South Africa Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

DP World Tour: Will Zalatoris set for 40th anniversary celebration at Nedbank Golf Challenge

Matt Smith — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:59:14 +0000

By Matt Smith
The field for the 40th anniversary of the Nedbank Golf Challenge just got a significant boost with world No. 14 Will Zalatoris announcing he will compete in the November 10-13 event.

American Zalatoris, who is second on the DP World Tour Rankings, will tee it up at Gary Player Country Club, Sun City as he seeks to become the first winner of the event from the United States in more than 15 years.

The $6 million event is the penultimate tournament on the 2022 DP World Tour schedule and will also carry an increased number of DP World Tour Ranking Points as the 64-man field vies for a place in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

Zalatoris announced himself to the professional golfing world in 2020 after finishing in a share of sixth place at the US Open. The following year the 25-year-old finished one stroke behind Hideki Matsuyama at the Masters and was voted PGA Tour Rookie of the Year for the 2020-21 season.

His runner-up finish at the 2021 Masters was the first of three second place results in just ten major starts to date and this year he was runner-up at both the US Open and US PGA Championship, losing to Justin Thomas in a play-off at Southern Hills.

Zalatoris will bid to become the fifth winner of the tournament from the United States, and the first since Jim Furyk defended his title in 2006, when he competes in the historic anniversary edition of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which has been postponed for two years due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

“I’m really excited to travel to South Africa,” said Zalatoris. “I’ve had great experiences of playing DP World Tour events in Dubai and Scotland and I’m sure that South Africa will be no different.

“I’ve heard a lot about the Nedbank Golf Challenge and I’m looking forward to experiencing a new country and a new culture later this year. It’s sure to be a special occasion for everyone involved after waiting so long to celebrate a landmark milestone.”

The celebrations for this year’s tournament will seek to capture the history of a tournament that changed world golf’s landscape as it offered the first $1 million first prize in the history of golf, won by Ian Woosnam in 1987.

Some of golf’s most celebrated names, including Woosnam, Bernhard Langer, Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Price and Ernie Els are among the tournament’s former champions.

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By George, the golf is great!

Golf Digest Middle East — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 22:05:49 +0000

If there is one thing that the quiet town of George in South Africa is known for, it is golf. And on top of its stellar list of places to play sits Fancourt, arguably one of the best golf resorts in the world.

By Tan Ju Kuang
There is much to hold in awe about South Africa. From the rugged mountains, through the bushveld that is home to Africa’s big five, to the long coastline highlighted by the southernmost point of the continent, South Africa is a majestic showcase of the beauty on our planet. And I haven’t even touched on the amazing weather and terrain that is so perfect for growing the nectar of the gods, grape.

That said, one of the best reasons to visit is to play golf. I had the fortune of seeing many of the country’s most beautiful courses over the years, and just this past February, was lucky enough to make another trip to play a few that I had missed. I would never have guessed that since then, the world would be turned inside out by a viral pandemic and all travel practically ground to halt.

Why would you then ask that I’m writing this piece? Though vaccines are slowly showing some efficacy in keeping the virus at bay, it will be some time before leisure travel is back to what it was before.

But it’s important to keep a positive outlook. Golfers, ultimately, are incorrigible optimists. We need to look forward to what will be again if only to manage the difficult times we are going through now.

The most famous of the three Gary Player designs at Fancourt hosted the 2003 Presidents Cup. Tan Ju Kuang

Well, George is as good a place to start if we’re letting our minds wander to a better time ahead. This town of just about 150,000 people is an hour’s flight from Cape Town may be best known as a jumping on point to explore the country’s famous Garden Route. But golfers should also know that it is home to some of the most breath-taking courses in the country as well.

No conversation about South Africa’s great courses can be made without a mention of Fancourt. Not only is it the home of the country’s number golf course, Fancourt Links, but its other course offerings, accommodations and facilities are second to none when it comes to luxury golf establishments.

So what makes Fancourt so special?

“The fact that we have three diverse courses on the estate makes us very attractive,” says Peter Dros, Marketing Director at Fancourt. “We also have a range of accommodations catering to different budgets – from the high-end Manor House, to entry rooms at the hotel. Our popular restaurants and spa experience further make us a great destination to never have to leave.”

There is more to Fancourt than just the hardware, of course. The property is sprawling, and the divine setting with its manicured landscaping, picturesque ponds, and age-old trees that frame everywhere you look make Dros’ claim of never needing to venture far from the resort a reality.

