GROUND-ONLY GOLF ON THE INDIAN OCEAN

A course laid out inside a racecourse, since 1892.

Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal golf holidays

Royal Durban plays through the rough inside the old Greyville track, then the road south reaches San Lameer, a Peter Matkovich layout cut through wetland forest with the Indian Ocean within earshot. Six courses, warm winter sun, and rooms at the Beverly Hills above the Umhlanga sand.

4.9 from real golfers · 6 courses · from £125pp (≈ €135) (≈ $165) (≈ CA$225) (≈ AU$235) (≈ NZ$285) (≈ CHF 125) · ATOL-protected where flights are added

See Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal breaks · from £125pp (≈ €135) (≈ $165) (≈ CA$225) (≈ AU$235) (≈ NZ$285) (≈ CHF 125) ↓ Build your trip

KwaZulu-Natal hands you something rare: serious golf on the Indian Ocean while the northern hemisphere shivers. The fairways run from the working harbour and warm sands of Durban up the leafy Umhlanga seafront and down the lush South Coast, where the bush meets the beach. This is a coast of classic championship layouts and unhurried club golf, played in shirtsleeves under a high winter sun. We pair courses such as Durban Country Club and Royal Durban with comfortable bases in Umhlanga, the city and the Zimbali estate, then leave the days open for the ocean and the wildness beyond.

We have arranged South Africa golf since 1981. Every itinerary is hand-built and hand-priced around your dates, your group and the courses you want to play.

Why play golf in Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal

  • Genuine championship pedigree — Durban Country Club is one of the most revered courses in the country, a tumbling links-and-bush layout that has hosted the game's biggest names.
  • Warm golf in our winter — tee off in shorts from November to March while home courses are waterlogged or shut.
  • Variety in a short drive — harbour-side classics, ocean links and easy parkland are all within an hour of one another.
  • Value that feels generous — green fees and stays go further here, without trading down on quality.
  • Golf woven into a bigger trip — the Big Five, the beaches and the Drakensberg all sit within reach of the first tee.

The courses you’ll play

The headline act is Durban Country Club, a rolling, dune-framed test that ranks among the finest in Africa and rewards bold, considered play through its famous early holes.

Right beside it, Beachwood Country Club offers a more relaxed but characterful round close to the sea, an ideal companion day or a gentler start to a trip.

Royal Durban Golf Club is the city's quiet curiosity — laid out entirely inside the Greyville racecourse, a flat, breezy and deceptively demanding links where the wind off the ocean is the chief defence.

We hand-pick the order and pairing of these courses around your group, and we know which tees and tee times make each one sing.

Where you’ll stay

In Umhlanga, the Beverly Hills sits right on the promenade above the breaking surf — the polished choice for an ocean-front base with the village's restaurants on the doorstep.

For the city itself, The Benjamin Hotel is a calm, well-run boutique address in leafy Durban, handy for the harbour-side courses.

Further up the coast, Zimbali Golf Club anchors the Zimbali Coastal Resort, a forested, gated estate of coastal indigenous bush — the setting for a quieter, resort-style stay.

Down the South Coast, San Lameer Golf Club at Marina Beach and Southbroom Golf Club open up a more laid-back subtropical stretch. We match the base to the courses you most want to play.

Best time to play golf in Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal

This is a Southern-hemisphere coast, so the seasons run opposite to home — and that is the point. Our winter, roughly November to March, is KwaZulu-Natal's warm, golden window, with sunny days, comfortable evenings and the sea warm enough to swim. It is a true winter-sun escape: golf in shorts while the UK is dark and frozen.

The local high summer (December–February) can be humid with the odd afternoon thunderstorm, which usually clears quickly. The shoulder months either side stay mild and very playable. South African school holidays around late December busy the beaches, so for quieter fairways we often steer trips to the calmer weeks around them.

A sense of Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal

History & heritage

Durban is South Africa's most layered coastal city — a Zulu heartland with one of the largest Indian communities outside India, a legacy of the 19th-century sugar trade. That mix runs through everything, from the markets and temples to the architecture along the Golden Mile.

The golf carries its own heritage: Durban Country Club has staged the country's premier championships for generations, and Royal Durban's royal warrant and racecourse setting speak to the game's colonial roots on this coast. We thread a little of this history into a trip, so a round at these clubs feels like more than a scorecard.

Food & wine

Durban's signature dish is bunny chow — a hollowed loaf filled with fragrant curry, born of the city's Indian heritage and best eaten with your hands. The curries here are a serious culinary tradition, not a sideline.

On the coast you eat superbly from the sea: line-caught fish, prawns and Mozambique-style peri-peri. Umhlanga and the South Coast resorts lean toward relaxed ocean-front dining, while the city rewards anyone willing to seek out a proper curry house.

South African wine — chiefly from the Cape, a flight or a long drive west — travels well to the table here, with crisp whites and generous reds widely poured. We can point you to the tables worth booking.

Beyond the fairways

The non-golf days here are some of the strongest in the world. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, one of Africa's oldest game reserves and the home of rhino conservation, lies within reach for a Big Five safari, with the wildlife and wetlands of iSimangaliso on the same northern road.

Closer in, Durban's Golden Mile beachfront, the warm Indian Ocean and the markets of the city fill an easy afternoon. The Drakensberg mountains offer dramatic hiking and scenery a few hours inland.

The South Coast around Southbroom and San Lameer is built for slow beach days, diving and dolphin-watching. We can fold a safari or a coastal stretch into the golf so the trip works for non-golfers too.

Getting around & exploring

A hire car is the natural way to travel KwaZulu-Natal — the courses and coast are spread along good highways, and self-driving gives you the freedom to chase tee times and beaches at your own pace. South Africa drives on the left, which suits UK visitors.

