| Golf Holidays | ||
| Good to know - Visitors Information | ||
| A Golfers Paradise | ||
| For the golf enthusiast, the sheer richness in diversity and the high quality of golf courses make South African a wonderful golfing destination. Almost all year around, the country boasts an ideal climate for spending time out on the fairways under the bright African sun, and golfers here are blessed for choice of many world-class courses in a wonderful variety of stunning settings. If you enjoy the challenge of a coastal course, there is an amazing selection available, if you prefer playing at altitude, where the ball flies that much further, the selection is just as good. And where else can you play a round of golf in the morning with warthogs as spectators and join a "Big 5" safari in the afternoon? Value for money is another draw card. The moderate visitor fees make a golfing holiday in South Africa accessible to most and the good infrastructure ensures you reach your selected courses as planned. | ||
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| When to Travel | ||
| Peak season in the Western Cape is in summer (December to April) and days are warm and dry. Weather patterns improve from late September into October and November when winter rain subsides. December to February offers the golfer longer daylight hours and hot, clear weather. This time of the year, a south-easterly wind blows in the Western Cape during mid-morning and dies down late afternoon, providing additional challenges to the golfer. February, March and April usually offer the most perfect weather for play. Winter has special qualities of its own, as even in the rainy season, the days are mild, clear and usually wind-free. Courses are lush, green and a joy to play. Nuweveldberg and Stormberg ranges. | ||
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| Where to Play | ||
| Today there are over 400 golf courses to choose from and South Africa has produced a number of golfers of the highest calibre, including Gary Player, Bobby Locke, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, major winners all. The leading courses are generally located in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, with a few gems sprinkled throughout other parts of the country. The majority of these compare favourably with anything the world has to offer. The difficult part is deciding which courses not to play and how much golf you want to sacrifice in order to build some sightseeing into your programme. The great thing is that sightseeing and golf really go hand in hand unless you want to play 36 holes every day. | ||
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| Handicaps & Greenfees | ||
| There is usually no handicap required unless you want to enter a competition. Greenfees can be paid with all major credit cards, but it is advisable to book in advance, as popular golf courses can be quite crowded especially during the holiday season and many golf courses have reserved a day or afternoon a week for their members only or local tournaments. Your hotel or guest house hosts will kindly assist you with your booking. | ||
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| Dress Code | ||
| Players must generally be tidily dressed, so T-shirts must have sleeves and collars, short pants are allowed, jeans are not allowed. It is strongly recommended to wear good shoes and a hat to counter the effects of the sun. Certain clubs have a strict dress code for the clubhouse. It is advisable to bring a jacket and tie, if you want to eat or drink in the dining room /main lounge, but usually there is a terrace-type bar, which is less formal. | ||
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| Halfway House | ||
| It is customary to break your round of golf after nine holes at the "halfway house" for a drink and a sandwich - perhaps even breakfast. You are advised not to by pass the halfway house as this may upset the golfers playing in front of you. |
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| Caddies | ||
| Caddies are readily available at all the courses and in some cases are compulsory. Speak to the caddie master regarding the caddie fee - approximately R 75 (10€), the standard of caddie which you would like and the tip a caddie expects at the end. The caddies are often graded and a good caddie will assist you with club selection and in reading the greens - not just merely carrying your clubs and helping you find lost balls! You are advised not to leave valuables in your golf bag. |
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