“Of course, all the other local Garden Route activities and experiences are easily available,” continues Dros. George is, after all, the gateway to the fabled Garden Route of South Africa, and offers a plethora of experiences this region has to offer.

But most people who come and stay at Fancourt come for the golf. In this regard, there are few resorts in the world that can exceed what this one has to offer. Gary Player’s three courses here give guests different experiences for starters.

The parkland Montagu layout is the toughest of the three courses at Fancourt. Tan Ju Kuang

“Our three unique courses – Fancourt Links, Montagu and Outeniqua – that have their own individual characters,” says Dros. “Golfers never feel as if they are playing the same shot twice while playing any of them.”

Fancourt Links is the most famous of the three, having hosted the 2003 President’s Cup where Ernie Els and Tiger Woods battled till darkness came. “Play a few rounds here and you’ll understand the beauty of the design, and appreciate the colossal effort in building such a masterpiece on land that’s far from perfect for golf,” continues Dros.

You wouldn’t have guessed if you play the Links. Each hole blend into the land seamlessly, and as true to its name, the bunkering and greens evoke the course’s spiritual brethren in places like Scotland and Ireland. But here, the weather is much better.

“The Links is a true test of ball striking with the onus on one’s approach shots. Leaving the ball in the right place on the green is the key to scoring well. The conditioning must compare with some of the best facilities in the world,” Dros attests.

Even though the Links is arguably the most sought-after one to play at Fancourt, both the Montagu and Outeniqua are equally enthralling. Montagu is noted to be the toughest of the three, demanding great accuracy off the tee. Like Outeniqua, it is parkland in nature, and as such, offer great changes in elevation with beautiful gardens and the omnipresent view of the Outeniqua mountains in the background.

For more casual or beginning golfers, Outeniqua would probably be considered the most friendly of the three, not to mention the one with the best views of the mountain range which it is named after. The open feel, especially from the tee, affords a sense of assurance that you won’t lose your ball so easily. However, the greens here are notably the sloppiest of the three courses so what it gives away in hitting the fairways, Outeniqua takes back in making it difficult for you to get the ball in the holes.

You can easily spend a week at Fancourt without hitting a single ball and still not get bored

The mark of a great resort is that it never sits on its laurels. Three years ago, Fancourt set out to improve all three courses.

“At the Links, we looked at the native scrub areas and put a plan in motion to mimic as far as we could, the Links courses of Scotland and Ireland but with a natural indigenous look and feel introducing fynbos and grass species found along the Garden Route,” offers Dros. “Small changes maintaining the course integrity have been introduced. We raised tee boxes on the 18th hole so that visually the hole is not so intimidating but aesthetically more appealing. Symbolically now one aims your final tee shot at the clock tower of the clubhouse making the shot very memorable.

“On The Montagu is where most of the changes have been made. So far there have been nearly fifty changes, with more to come. Some small changes like bunker alterations are done while maintaining the aesthetics.

Trees have been added in strategic places, bush removed returning the courses to traditional parkland look and feel and additional gardens added. Overall the concept was to make the course easier off the tee for the average golfer yet trickier into the greens. Natural water features have been moved closer to the playing corridor adding visual appeal and also taking advantage of the natural beauty of the area.

The same philosophy has been adopted on the Outeniqua, more trees defining tee shots and defining the overall look and feel of the parkland course, some news tees, less bunkers and overall a big step up in the attention to detail of the course conditioning.”

Even though golf is up front and centre at Fancourt, you can easily spend a week here without hitting a single ball and still not get bored. The Spa Pavilion is a haven of pampering and offers a wide range of therapies to soothe your entire body. If not, the indoor pool is a great place of sanctity to calm your spirit.

For the active, there are four swimming pools, four tennis courts, a gymnasium, gym studio, hiking, jogging and enough cycling trails to have you perspiring in more ways than you can imagine. Yet, if you belong more to the sedentary set, then the boutique, and hair salon may be more up your alley.

The younger guests is not forgotten at Fancourt too. The Teen Lounge offers young adults a place to chill and engage in their favourite activities, and the Kidz Club helps to keep the children busy so that you too can have a vacation.

A resort is nothing without offering its guests a wide array of dining choices. La Cantina’s all-day dining concept keeps you from getting hungry through the day. It’s breakfast spread is to-die-for. If you require something a little more formal, Henry White’s, located in the Manor House (home of Henry Fancourt White, the engineer after which the resort is named, built in the 1850s and restored to modern grandeur), serves South African and local favourites with a nice wine list. My favourite hang-out is The Club Lounge, the casual bar-cum-café designed like someone’s lovely living room with the addition of a large bar to conjure your favourite drink.

