As you might have already learned from the pages of our blog, golfing is extremely popular in George. The reasons are many. To begin with, the climate allows keeping the grass green with minimum effort throughout the year. On top of that, the terrain is quite favourable for creating first-rate golf courses. In addition, you have fascinating scenery with the beautiful mountains and the majestic ocean uniting to create a breathtaking atmosphere. Let us not forget the stunning nature with lush vegetation, which is home to many rare and unusual species.
With all that in mind, there is no wonder that George has become the home to some of the continent’s finest golf resorts. To be honest, a few of them are qualified to rival even the best courses in the world. In the article below, we will learn about the top destinations for golf lovers around George.
Fancourt’s The Links
Fancourt Estate’s The Links is a private club, which has been repeatedly rated as South Africa’s number one golf course and for a good reason. Before we proceed to tell you more about the club, let us just mention that it has also ranked 56th in the Golf Digest US edition’s list of the world’s top 100 greatest golf courses. This is a tremendous success given the fact that the list has reviewed and rated 464 courses from 18 countries around the entire world including:
- Royal County Down, North Ireland
- Royal Melbourne, Australia
- Oakmont, USA
- Muirfield, Scotland
- Tara Iti, New Zealand
- And more.
The Links’ design can be hardly surpassed. It was created by golfing guru Gary Player, who pinpointed it as his greatest masterpiece ever. The landscape mimics dunes, with a windswept effect and alternating heights. If you are wondering how players navigate across the undulating terrain, we must disclose that there is a handy detailed stroke saver. It measures the distances and delivers images to help you maintain the quality of your play.
However, Player was not the only one who designed the course. It came to life as a result of the joint efforts of him and two other golfing visionaries, Phil Jacobs and Fancourt owner, Dr Hasso Plattner. It is interesting to note that the design was inspired by the famous Links courses of the British Isles.
The golfing world was quick to embrace this amazing golf course, and throughout the years, it has become the home to many famous world tournaments. The 2012 Volvo Golf Champions European Tour, the SA Open (2005), and the Presidents Cup (2003) have been just a small portion of the top-class competitions that have taken place at The Links. The course regularly hosts some of the biggest names in the sport like Branden Grace, Ernie Els, John Bland, Justin Rose, and Retief Goosen.
The Links is also celebrated for its exclusivity, privacy, and hospitality. However, this is not all. The golf course has played an essential role in advancing sustainability across the region. The management has worked hard to tackle topics like preserving the wildlife, optimizing water conservation, habitat management, extending outreach and education, as well as many other pressing issues.
Fancourt – Golf Estate (Montagu/Outeniqua)
The Montagu/Outeniqua Golf Estate is another one of Fancourt’s golfing gems. We will begin by exploring Montagu, the more challenging course designed by Gary Player. It has been recognized as one of the most exquisite 18-hole parkland layouts across the globe. At home, it ranks 5th on South Africa’s Top 100 Courses chart.
As we already mentioned, the Montagu Golf Course offers a highly challenging terrain. However, the experience is unforgettable. You will get to savour long tracks of undulating terrain boldly spread across the original landscape. As is the case with The Links above, you will have at your disposal an advanced stroke saver to help you make your way around.
In addition to all this, you will be able to take advantage of the warm-up and practice areas as well as other extras found at premium-level golf courses. And all of it amidst the beautiful nature of George and the Fancourt estate!
In its turn, the Outeniqua golf course offers a slightly less demanding terrain but equally intriguing experiences. If you are off to have a fun, relaxed, and leisurely golfing experience, this is the right course for you. In addition, the Outeniqua is perfect for playing with friends, as it can comfortably accommodate large groups of golfers. The design’s author is again Gary Player.
Oubaai Golf Club
This spectacular golfing ground boasts a classic Links layout and is South Africa’s first Ernie Els signature course. It is conveniently nestled between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean and offers plenty of intriguing challenges.
In terms of design, the creator company, Ernie Els, is a golf course design enterprise created and entirely owned by Ernie Els. If there is anyone out there still unaware of who this person is, let us just say that Els is the winner of a record seven World Matchplay titles and Major Championships.
Going back to design, the Oubaai Golf course displays key components taken from Els’ victories throughout his professional career. The beauty and the intricacy of the course have not remained unnoticed. It was voted ‘Best Golf Resort in South Africa’ at the CNBC African Property Awards 2007. The venue was also chosen to host the Vodacom Business Origins of Golf Grand Finale 2010. More recently, the Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort & Spa was crowned as Luxury Golf Resort of the World at the 2012 World Luxury Hotel Awards.