South Africa spoils the travelling golfer. A round can start under a mountain, run along a vineyard boundary and finish with the Indian Ocean in view, and because the flight from the UK is overnight with barely an hour of time difference, you step off the plane ready
South Africa spoils the travelling golfer. A round can start under a mountain, run along a vineyard boundary and finish with the Indian Ocean in view, and because the flight from the UK is overnight with barely an hour of time difference, you step off the plane ready to play. The golf itself stands comparison with anywhere. The rand does the rest.
This guide covers the courses we think justify the flight, and what sort of test each one sets. First, a reality check: the Cape winter, roughly June to August, can be wet and properly windy, so if your dates fall then we would steer you towards the Garden Route or the KwaZulu-Natal coast instead. Get the season right and there are few better places on earth to take your clubs.
Fancourt, George — the championship heart of the Garden Route
If South African golf has a headquarters, it is Fancourt. The estate at George holds three championship courses, so a four or five night stay never repeats itself: Outeniqua and Montagu are parkland tests of real quality, while The Links, built by Gary Player’s design team on what was once an airfield, is the sternest course in the country. Be warned about that last one. The Links is walking only, caddies are part of the deal, and play it from the championship tees and it will hunt out every weakness you own. We love it. Mid-handicappers sometimes do not.
Fancourt anchors most of our Garden Route itineraries, and it pairs naturally with the coast. African Oceans Manor in Mossel Bay, from
Erinvale, Somerset West — golf in the Cape Winelands
Erinvale, forty minutes from Cape Town in Somerset West, has a fair claim to the loveliest setting in Cape golf. The front nine runs across gentler ground among the houses and oaks; the back nine climbs into the foothills of the Helderberg and the views open right out across False Bay. It is a thinker’s course rather than a slugger’s, and when the south-easter blows the climb home can feel like honest work. Given one spare morning in the Cape, we would still choose Erinvale over any of the city courses. It is that good.
Base yourself close by. Willowbrook Country House, from
Where our specialists would stay in South Africa
The Cape — golf between mountain, vineyard and sea
The Western Cape is the region our specialists return to most, because no two days need look alike. In Stellenbosch, the Spier Hotel, which starts at
Out along the coast the rhythm slows. Harbour House Hotel in Hermanus, from
Beyond the fairway — wildlife, coast and the art of the itinerary
South Africa lets you fold genuine wilderness into a golf trip. Gondwana Game Reserve on the Garden Route pairs a morning round with an afternoon among free-roaming game, and further east Cape St. Francis Resort, from
The real craft is the sequencing: which courses, in what order, with the right rest between them, and a sensible eye on transfer times, because Cape Town to George is a five hour drive and better broken with a night on the way. That is where we earn our keep. Our hosted tours bring a small group of like-minded golfers through the best of it together, or we will hand-build a private trip around your dates, own rooms included where wanted, with PTS protection on every booking.
Our specialists’ favourite stays in South Africa
What our golfers say
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just returned from great golf trip to South Africa thanks Nigel highly recommend.
We have just returned from a fantastic 31/2 week holiday in South Africa organised by Golf Plant Holidays. Nigel was amazing sorting the itinerary for our group of 8 to include all the …
My husband Philip and I had a wonderful golf trip to South Africa in March with Golf Planet holidays. It was our first time to South Africa and it didn't disappoint us. …
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need to play the best courses in South Africa?
To do justice to both the Western Cape and the Garden Route, we usually suggest ten to fourteen days — enough to anchor a stay around Fancourt, play in the Cape Winelands at venues such as Erinvale, and still leave room for the coast, the vineyards and a little wildlife. Shorter trips work beautifully when focused on a single region, and your specialist will pace it so the golf never feels rushed.
Is my money protected when I book a South African golf trip?
Yes. Golf Planet Holidays has been arranging hand-built golf travel since 1981, and your trip is fully financially protected: we are ATOL Protected for the flight elements, and your money is held securely in trust with the PTS until you travel. It means you can plan an ambitious journey across the Cape and Garden Route with complete peace of mind.
Can I combine golf with a safari or the winelands?
Absolutely — it is one of the great joys of South Africa. Gondwana Game Reserve on the Garden Route lets you fold wildlife into a golf itinerary, while bases in Stellenbosch and Somerset West put the Cape Winelands’ finest estates within easy reach of the fairways. Your specialist will balance golf, wine and wilderness to the rhythm you want.
How much does a hand-built South African golf trip cost?
Our South African journeys start from
Come and play with us
Wherever you're travelling from, you're welcome on a Golf Planet hosted tour — a small group, a host with you from the first tee to the last, and every round, transfer and dinner taken care of. You just bring the clubs.