For those who would rather not drive, we can arrange private transfers and a driver-guide, which many prefer for airport runs, evenings out and longer hops up to Zimbali or down to the South Coast. Distances are manageable: Umhlanga, the city courses and Zimbali sit within an easy half-hour to an hour of one another. We build the logistics around how you like to move.

Getting there

The gateway is King Shaka International Airport (Durban), conveniently set on the north coast close to Umhlanga and Zimbali. It is served by direct and one-stop routings via the major hubs, typically connecting through Johannesburg or a Gulf or European hub.

Flights are arranged separately as an ATOL-protected add-on — we are happy to source and book them for you, or you can hold your own and we'll handle everything on the ground. Either way, your golf, stays, transfers and tee times are organised end to end so you arrive to a trip that simply runs. Tell us your preferred departure airport and dates and we'll advise the cleanest routing.

Good to know

  • Currency is the South African rand; cards are widely accepted and the destination tends to feel good value.
  • Time is GMT+2 — only an hour or two ahead of the UK, so no real jet lag.
  • Driving is on the left, which makes self-drive straightforward for UK visitors.
  • Visas are not generally required for short UK tourist visits — we'll confirm current requirements for your nationality.
  • Climate is subtropical: warm and humid in the local summer (our winter), with the odd quick-clearing thunderstorm.
  • Flights are a separate ATOL-protected add-on, never included — we arrange the ground trip in full and can book the flights too.
  • We are not ABTA; our trade protections cover your booking and we'll set them out clearly before you pay.

The courses you’ll play in Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal

Beachwood Country Club, Durban — Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal golfBeachwood Country Club, DurbanDesigned by Gary Player (1990s redesign)Played on tailored stay & play breaksDiscover this course →Durban Country Club — Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal golfSouth African Open hostDurban Country ClubDesigned by Laurie Waters and George WatermanPlayed on tailored stay & play breaksDiscover this course →Royal Durban Golf Club — Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal golfRoyal Durban Golf ClubDesigned by Bob GrimsdellPlayed on tailored stay & play breaksDiscover this course →San Lameer Golf Club, Marina Beach — Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal golfSan Lameer Golf Club, Marina BeachDesigned by Peter Matkovich and Dale HayesPlayed on tailored stay & play breaksDiscover this course →Southbroom Golf Club, Southbroom — Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal golfSouthbroom Golf Club, SouthbroomDesigned by Al Mandy (1954 18-hole layout)Played on tailored stay & play breaksDiscover this course →Zimbali Golf Club, Zimbali Coastal Resort — Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal golfZimbali Golf Club, Zimbali Coastal ResortDesigned by Tom WeiskopfPlayed on tailored stay & play breaksDiscover this course →

Hotels — play the area’s courses

Beverly Hills, Umhlanga — Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal golfBeverly Hills, UmhlangaDurban Country Club · Beachwood Country Club, Durbanfrom£350 (≈ €405) (≈ $455) (≈ CA$655) (≈ AU$655) (≈ NZ$805) (≈ CHF 365)per personDiscover this hotel →The Benjamin Hotel, Durban — Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal golfThe Benjamin Hotel, DurbanRoyal Durban Golf Club · Beachwood Country Club, Durbanfrom£125 (≈ €135) (≈ $165) (≈ CA$225) (≈ AU$235) (≈ NZ$285) (≈ CHF 125)per personDiscover this hotel →

Ready to play Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal?

Tell us your dates and group — we’ll build a tailored itinerary and hand-priced quote, usually within 15 minutes.

Plan my Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal trip →Talk to a specialist · 01277 284284

ATOL & PTS protected · Tailor-made since 1981

Frequently asked questions

Golf holidays in Around Durban/KwaZulu-Natal — answers to the questions our golfers ask most.

How much does a golf holiday in South Africa cost?

Golf holidays in South Africa start from £290 (≈ €335) (≈ $375) (≈ CA$535) (≈ AU$545) (≈ NZ$665) (≈ CHF 305) pp with Golf Planet Holidays. That is a tailor-made ground package, and the final price depends on your hotel, the courses you play and the season.

Is South Africa good for golf in the winter?

Absolutely! South Africa is an ideal winter golf destination. While much of Europe is bundled up, the Western Cape offers mild temperatures and sunny days, perfect for enjoying a round of golf. Famous courses like Royal Cape, Stellenbosch, and Erinvale offer stunning views and top-tier conditions, making this holiday an unforgettable golf experience. Whether you're looking for a winter sun escape or simply a great game, South Africa’s winter weather is perfect for teeing off.

What is the best time of year to play golf in South Africa?

South Africa is a year-round golf destination, but the best time to play depends on what you're looking for. For winter sun and mild temperatures, the Western Cape is perfect from November to April. If you prefer warmer weather, the summer months (May to October) are ideal for golf in regions like Kwazulu Natal, where temperatures are pleasant and the courses are in top condition. Regardless of when you visit, South Africa offers fantastic golf all year long.

When is the best time to play golf in South Africa?

October to April, the South African summer, is best for the Cape and Garden Route, and it lines up neatly with the UK winter.

What are the best golf courses to play in South Africa?

South Africa is home to some of the best golf courses in the world. Notable courses include Royal Cape Golf Club in the Western Cape, ranked among the country’s top courses, The Links at Fancourt, Erinvale, and Pearl Valley. Each course provides a unique challenge and stunning views, making them perfect for golfers looking for an unforgettable round.

Are flights included, and is a South Africa golf holiday ATOL protected?

Our South Africa holidays are tailor-made and ground-only, so flights are arranged separately, and we are happy to book them for you. When we book your flights the trip is ATOL protected and your money is held safe until you travel.

Still have a question? Ask our golf travel team — a free, no-obligation quote, no call centre.

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