Top 10 Golf Courses in South Africa
South Africa produces a disproportionate share of world-class golfers — Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace — and the courses that shaped them rank among the most varied and spectacular on any continent. From the grandeur of Sun City to the clifftop drama of a KwaZulu-Natal layout, South African golf is defined by extraordinary landscapes and conditions that reward thinking players. The South African Open, one of the oldest national opens in the world, circulates around a calendar of venues that gives some measure of the depth available. Green fees across the country represent outstanding value for international visitors, particularly those accustomed to European or American pricing, and the service culture at most clubs is excellent.
1. Gary Player Country Club (Sun City), North West Province
The Gary Player Country Club at Sun City is South Africa's most internationally recognised venue. Gary Player designed and refined the course over several decades, and it is defined by the Nedbank Golf Challenge — once the so-called fifth major when it was an exclusive eight-player event. The course plays through the bushveld of the Pilanesberg, with its combination of lush fairways imposed on a landscape of granite outcrops and indigenous scrub producing something genuinely unique. Water is in play on 14 holes. The 18th, with its island green and amphitheatre grandstand, is one of the more theatrical finishing holes in golf. The Sun City resort makes this a straightforward destination for visiting golfers.
2. Leopard Creek Country Club, Mpumalanga
Leopard Creek borders Kruger National Park — arguably the most dramatic neighbours any golf course can have — and animal crossings are not uncommon during a round. Gary Player designed the course along the Crocodile River, which forms the boundary with the park, and the routing uses the natural contours of the bushveld superbly. The 13th hole, a par three over the river to a green backed by crocodile-inhabited waters, demands both accuracy and nerve. The South African Open has been held here. The club is private but operates as a resort, with accommodation available; green fees are at the premium end of South African golf.
3. Durban Country Club, KwaZulu-Natal
Durban Country Club is the flagship venue of South African coastal golf, a sub-tropical parkland-meets-linksland layout that has hosted more South African Opens than any other venue. George Waterman and Laurie Waters laid it out in 1922; the combination of ocean-facing holes on a sandy ridge and inland parkland gives the course a dual personality. The site's dramatic elevation changes — the highest point sits some 70 feet above the lowest — produce carries and run-outs quite unlike anything on a flat course. The club is private; access for visitors requires an introduction, though the club has become more open in recent years. Handicap certificate required.
4. Fancourt (Links Course), George, Western Cape
The Links Course at Fancourt is the only authentic links-style layout in South Africa. Gary Player designed it on a site near George, modelling its rolling dunes and exposed fairways on the coastal links of Scotland and Ireland. The Ryder Cup-format Presidents Cup was held here in 2003, Tiger Woods against Ernie Els finishing all square in the singles. The course stretches to around 7,300 yards and plays firm and fast in the prevailing south-easterly wind. The Fancourt estate also includes the Montagu, Outeniqua and Bramble Hill courses, making it the most comprehensive resort in the country. Non-hotel guests can book tee times in advance.
5. Durbanville Golf Club, Cape Town
Durbanville is one of the Cape's most respected parkland clubs, a mature layout in the Tygerberg Hills north of Cape Town with wide fairways, established oak and pine trees, and greens that hold a consistent pace year-round. The course plays to around 6,500 yards at par 72. It has hosted numerous Sunshine Tour events and produced a generation of top-class amateur and professional golfers. The club is semi-private; visitor green fees are available. The position in the Cape winelands, with views over the northern wine valleys, adds to its appeal as a day-trip from Cape Town.
6. Porterville Golf Club, Western Cape
Porterville Golf Club occupies a beautiful setting against the Winterhoek Mountains north of Cape Town, a compact 18-hole layout at around 1,000 metres altitude in the Swartland. The combination of mountain scenery, cool air and excellent turf makes it one of the Western Cape's more enjoyable hidden gems. The course is short by modern standards but demands precision from an elevated position where the wind can swing dramatically. Green fees are modest; the club is friendly to visiting golfers. Playing time is around four hours.
7. Queenstown Golf Club, Eastern Cape
Queenstown Golf Club is a historic club in the Eastern Cape Midlands, set in farming country at moderate altitude. The course is traditional parkland with mature trees and well-maintained fairways. Like many Eastern Cape clubs, it offers a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and excellent value for green fees. The setting in the Comries plateau gives clear mountain views and a cooler climate than the coast. The course suits all handicap levels; the club welcomes visitors on most days.
8. Bushman Sands Golf Course, Alicedale, Eastern Cape
Bushman Sands occupies an extraordinary setting in the semi-arid Karoo landscape near Alicedale, where the course runs through a game reserve with wildlife visible from many tee boxes and fairways. The layout works with the rocky koppie terrain and sparse indigenous vegetation rather than imposing lush grass on an unsuitable landscape. It is golf of a genuinely different character — target golf where local knowledge matters. The Bushman Sands resort includes accommodation; visitors can book tee times with the lodge. A memorable and singular experience.
9. Metropolitan Golf Course, Cape Town
Metropolitan Golf Course occupies land between Cape Town's southern suburbs and the Constantiaberg, and is one of the city's most accessible clubs for visiting golfers. The parkland layout with views toward the mountain and False Bay offers enjoyable golf in one of the world's great urban natural settings. The course plays to moderate length at par 72. Green fees are reasonable by international standards, and advance booking is straightforward. The club has hosted numerous provincial amateur events and is a reliable choice for Cape Town visitors wanting to fit in a round.
10. Worcester Golf Course, Worcester, Western Cape
Worcester Golf Club sits in the Breede River Valley at the foot of the Hex River Mountains, a setting that offers dramatic mountain scenery in every direction. The course is a well-maintained 18-hole layout at around 6,100 yards, with the Berg River running alongside several holes. Altitude — Worcester sits at around 700 metres — adds distance to most shots. The club is relaxed and visitor-friendly, with modest green fees. The area is the heart of the Cape wine industry; combining golf with a winery visit is straightforward. Best played from March to November.
Planning Your South African Golf Trip
The Western Cape offers outstanding winter golf from May to September, when warm, dry and sunny days are reliable. The rest of the country, including KwaZulu-Natal and the Lowveld around Kruger, is best visited from April to September when the summer heat and humidity have subsided. Green fees range from the equivalent of about USD 20 at public and country clubs to USD 150 or more at resort destinations like Fancourt and Sun City. Caddies are available at most clubs and are strongly recommended — local knowledge is invaluable, and the caddie tradition is an important part of the culture of South African golf. Explore the full spread of courses from the Cape Peninsula to Mpumalanga on Open the map.