More of the Best South African Golf Courses

Legend Signature Golf Course, with game meandering across the lush fairways
and the Hanglip Mountain as a backdrop, is one of Africa’s most exciting new golf courses.

Legend Signature Golf Course

A world first, The Legend Golf & Safari Resorts course Signature Course was designed by 18 of the world’s top golfers: Immelman, Bjorn, Furyk, Langer, Campbell, Montgomerie, Weir, Villegas, Rose, Harrington, Jacquelin, Woosnam, Donald, Allenby, Singh, Garcia, Choi, and Goosen. The longest course in South Africa, this par 72 has flowing fairways winding through open grasslands and dense bush. With game meandering across the lush fairways and the HanglipMountain overlooking the course as a backdrop, the Legend is making a name for itself as Africa’s most exciting new golf development. The Extreme 19th Par 3 is the highest (1,300 feet) and the longest (395 yards) par 3 in the world, accessible only by helicopter and played to a green the shape of Africa below.

[video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”_0OzvRELj5s&rel=0″ width=”640″ height=”360″ anchor=”Click here to see an amazing video of the Extreme 19th”]

Sun City – Gary Player Country Club Course is one of the longest courses in the world,
requiring stamina and accuracy from golfers

Sun City – Gary Player Country Club Course

Home of the Nedbank Golf Challenge since 1981, the Sun City Gary Player Country Club course is immaculately groomed layout has received rave reviews from the world’s top golfers. One of the longest courses in the world, this course requires stamina and accuracy from golfers and while fairly flat, the many water hazards, bunkers and bushveld borders make play on this course challenging. The course boasts lightning fast putting surfaces, and it’s signature hole is the 9^th hole par 5 with its island green. Ranked #54 on Golf Digest’s list of 100 Greatest Courses outside the US.

Sun City – The Lost City’s signature 13th is a graveyard for many balls as it is
guarded by live Nile crocodiles inhabiting the water hazard.

Sun City – The Lost City

The desert style design of Sun City’s Lost City Course has a links feel to the front 9 as large bunkers are common making safe landing challenging. The back nine is your golf safari, as only a fence separates you from the adjacent Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The signature 13^th has a green shaped like the African continent and from the elevated tee you can see the 9 bunkers and water hazards surrounding it. This hole is a graveyard for many balls as it is guarded by live Nile crocodiles inhabiting the water hazard.

Leopard Creek Country Club – Sightings of crocodile, hippo, antelope, buffalo, and elephant are commonplace.
Ranked #49 on Golf Digest’s list of 100 Greatest Courses outside the US.

Leopard Creek Country Club

A list of the best South African golf courses would not be complete with Leopard Creek Country Clubs. Designed to blend into its surroundings, Gary Player and Phil Jacobs worked with the adjacent Kruger National Park [video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”itctZoqBMrg&rel=0″ width=”640″ height=”360″ anchor=”(Watch video of Africa’s Big 5 in Kruger National Park)”] and nature conservation authorities to develop Leopard Creek Country Club, a course that blends with the surrounding lakes and streams which have been diverted through the course to create interesting golf challenges and scenic vistas. Sightings of crocodile, hippo, antelope, buffalo, and elephant are commonplace along the river running along several holes. The course has huge bunkers and wide fairways bordered by wilderness. Leopard Creek is a members club however it is possible to play here when staying at selected nearby accommodations. Ranked #49 on Golf Digest’s list of 100 Greatest Courses outside the US.

[video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”zDvVVLEkYmQ&rel=0″ width=”640″ height=”360″ anchor=”Click here to see a video shot of Leopard Creek Country Club.”]

Golfing World’s Tom Greaves caught up with Robert Rock as he played the 18th hole at Leopard Creek in his preparation for the Alfred Dunhill Championship

[video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”SqRJ5m0fo2g&rel=0″ width=”640″ height=”360″ anchor=”Click here to see the video interview as they walk the 18th hole of the Leopard Creek Course”]

Durban Country Club – Steeped in history and tradition has hosted the South African Open 17 times.
Ranked #72 on Golf Digest’s list of 100 Greatest Courses outside the US.

Durban Country Club

Steeped in history and tradition, Durban Country Club has hosted the South African Open 17 times. A combination of lush vegetation, sand dunes and stunning views of the Indian Ocean make this a bucket list play course. It is a shot maker’s course as well, as you will have to think your way around its severe slopes, undulating fairways and penalizing bunkers. As one of the best South African Golf Courses, Durban Country Club is ranked #72 on Golf Digest’s list of 100 Greatest Courses outside the US.

[video_lightbox_youtube video_id=”R-YS3dL_fF4&rel=0″ width=”640″ height=”360″ anchor=”Click here to see a video overview of the Durban Country Club”]

Zimbali Country Club begins with a coastal links feel, then takes a dramatic turn
through rough rolling wetlands and finishes in the Zimbali Coastal forest.

Zimbali Country Club

Opened in 2008, Zimbali Country Club lies on the breathtaking Zimbali Resort situated on a pristine stretch of KwaZulu-Natal’s DolphinCoast. Tom Weiskopf has integrated a “cart only” course into a property with dramatic elevation changes, varying eco-systems and substantial residential sections. The course begins with a coastal links feel, then takes a dramatic turn through rough rolling wetlands and finishes in the Zimbali Coastal forest.