Golf Tours · 13 July 2023
Nigel Burch’s two greatest passions
By The Golf Planet Holidays Team · Golf-travel specialists since 1981 · Updated 28 May 2026 Over the past 30 years our resident PGA pro Nigel Burch has spent a great deal of time in South Africa playing golf, watching it develop into the great golf destination it is today. ” Golf and South Africa […]
Over the past 30 years our resident PGA pro Nigel Burch has spent a great deal of time in South Africa playing golf, watching it develop into the great golf destination it is today.
” Golf and South Africa are my two great passions and for nearly 30 years I’ve been lucky enough to combine the two.
Having started my golf on the pleasant parkland courses of Essex, to arrive in South Africa to join the Sunshine Tour blew my senses.
Here was a nation teeming with possibilities, tourism was opening up with people keen to visit this amazing nation with incredible wildlife, flora and fauna and, of course, people. The opportunities for me, as a young Professional golfer, appeared endless.
After playing on both European and Sunshine Tours, I spent 15 years there not only playing but teaching including some fantastic memorable times in the Townships. From the impressive historic courses in Cape Town and Durban to the relative newbies along the Garden Route, I can’t emphasise enough the improvement in the conditioning of each golf course. Each time I return, which is at least once a year, something exciting has emerged and it’s a great thrill to explore and recommend my discovery.
When I returned full time to the UK I began sharing my golf knowledge with a company in York, Southern Africa Travel, who were at the time the largest tour operator to South Africa. When I look back at the itineraries we had in place then, golf travel in South Africa has moved forward in leaps and bounds.
Now you can create your own bespoke itinerary playing a fine collection of golf courses as you journey from Cape Town up the Garden Route or head to Durban and immerse yourself in the history of the area, including of course a ‘must do’ stay in the Drakensburg Mountains, interspersed with golf at fantastic venues like The Wild Coast, Durban Country Club, Zimbali. Of course superb safaris complete your South African tour.
Through my membership of the PGA and years on the circuit I have built up great contacts in South Africa. This proves invaluable when I am putting together my own escorted golf tours for Golf Planet Holidays. I keep my ear to the ground, scooping up knowledge on course conditions, accommodation updates and of course the ‘in’ restaurants and bars!
My mission on our hosted golf tours in the Western Cape is to make everyone comfortable and to ensure they enjoy themselves. If it’s your first visit to South Africa, there is no wasted time acclimatising yourself as with only a one hour time change you are straight into action following your overnight flight, you are in my hands from landing to departure, in between I take to you to the best courses, hotels, guest houses and restaurants, not to mention the odd Winery for a sample of their excellent produce in Stellenbosch & Franschhoek.
This extends to our guests on bespoke tours. Whether you are staying in Cape Town, heading to Umhlanga Rocks, near Durban or winding your way along the Cape, it is an absolute pleasure to create your perfect itinerary and hopefully catch up with you while I am there.
Since Covid, the tourism industry in South Africa has gone from strength to strength. It’s almost if the break gave everyone time to reflect on what improvements were needed to maintain and improve South Africa’s reputation for great winter golf holidays.
With all this in place our clients leave South African shores after a successful winter golf holiday, with a positive mindset knowing they will be back soon. And hopefully, after a few tips from me, their golf is ready for the British summer ahead!
Call me anytime, I am always free to talk about South Africa and I will be delighted to discuss any thoughts you may have. ”
Nigel Burch
PGA Member.
00441277284284
Where to stay & play in South Africa
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What our golfers say
4.997 reviewsWe have just returned from a trip to the Western Cape and the Kruger, that will be remembered for many years. We played Stellenbosch, De Zalze and Paarl - all of which were in superb condition - along with Erinvale. We then moved on to …
I have used the team at golf planet over the past 7 years to organise bespoke golfing holidays across Europe and North and South Africa. I cannot recommend them highly enough. As a smaller independent travel consultancy they really look …
just returned from great golf trip to South Africa thanks Nigel highly recommend.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a golf holiday in South Africa cost?
Tailor-made golf breaks in South Africa start from £125 per person, including your hotel, green fees and airport transfers. Every package is built around your group, dates and handicaps.
Do you arrange flights to South Africa?
Flights can be added as an ATOL-protected option, or you book your own and we handle everything on the ground — private transfers, tee times and buggies.
Is my money protected?
Yes. Every booking is financially protected through Protected Trust Services (PTS) — your money is held safely in trust until you have travelled. Flight-inclusive trips are also ATOL protected.
Can I tailor the trip?
Always. We don’t sell off-the-shelf packages — every South Africa break is built personally around your group, your preferred courses and your dates.
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.
