South Africa
South Africa is the perfect winter destination for travelling golfers. The best known area, the Western Cape, has simply stunning natural beauty. Cape Town itself, with Table Mountain for a backdrop, is a beautiful city. Built on the slopes of the mountain looking out over the harbour and the V & A Waterfront, it is a perfect base to start any tour.
From Cape Town it is easy to explore the winelands of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschoek, or drive down to Cape Point via Chapman's Peak passing the penguins and zebras on the way. Just 45 mins drive away is Somerset West, a pretty little town in the shadow of the Hottentot Holland Mountains. All around this area are some of South Africa's finest golf courses: Pearl Valley, Erinvale, Royal Cape, Clovelly, De Zalze and Boschenmeer to name just a few.
When you have seen the sites and tasted the wines it is time to head off down the Garden Route to George and Knysna. But your first stop should be the wonderful Arabella Golf Resort just outside Hermanus. To get there you can take the spectacular drive around the False Bay or take Sir Lowry's Pass over the mountains and through the orchards. Go there in November and you can watch the whales in Hermanus Bay.
From Hermanus you drive across the Little Karoo to Mossel Bay and up to George, home to Fancourt and three of SA's best courses, including The Links which hosted the President's Cup.
From Fancourt it is a short drive down to Knysna, a beautiful little fishing port, with some superb golf. Up above the Knysna Heads is Pezul but set back in the hills behind the town with absolutely stunning views is Simola with its Jack Nicklaus course below.
The Western Cape is best enjoyed from November to Mid April. But Durban is a year round destination. Facing the warm Indian Ocean, the climate is more humid but warm all year round. Although Durban itself is not a great city to stay in, the coast, both North and South, has some fine golf resort. The Wild Coast Sun is a very challenging resort course with a casino on site. Selborne is a throwback to another era. A fine country house hotel on it's own golf course. North of Durban is the beautiful Zimbali and Prince's Grant and closer to town is Mount Edgecombe and of course one of South Africa's finest - Durban Country Club.
If you felt like driving back to Johannesburg you could pass through the Drackensburg Mountains and up to Cathedral Peak.
Finally of course there is Sun City, to the North of Johannesburg. Four hotels, a casino, and two magnificent Gary Player golf courses. Not to everyone's taste but there is no doubt that it is a superb pleasure ground.
Once you have tired of golf then of course there are the safaris. The mighty Kruger Park or the slightly more artificial parks like Shamwari and Phinda where the big five can be seen in malaria free reserves. South Africa really is God's country, whatever the Scots may say; a vast, underpopulated part of the planet with untold riches in its soil. Let's hope it uses those resources for the benefit of all South Africans so that we can continue to visit this beautiful country.