Built in the 1850s and restored to modern grandeur, Manor House was the home of Henry Fancourt White. Tan Ju Kuang

Fancourt is everything you’d want in a resort and more. You would imagine that given the lockdowns seen all over the world, it wouldn’t be so bad to be quarantined within the confines of this golf haven. We may not be able to make a trip there now, but we can look forward to brighter days ahead when we can actually make the dream of visiting come true.

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Top-level Courses in South Africa

Golf Digest Middle East — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 22:00:35 +0000

Photo by Mark Sampson

South Africa is a long way to go to play golf for most people. Thankfully, the country also offers many other great courses to choose from to make your trip worthwhile.

By Tan Ju Kuang
South Africa is one of the premier golf destinations in the world. Fantastic weather, beautiful topography, a great variety of luxury accommodations and a hospitality as warm as you’d find anywhere sets you up for a wonderful trip. But the ultimate attraction is the vast number of top-level courses that you can play. Here are just a few that you can’t go wrong with.

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Tan Ju Kuang

Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club
It has been more than 130 years since golf was played on the land where the club now sits. The actual entity only evolved in 1998 when the Royal Johannesburg Golf Club and Kensington Golf Club merged. Since then, the premier golf establishment in Johannesburg has been host to 11 Joburg Opens and numerous other top-level tournaments.

The East Course is considered the championship layout. Designed by Robert Grimsdel in 1939, the course still holds its own as a classic parkland design with holes framed picturesquely by trees. It underwent an upgrade in 2017 but still maintains much of its traditional charm. Bent grass greens and kikuyu fairway turf make for excellent playing surfaces. The relatively flat topography makes it a great walk as well. Most of the hazards come by way of small ponds strategically positioned or the numerous gorgeously appointed sand bunkers that influence your direction. At 7,001m, the East isn’t considered a terribly long course, but the challenges along the way will certainly keep you on your toes.

The West Course is the shorter of the two (6,225m), and considered relatively easier to play. Greens are larger here, but if you can’t keep your ball in play, the copious collection of trees, and water features will punish you. Designed by former greenkeeper Lawrie Waters, it is actually the club’s older course, having opened in 1927.

One of the lovely things about visiting Royal Johannesburg and Kensington is having a drink or meal on the terrace of the clubhouse. There is nothing overly flashy about the place, but the warm and friendly disposition of everyone here contribute to the experience of whiling away a quiet afternoon sipping your favourite drink under the shade of tall trees.

Though the place is known to be a private members’ club, visitors are allowed to play. You certainly won’t want to pass up on this if ever you’re in Johannesburg for golf.

royaljk.co.za

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Tan Ju Kuang

Leopard Creek
If you’re hoping to see wild animals when you’re playing golf in Africa, you’ve come to the right place at Leopard Creek. The club is located right inside Kruger National Park, and even before you get to the first tee, you’d likely see an elephant in the distance while walking to the clubhouse to register.

Opened in 1997, the course is typically available only to private members. However, access to the course may be obtained if you stay in one of the 15 five-star lodges found on the property. But catching a glimpse of one of the big five isn’t the only thrill you’ll have playing the Gary Player course at Leopard Creek.

Playing Leopard Creek is like no other experience in South Africa. The course is so tranquil and quiet, you can hear an elephant trumpet across the eponymously named creek separating it from the national park beyond. In fact, on one of the holes, you can look into the park and if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of some of Africa’s famed beasts drinking from the watering hole. Conditions on the course are remarkably pristine and the terrain typical of African bushland giving it a unique characteristic.

There was extensive renovations made between 2017 and 2018 where the turf grass was changed to Cynodyn. This grass that is endemic to the area is now found on all surfaces offering year-round playability, and long-term sustainability.

Members, guests and visitors have the privilege of enjoying the elegant clubhouse situated by the banks of Crocodile River. Having a cocktail at the bar watching the sun set is a remarkable occasion. As is shopping in the sprawling pro shop that offers a wide selection of Leopard Creek-logoed apparel and accessories.

One thing you should do is ask to see the collection of hickory clubs kept in storage. This preservation of heritage, the provision of exclusivity, and the splendour of the club’s location amidst the African Bush make Leopard Creek like no other on the face of this earth.

leopardcreek.com

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Mark Sampson

Pearl Valley Golf Estate and Spa
Not many golf resorts can pride itself on having Jack Nicklaus’ name on it, but Pearl Valley certainly can. The Pearl Valley Jack Nicklaus Signature Course here is a testament to the quality of not only the layout but the overall experience one will have here.

