Gary Player built it. The World Cup came within a year.
Western Cape golf holidays
Erinvale, at Somerset West, is Player's only course near Cape Town, and it hosted the 1996 World Cup of Golf inside twelve months of opening. Base yourself at Erinvale Estate Hotel or among the Stellenbosch vines at Spier, with Table Mountain, False Bay and fifteen courses in easy reach.
★★★★★4.9 from real golfers
· 15 courses · from £495pp (≈ €585) (≈ $655) (≈ CA$925) (≈ AU$945) (≈ NZ$1,155) (≈ CHF 545) (≈ kr 6,215) (≈ kr 6,555) (≈ kr 4,395) · ATOL-protected where flights are added
Golf holidays in Western Cape start from £495 (≈ €585) (≈ $655) (≈ CA$925) (≈ AU$945) (≈ NZ$1,155) (≈ CHF 545) (≈ kr 6,215) (≈ kr 6,555) (≈ kr 4,395) per person, across 15 courses we can book, 12 hotels and resorts we sell. Sold ground-only, hand-priced around your dates, and arranged by us since 1981.
A hand-priced quote, no obligation, and no call centre.
The Western Cape of South Africa. A popular winter destination for golfers, nature watchers and cricket fans alike. Twelve hours after you leave the UK with British Airways, Virgin or Norse direct flights, you walk out into the beautiful Cape sunshine. The time difference is two hours so are ready to have some fun. The choice is yours, start with a glamorous stay in Cape Town, head out to the historical area around Stellenbosch or launch yourself on the Garden Route.
Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, everyone has different areas and golf courses they want to visit. We’re here to build your tailormade holiday and prices below give you an idea of how much each section could cost. If you are lucky enough to have friends to stay with during part of your holiday we are happy to create a perfect itinerary when you are making your own plans and we can book safaris for you. Let’s work together to make this holiday your own.
Why play golf in Western Cape
The standout here is Erinvale Golf Club in Somerset West, a Gary Player design and a par 72 that has hosted serious tournament golf against the backdrop of the Helderberg mountains. It is the course most UK visitors build a trip around, and it rewards a tidy long game.
Royal Cape Golf Club gives you the other side of the region's character: a flat, mature parkland par 72 close to the city, older and more traditional in feel. Between a Player-designed test and an established city club, you get genuine variety inside a short radius rather than seven versions of the same round.
The courses you’ll play
South Africa is ideal for a mix and match golf holiday. Enjoy great members’ courses and earn yourself a tidy 30 points plus or tackle the ‘biggies’, Erinvale, Pinnacle Point and Stellenbosch (hosting the South African Open for the second year running in 2027).
Erinvale
Somerset West
Westlake
Royal Cape
Stellenbosch
Pinnacle Point
Hermanus
Pezula
Where you’ll stay
There’s a wide choice in the Cape Town area. The Vineyard Hotel bases you in secluded Claremont, while The Commdore Hotel puts you in the heart of the action at the V and A Waterfront or head to Camps Bay for a fantastic seaside stay at The Bay Hotel.
Head out of the city to play the fantastic golf courses around Stellenbosch, combining a stay at Silver Forest next to Erinvale Golf Course or Spier Hotel just outside the historic university town of Stellenbosch. If your priority is exploring the town itself, the Oude Werf is ideally placed.
The Garden Route, stunning scenery and coastal towns, where warm hospitality is the name of the game. We offer Harbour House Hotel in Hermanus, African Oceans Manor at Mossel Bay and the Farmhouse Hotel, Langebaan.
The Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town (7 nights from £1,445 (≈ €1,715) (≈ $1,925) (≈ CA$2,715) (≈ AU$2,755) (≈ NZ$3,395) (≈ CHF 1,585) (≈ kr 18,155) (≈ kr 19,135) (≈ kr 12,855) pp) and The Commodore Hotel, Cape Town (7 nights from £1,295 (≈ €1,535) (≈ $1,725) (≈ CA$2,425) (≈ AU$2,465) (≈ NZ$3,045) (≈ CHF 1,425) (≈ kr 16,265) (≈ kr 17,145) (≈ kr 11,515) pp) for a full week in the city
The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay (3 nights from £530 (≈ €625) (≈ $705) (≈ CA$995) (≈ AU$1,005) (≈ NZ$1,245) (≈ CHF 575) (≈ kr 6,655) (≈ kr 7,015) (≈ kr 4,715) pp)
Harbour House Hotel, Hermanus (3 nights from £390 (≈ €455) (≈ $515) (≈ CA$725) (≈ AU$735) (≈ NZ$915) (≈ CHF 425) (≈ kr 4,895) (≈ kr 5,165) (≈ kr 3,465) pp) for the whale coast
African Oceans Manor, Mossel Bay (3 nights from £415 (≈ €485) (≈ $545) (≈ CA$775) (≈ AU$785) (≈ NZ$975) (≈ CHF 455) (≈ kr 5,205) (≈ kr 5,495) (≈ kr 3,685) pp) further along the coast
Best time to play golf in Western Cape
The driest most settled weather is roughly October to April. The winters are not as extreme as Northern Europe and you can get some great deals out of season.
