by Jerry Martin
Natural Golf Director of Travel
Your Tour Guide to South Africa
In 2006 I escorted a group of Natural Golfers for a 20 day tour to South Africa. As well as enjoying great golf, we discovered why South Africa’s natural beauty and wildlife leaves its visitors mesmerized, why it’s possible to afford its luxury and why it’s the golf and natural adventure capital of the world. The friendly people, rich culture and yes, great golf made this the unforgettable trip of a lifetime. Read on about our journey, one that changed us beyond our expectations. We started off in Cape Town, Mother City of South Africa, and the Western Cape, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful regions in the world. We took the tram to the top of the impressive Table Mountain, from which vantage point we could view the Twelve Apostles mountain range and the beautiful city spread out around us.
We played golf at Erinvale and Pearl Valley in the Winelands of Stellenbosch which is topographically similar in many ways to Napa Valley, California. Of course we did do a day of wine tasting since we had a ‘designated driver’, so a good time was had by all. Next we drove along the Garden Route, a scenic stretch of the southern coast of South Africa. It includes towns such as Mossel Bay, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay and the town of George, home to the famous Fancourt Golf Resort. We stayed a few days to play the Links Course, home of the 2003 President’s Cup and the beautiful Montagu Golf Course.We also enjoyed a ride on the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, South Africa’s last remaining passenger steam train along the ocean en route to play yet another great golf course, Pezula.
Similar to Pebble Beach, close to the ocean up on a cliff, the big difference is on Pezula there are baboons that come and take your golf ball!
Leopard Creek – an Incredible CourseFrom the ocean to the jungle, we then had the privilege of playing Leopard Creek, which is one of the most incredible golf courses in the world. Some parts of the golf course sit alongside Kruger National Park. The views are wild, to say the least. With crocodiles in the water between the ninth and 18th greens, and with the 13th green sitting about 50 feet above the bed of the Crocodile River, it was quite an adventure. We were the only group out that day. It was like having our own private country club. To continue reading more of this article go to: www.moenormangolfacademy.org/magazine/february08/southafrica.aspx