Built in 2003, Pearl Valley has gone on to win awards after awards. Recently, it was awarded the 2018/2019 Top Five Golf Courses in South Africa by Golf Digest South Africa. Given the high number of great places to play here, that is one accolade not to snuff at.

Of course, the truth is in the pudding and there is every reason you will enjoy your round thoroughly. There is not much of elevation change on this property located about 40 minutes from Cape Town by car, but Nicklaus’ use of indigenous bush, ponds and bunkers provide great movement on the holes requiring you to use a variety of shots.

You’d do well also to look up every now and then.

“The clever use of water through the course and the diversity of risk reward holes keep you interested and excited,” says Damian Wrigley, General Manager of Pearl Valley. “I also love that the beautiful back drops of the Simonsberg and Drakenstein mountain ranges which have been shown off as much as possible.

“Nicklaus’ brief was to make it one of a kind in South Africa, something truly special. Holes were not to blend into each other but to be a course that players would remember and look forward to playing again. This was certainly achieved in my opinion.”

No one would refute Wrigley’s belief. The course is highly playable and each hole is unlike the other. As you get from one green to the next tee box, the holes continue to introduce themselves with increasing pleasure, and all the time with the rugged skyline of the surrounding mountains framing your view.

Of course, you can take it that Pearl Valley is more than just Jack Nicklaus’ Signature Course. It is part of a large, high-end residential project that includes a hotel, restaurant and bar, a gym, tennis courts, as well as the full-fledge Camelot Spa. The property also includes conference facilities, making it an ideal, stand-alone venue for events.

pearlvalley.co.za

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Tan Ju Kuang

George Golf Club
George Golf Club may not be as famous or as luxurious as its neighbour, Fancourt, down the road, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less enjoyable to play. What it lacks in pizzazz and world-wide reputation, it more than makes up for with character.

The club’s origins stretch back more than a hundred years, but the course was only built in 1930, designed by CM Murray. The relatively short layout (back tees play to a 6166m) starts off humbly on relatively flat terrain, then the action begins after you make the turn.

From the 10th hole onwards, George takes you on a bit of a roller coaster ride. Holes dip into valleys, and climb towards uphill greens – some perch on a side of a hill. Water comes into play in a big way on the par-3 17th where a large pond fronts the small green on this 185m-long hole. The club says that it has been ranked as “the best par 3 in South Africa”, and we won’t be one to argue.

Beyond a course that is incredibly fun to play, there is something special about a visit here. “Firstly, we have a dedicated team of staff that are committed to make the whole experience a great one from the welcome, to presenting a great golf course in the best condition, to providing a relaxed and friendly atmosphere after the game,” provides Daryl Austin, Club Captain at George Golf Club. “We treat our visitors like members and all of this for the most value for money that golf can offer.”

The club also contributes to the game in more ways than offering golfers a wonderful place to play. “We have a very strong development programme which is run by one of our honorary members where young aspiring golfers of all cultures are taught the game and play nine-holes for free,” Austin adds. “We also encourage juniors to join our club at a very affordable rate.”

georgegolfclub.co.za

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Courtesy of Pinnacle Point

Pinnacle Point Estate
If drama is what you look for in a golf course, you’ve come to the right place at Pinnacle Point. Designed by Peter Matkovich with Darren Clarke, the property sits on the side of a steep cliff by the ocean in Mossel Bay, about half an hour from George. But this proximity implies nothing about the golf at these two locations.

Experiencing Pinnacle Point is a unique endeavour. Few courses around the world offers the kind of views afforded here. No less than seven holes line the ocean rock cliffs on this par-72 layout. And you’ll have the weather conditions to deal with in addition to some blind holes that you’ll need to entrust to your swing, and the winds that blow in from Antarctica.

There are no trees on the course, in its place are fynbos bushes that are characteristic of South Africa’s Eastern and Western Cape regions. On some of the blind holes, you’ll need to aim at mounds in the distance to guide your shots. Though this may not be some golfers’ cup of tea, it does add to the mystique of playing here. Just take it with a good sense of adventure.

On the holes where you can see where you should be going, getting there without losing balls may not be that easy. Holes 7, 8, 9 and 13 ask that you flirt with rocky ravines on your way to the greens, providing jaw-dropping vistas as well as a stern test of your resolve and swing. Whatever you do, bring lots of golf balls, and don’t forget your camera.

pinnaclepointestate.co.za

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