South Africa flags
The continuing mix of nature is bewildering from the
mighty Zambesi river in Zambia and the silence of the
deserts of Namibia to the wonder of the Okavango
Delta in Botswana and the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
and then down south to Table Mountain in the Cape
before going out eastwards to the coral encircled
lagoons of Mauritius and the Indian Ocean Islands –
what quickly becomes evident is that Southern Africa
is, in the most simple terms, undeniably a travellers’
paradise.
It is also the regional home of Nelson Mandela, the
Springboks and Proteas and of course Gary Player,
Bobby Locke, Ernie Els, Nick Price and Retief Goosen,
all of whom are multiple winners of some if not all of
golf’s elusive Major Championships.
In the history of golf, the region has always punched
far above its weight, to borrow from another sporting
code and its players have annexed 25 of golf’s Majors,
putting it third on the all-time list and only behind
the USA and Great Britain in first and second places
respectively.
For those golfers who understand the modern game,
this level of success is no real surprise because when
you combine fantastic weather and great golf courses
you will have two of the key ingredients in the recipe
required to breed champion golfers!
The visiting amateur golfer will be spoiled for choice,
wherever he or she chooses to go on vacation. The
coastal courses along South Africa’s eastern seaboard
from Mozambique to the Cape provide a variety
of challenges ranging from traditional links’ layouts,
such as those at Humewood, St Francis Links and
Milnerton, to those posed by playing layouts running
through coastal forest and indigenous bush areas such
as Royal Port Alfred.
Many will offer spectacular views, especially the
layouts at St Francis Links; the three Gary Player
designed courses at The Fancourt and Pearl Valley, the
Jack Nicklaus signature course at Val de Vie.
Inland is where some the best conditioned courses
are to be found in and around Gauteng with Royal
Johannesburg & Kensington’s international award
winning East Course a prime example.
40 Destination Golf .TRAVEL