We have taken the various mixes and our
region is based on where the game of golf has
a ‘serious’ presence i.e. Swaziland, Namibia,
Botswana, Zambia, Mauritius, Seychelles, South
Africa and Zimbabwe.
Having dealt with the geography the next
question that needs to be asked will be; ‘What
does this regional bloc, which is comprised of 8
countries, have to offer the traveller?’
Certainly sunshine and seemingly endless blue
skies combined with some of the World’s best
beaches and mountains and vast plains are de
rigeur.
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.
The visiting amateur golfer will be spoiled for
It is also the regional home of Nelson Mandela, choice, wherever he or she chooses to go on
the Springboks and Proteas and of course vacation. The coastal courses along South
Gary Player, Bobby Locke, Ernie Els, Nick Price Africa’s eastern seaboard from Mozambique to
and Retief Goosen, all of whom are multiple the Cape provide a variety of challenges ranging
winners of some if not all of golf’s elusive Major from traditional links’ layouts, such as those at
Championships. Humewood, St Francis Links and Milnerton, to
In the history of golf, the region has always
punched far above its weight, to borrow from
another sporting code and its players have
those posed by playing layouts running through
coastal forest and indigenous bush areas such as
Royal Port Alfred.
annexed 25 of golf’s Majors, putting it third Many will offer spectacular views, especially the
on the all-time list and only behind the USA layouts at St Francis Links; the three Gary Player
and Great Britain in first and second places designed courses at The Fancourt and Pearl
respectively. Valley, the Jack Nicklaus signature course at Val
For those golfers who understand the modern
de Vie.
game, this level of success is no real surprise Inland is where some the best conditioned
because when you combine fantastic weather courses are to be found in and around Gauteng
and great golf courses you will have two of the with Royal Johannesburg & Kensington’s
key ingredients in the recipe required to breed international award winning East Course a prime
champion golfers! example.
6 | DG SAIO 2020