| If you are looking for a memorable but | | | | of the most beautiful countries on Earth is |
| affordable golf experience then you should | | | | not just about wild safaris and great |
| definitely check out South African golf | | | | beaches; it is also the newest golf holiday |
| vacations. South Africa golf vacations offer | | | | destination spiraling to the top of most |
| beauty, tranquillity, challenges and good | | | | golfers' lists. South Africa's golf is |
| value for money. The size of France and Spain | | | | blessed by the presence of 300 plus sunny |
| combined; it varies from the picturesque | | | | days, beautiful landscapes and courses |
| Garden Route towns of the Western Cape to the | | | | designed to challenge players of all skill |
| raw stretch of subtropical coast in northern | | | | levels. With such ingredients the golf soup |
| KwaZulu-Natal. | | | | can only be delicious as most golf vacation |
| | | | groups heading to South Africa find out. |
| Many visitors are pleasantly surprised by | | | | |
| South Africa's excellent infrastructure, | | | | Although South African boasts of over 500 |
| which draws favorable comparison with | | | | courses laid out on such diverse terrains as |
| countries such as Australia or the United | | | | coastal plains to mountains, the country is |
| States. Good air links and bus networks, | | | | still a secret few golf holiday makers know |
| excellent roads and a growing number of | | | | about. However, more and more people are |
| first-class B&Bs and guesthouses make South | | | | getting in on it mainly due to the interest |
| Africa a perfect touring country and - with | | | | generated by world class courses like The |
| the dramatic slide of the rand in 2001 - a | | | | Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, home to |
| cheap one too for visitors. | | | | the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the world's |
| | | | richest golf tournament. |
| Crime isn't the indiscriminate phenomenon | | | | |
| that press reports suggest, but it is an | | | | The Gary Player Country Club built in the |
| issue. Really, it's a question of perspective | | | | crater of an extinct volcano, boasts of one |
| - taking care not to become a victim of | | | | of the finest and trickiest courses in the |
| crime, is something to be kept in mind | | | | world. Rising like an Oasis from the bushveld |
| always, regardless of which country you're | | | | around it, Sun City is home to this premium |
| in. Statistically, the odds of becoming a | | | | course that plays 6,938 meters for a par of |
| victim in South Africa are highest in | | | | 72. Start off your South Africa golf tour |
| downtown Johannesburg, where violent crime is | | | | with this gem for its wide fairways of Kikuyu |
| a daily reality. You would really have no | | | | grass that make for a harrowing time on the |
| reason at all for venturing to this area if | | | | greenside rough, slick, kidney-shaped greens |
| you are on a golfing vacation. Any shopping | | | | which require patience and physical endurance |
| you might want to do, you can do in very | | | | and the cunningly placed water hazards that |
| safe, very big, world-class malls situated | | | | ensure your game is played more between the |
| all around Gauteng and in other parts of the | | | | ears than on the ground. The signature ninth, |
| country. | | | | more than the rest of the holes, totally |
| | | | justifies the green fees of just $39 - didn't |
| Other cities present a reduced risk - similar | | | | I say it was affordable? |
| to, say, some big cities in the United | | | | |
| States; most country areas are safe by any | | | | While at the Sun City Resort, also add the |
| standards. Rest assured also, that any and | | | | Lost City Golf Course to your golf package. |
| all resorts you choose to stay at in South | | | | The verdant fairways and the dramatically |
| Africa, has excellent security measures in | | | | placed bunkers make this Gary Player layout |
| place, and you should really not be affected | | | | intriguing and testing at the same time. At |
| by the crime problem at all. | | | | 6,983 meters, this track is probably most |
| | | | famous for its 13th hole where water hazards |
| CAPE TOWN is southern Africa's most | | | | inhabited by crocodiles come into play! |
| beautiful, most romantic and most visited | | | | |
| city. Indeed, few urban centres anywhere can | | | | South Africa is an expansive country and your |
| match its setting along the mountainous Cape | | | | golf travel would leave you jaded if it |
| Peninsula spine, which slides into the | | | | weren't for invigorating courses like Leopard |
| Atlantic Ocean. By far the most striking - | | | | Creek, ranked 25th on Golf Digest's Top 100 |
| and famous - of its sights is Table Mountain, | | | | Courses outside America. Bordering the Kruger |
| frequently shrouded by clouds, and rearing up | | | | National Park, Leopard Creek is an 18-hole |
| from the middle of the city. | | | | championship course designed by Gary Player. |
| | | | |
| More than a scenic backdrop, Table Mountain | | | | South Africa offers stunning courses in |
| is the solid core of Cape Town, dividing the | | | | almost every part of the country but your |
| city into distinct zones with public gardens, | | | | golf tour would be incomplete without playing |
| wilderness, forests, hiking routes, vineyards | | | | courses like the Robert Trent Jones designed |
| and desirable residential areas trailing down | | | | Wild Coast Country Club, set against a |
| its lower slopes. Standing on the tabletop, | | | | backdrop of the Indian Ocean, The Durban |
| you can look north for a giddy view of the | | | | Country Club, Arabella Country Club and the |
| city centre, its docks lined with matchbox | | | | Glendower Golf Club, host of The Transvaal |
| ships. Looking west, beyond the mountainous | | | | Open. |
| Twelve Apostles, the drop is sheer and your | | | | |
| eye will sweep across Africa's priciest real | | | | The sheer quantity of courses in South Africa |
| estate, clinging to the slopes along the | | | | makes it impossible to swing away at all of |
| chilly but spectacularly beautiful Atlantic | | | | them in just one golf tour, but do try to |
| seaboard. Turning south, the mountainsides | | | | include The River Club Golf Course in |
| are forested and several historic vineyards | | | | Sandton, Johannesburg , George Golf Club near |
| and the marvelous Botanical Gardens creep up | | | | Fancourt and The Pecanwood Golf & Country |
| the lower slopes. Beyond the oak-lined | | | | Club Estate bordering the Hartbeespoort Dam. |
| suburbs of Newlands and Constantia lies the | | | | |
| warmer False Bay seaboard, which curves | | | | When next planning a vacation, consider South |
| around towards Cape Point. | | | | Africa as your destination. You'll get |
| | | | affordable, world-class golf, in the best |
| Try South Africa on for size and you'd be | | | | resorts in the world. Have you made your |
| surprised at the choices. South Africa, one | | | | booking yet? |