A sense of Western Cape
Food & wine
Two traditions sit side by side. Cape Malay cooking arrived with people enslaved and exiled from Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India, and it gave the Cape bobotie, tomato bredie, denningvleis and koesisters. Then there is the braai, which is a way of eating rather than a barbecue, and snoek off the West Coast, salted and grilled over coals. Wine is the serious draw. Stellenbosch and Paarl make Cabernet and Chenin Blanc of real weight; Pinotage, a South African crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, divides opinion and deserves your own verdict; Cap Classique is made by the Champagne method. Behind Hermanus, the cool Hemel-en-Aarde wards turn out Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a Burgundian accent. Groot Constantia has produced wine without interruption since 1685. Napoleon had its sweet wine shipped to him.
Beyond the fairways
Table Mountain is a must but choose a day early in your stay in case low clouds mean you have to re-arrange. The stunning botanical gardens of Kirstenbosch lie on the eastern slopes. Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for nearly two decades, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stellenbosch takes you back to 1629 and the early Dutch settlers, while the Cape of Good Hope feels like the edge of the world. The Garden Route is everything you think it will be and more. Base yourself on the coast and explore, explore, explore.
Getting around & exploring
Hire a car. You drive on the left, a UK photocard licence is valid for up to twelve months, and the trunk roads are good tarmac: the N2 running east, the R27 up the West Coast, the R44 and R310 into the Winelands. Stellenbosch is about 50 km from Cape Town, under an hour. Hermanus is roughly 125 km, an hour and a half on the N2 then the R43, and Langebaan a similar run north. The Garden Route looks compact on a map and is not. Mossel Bay is nearly 390 km, four hours, so give it two nights. Safety comes up on every enquiry. The honest answer is a few borrowed habits: doors locked, bags out of sight at junctions, no long drives after dark. Cape Town International sits 20 km east of the city. Chapman's Peak Drive charges a toll and earns it.
Good to know before you book
Getting there
You fly from the UK to Cape Town. There are direct overnight services from London, and a wider choice of one-stop routes through the Gulf or Europe from regional airports. Cape Town is on or close to UK time, so there is no real jet lag to play through.
Once you land, the courses and coast (Somerset West, Stellenbosch, Hermanus and beyond) are best reached by road, and we canarrange your transfers or car hire as part of the trip. Flights are an ATOL-protected add-on we can book alongside the land arrangements, or you can book your own and we handle everything on the ground.
Good to know
One honest caveat: this is a spread-out region, not a single resort, so a trip that takes in Cape Town, the winelands and the coast involves a fair bit of driving between courses and hotels, and a few of the clubs are members' clubs where tee times need booking ahead. The hotel prices shown are per person for the nights stated, so weigh the three-night and seven-night options against the trip length you actually want. South Africa drives on the left, which suits UK visitors, and the Cape can swing from hot and still to windy in a single day, so pack for both.
Done for you
Hosted golf tours in Western Cape
Small-group trips we plan end to end — a Golf Planet host with you on the ground. Reserve a place, or we’ll build one around your group.
★ 4.9 from real golfers · PTS Protected · ATOL for flights · Arranging golf since 1981
What golfers say about Western Cape
4.997 reviews
We 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 …
We were fortunate to attend Cape Town with Golf Planet Holidays for their Western Cape Escorted Tour. On arrival at Cape Town Airport we were met by Nigel Birch, former European Tour Professional, who expertly guided us through the ten days, be it golf, wine tours…
Excellent trip to Cape Town this January. Everything ran like clockwork, including the weather, from check in at The Commodore Hotel, through 5 games of golf to check out. All the courses were professionally managed, fairways beautifuly manicured & each course tested a different aspect of…
Frequently asked questions
Golf holidays in Western Cape. The questions our golfers ask most.
How much does a golf holiday in South Africa cost?
Whether it's your first visit or your fifth, everyone has different areas and golf courses they want to vist. We're here to build your tailor-made holiday and our prices give you an idea how much each section could cost.
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.
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.
Are flights included, and is a South Africa golf holiday ATOL protected?
Our South Africa holidays are hand-built 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.
Do I need a handicap to play golf in South Africa?
While most golf courses in South Africa don’t require a specific handicap for visitors, we always recommend checking with us in advance, especially for high-end or championship-level courses. The last thing we want is for you to have an unsuitable round of golf. Generally, golfers with a handicap of 24 for men and 36 for women will find the courses accessible. Our expert team can help ensure you have all the information you need to book your perfect round.
How many golf courses are there in South Africa?
South Africa boasts over 450 golf courses spread across its diverse regions, offering a variety of challenges for golfers of all levels. From world-renowned championship courses like The Links at Fancourt to hidden gems nestled in scenic landscapes, such as Knysna, there's no shortage of exceptional places to play. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a club golfer, South Africa has a course that’s perfect for you.
Still have a question? Ask our golf travel team A free quote, no obligation, and no call centre.
