Property and Golf: South Africa's top 10 golf courses for 2023

Golf is one of the most popular pastimes for wealthy South Africans, along with art collecting, wildlife safaris, cycling, fishing and horse riding. As a follow up to this year’s Africa Wealth Report, the South African wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth have reviewed the top golf courses in South Africa for 2023. 

These courses all score strongly in the following areas (rating criteria):

• Location, views, nature and scenery.
• Memorability of course.
• Condition and maintenance of course.
• Clubhouse, change rooms and halfway house facilities.

Our top 10 SA golf courses for 2023 include: 

Fancourt Links:

The Fancourt Links is a beautiful links course located on the Fancourt Estate near George. It hosted the 2003 Presidents Cup, which was one of the most memorable tournaments in SA golfing history. It is a very challenging course to play, with deep bunkers, long grass rough and tricky winds.

This classy home is located at the exclusive Links Ridge with panoramic views of the majestic Outeniqua Mountains which are just out of this world. From the time you enter the gates to this property, it caters to every whim for a loving family. The beautiful wooden front door takes you into the entrance hall and open plan dining, kitchen, lounge and family entertainment area with built in barbeque.

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Highland Gate:

Highland Gate Golf Course is located in the Steenkampsberg mountain range near Dullstroom. The course is very unique as it is located right inside the mountains, making it one of the most picturesque golf courses in the country. The clear mountain streams around the course are something special, as are the evergreen fairways.

This five bedroom, six bathroom home in Highland Gate Golf and Trout Estate, offers ultimate privacy and comfort, ensuring a restful night's sleep for you and your loved ones. The top-level entertainment area is perfect for hosting intimate gatherings, featuring a built-in braai and a wood-burning fireplace that creates a cosy and inviting atmosphere for quality time with family and friends.

 

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Gary Player Country Club at Sun City:

Perhaps the most well-known golf course in South Africa. It has been host to the world famous ‘Millionaire Dollar Golf Challenge’ (also known as the Nedbank Golf Challenge) for the past several decades. Previous winners of the tournament include all-time greats such as: Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Nick Price and Ernie Els. Legendary Zimbabwean golfer Nick Price won the tournament three times and famously beat Tiger Woods in a playoff there in 1998.

Steyn City:

Steyn City Golf Course is arguably the best kept golf course in the country - the fairways, dams and greens there always appear to be in near perfect condition. The clubhouse and change rooms are also world-class, as is the indigenous vegetation and scenery.

Leopard Creek:

Leopard Creek is similar to the Gary Player Country Club in terms of its general look and feel. It is very exclusive and is particularly popular among affluent golfers. It is located right next to the Kruger National Park and overlooks the Crocodile River.

Zimbali:

In our view  Zimbali Golf Course has surpassed Durban Country Club as the premier golfing destination in KwaZulu-Natal. The coastal forest and vegetation on the course & estate is especially impressive. The estate is also a bird lover’s paradise – it is home to several types of kingfishers, woodpeckers, louries and even the rare Crowned Eagle is a resident, one of Africa’s Big 3 Eagles.

This spacious light filled open plan three level home in Zimbali Golf Course is in a class of its own with its panoramic views of sea and forest, you can see forever. Five bedrooms and five bathrooms upstairs with an amazing outlook, whilst the bottom level comprise a two bedroom flatlet and entertainment area.

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Pearl Valley at Val de Vie:

Pearl Valley Golf Course features beautiful mountain backdrops and attractive wasteland bunkers. It is located on the world-renowned Val de Vie Estate in the Cape Winelands, situated between Paarl and Franschhoek. The estate is ranked among the top lifestyle estates in the world.

Glorious views from this immaculate home on the 18th fairway of the award winning Pearl Valley Golf Course. Perfectly balanced with wide open spaces and luxurious comfort, this grand home is perfect for any family who enjoys entertaining.

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Pinnacle Point:

Pinnacle Point’s spectacular location and design makes it the “Cypress Point of South Africa” with several holes bordering the cliff line. Located in Mossell Bay on the Garden Route.

One of the few single level houses in Pinnacle Point Golf Estate. An architectural masterpiece with just the best in finishes. Warm home with ample natural light. The house offers large open spaces that flows with ease throughout the house, the property is not only aesthetically pleasing but very functional in its layout.

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Fancourt Montagu and Outeniqua (tied):

Both of these courses are exceptionally well maintained, with lovely mountain backdrops and beautiful water features. They are both located on the Fancourt Estate near George.

The Lost City Golf Course at Sun City:

The desert style Lost City Golf Course is known for its beautiful indigenous bushveld and large wasteland bunkers. Many of the tee-off points there are elevated which makes the course especially interesting to play (especially from the back tees).

 Click here to see the full Africa Wealth Report detailing wealth, luxury and HNWI trends in Africa.

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