Beside South Africa's pristine beauty, other features within our midst are the world class golf resorts and spas.

While a big city wouldn’t seem a likely golf destination, we take a look at golf courses in and around Jozi and the Mother City.

They offer a great golfing experience and secondly a wonderful time out for that special person in your life - after all big city life does mean first-rate hotels, restaurants and not forgetting the shopping malls or the excellent nightlife.

Little known to some of you but the greater Gauteng area boasts more than a third of the top 100 courses in South Africa.

The River Club - also referred to as the Augusta National of South Africa

This private members only course is located in suburban Sandton – visitors can only play as a guest of a member. One of the best conditioned courses in South Africa, it is exceptionally well manicured in a parkland setting.

Signature Hole: The course has a tremendously strong finish over the last six holes, and the best of these is the dogleg 16th, a long par 4 where a water hazard lies just short of the green.

Members only: Privately owned
Location: Sandton, Gauteng, 011 783 1166

Royal JHB & Kensington - ranked in South Africa’s Top 50

This course is one of South Africa’s great classic parkland layouts and formerly a regular venue for the SA Open. There are two courses, the East and West. Both have been modernised and altered in recent years to enhance its rolling valley setting.

Signature Hole: Royal East has two of the longest par 4’s in world golf, No’s 10 and 11, which measure a combined total of 931 metres. Both plunge downhill and the 11th is an excellent hole.

Visitors Green Fees: Affiliated R200 (Mon, Tues), R240 (Wed – Fri), R280 (Sun)
Non Affiliated R440 (Mon – Fri), R500 (Sun), Sat members only.

Cart Fees: R170
Designers: Bob Grimsdell (1935); Mark Muller (1998)
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, 011 640 3021

 
Glendower Golf Club - winning territory for Vijay Singh

This is a formidably long championship course off the back tees. It is set in a beautiful nature reserve and has a gentle undulating layout. The stream running through the property also comes into play on many holes. It has hosted three recent SA Opens, the last one in 1997 won by Vijay Singh.

Signature Hole: The par-five- 2nd hole is an excellent challenge for any level of golfer. The tee shot carries a dam to a hidden fairway, and a stream runs alongside the left side of the hole past the green.

Visitors Green Fees: Affiliated (week) R240 (men), R190 (ladies), R120 (students), R80 (jnr); Affiliated (weekend) R270 (men), R240 (ladies), R210 (students), R180 (jnr); reduced rates for guest of member;

Non Affiliated: R400
Cart fees: R170
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, 011 453 1013/4

The Western Cape has much to bring to its golf courses in terms of scenery.

Arabella Golf and Country estate - avoid playing beach golf

A championship venue in a magnificent setting alongside the Bot Lagoon that will defiantely test the best of golfers. But it’s also very playable for the average hacker, having a fair amount of room. The splendid scenery is a feature of the round. Note well, this is both a resort and an estate course.

Signature Hole: The tough and scenic par 3 17th hole alongside the lagoon requires a precise tee shot to a narrow green. Miss the green right and you guaranteed to play beach golf.

Visitors green fees: Affiliated R546; Non Affiliated R650; Hotel residents R480
Cart Fees: R230
Course Designer: Peter Matkovich
Location: Kleinmond, Western Cape Tel: 028 284 9383

Pearl Valley and Spa - enjoy Jack Nicklaus's top creative form

This is the second Jack Nicklaus signature design to be opened in South Africa, in 2003. Nicklaus was in top creative form in laying this out on a flat property between Paarl mountain range and the Berg River. Tremendous design, well bunkered, very fair for all levels of golfer, (unless you have my skills), that asks for top class approach shots.

Signature Hole: Two of the most visually attractive and challenging holes, the 7th and 8th, both par 4s; have been built around a large dam.

Visit green fees: Affiliated and Non affiliated R695
Cart fees: R210
Designer: jack Nicklaus
Location: Franschhoek, Western Cape, 021 867 8000

Erinvale Golf Course - World class golf

Host of the 1996 World Cup of Golf, this is an estate course of two distinctly different nines. The front nine is on the flat, while the back nine climbs up the lower slopes of the magnificent Helderberg Mountain, with breathtaking views of coastline from the top holes.

Signature hole: Your biggest test comes on the par 4 17th that swoops downhill. You play from an elevated tee, with tall pines flanking one side of the fairway, an out- of-bounds fence the other.

Visitors Green fees: Affiliated R350; Non affiliated R595
Cart fees: R215 (no caddies)
Designer: Gary Player Design Co
Location: Somerset West, Western Cape - Tel: 021 847 1144

Folks this may not be the PGA courses we see on supersport, but be assured these golf resorts are world class.

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