the dam (which you play over for the 9th) . It’s a nine hole, and not actually the best course in the area but the fun and excitement of playing while looking out for wild animals is amazing. We have played there many times and have had to wait for an elephant to finish crossing the 6th green , seen a leopard (very early morning) fast asleep on the 2nd curled around the flag stick and another time had the miss the 2nd completely due to a herd of buffalo too near by (this is a very dangerous animal prone to a bad temper and sudden charging). I highly recommend for a totally different experience and will be included in my ‘golf in the wild’ trip in June 2026.

We’ve just opened up bookings for our end of year 2026 tour and our 2027 tours. Click here for more information