9 minute read
The Garden Route – A perennial favourite golfing destination
from The Garden Route
The 200 km stretch of coast which connects Mossel Bay to the Storms River Mouth is generally referred to as the Garden Route in reference to its enthralling diversity of wide sandy beaches, lovely lakes and lagoons, shady evergreen forests and Protea-studded slopes. It is also home to 11 golf courses, some of which are amongst the best in the country.
With mild to warm summers and mild to cool winters it is the ideal region in which to play golf. In fact it has the mildest climate in South Africa and the second mildest climate in the world, after Hawaii, according to the Guinness Book of Records.
The main gateway to the Garden Route is George, a modern city with an airport that is connected to Cape Town and Johannesburg by regular scheduled flights, and has all the usual car rental agencies. It is also possible to drive along the well-maintained 430 km N2 between Cape Town and George in 4-5 hours. This is your ultimate South African golfing road trip, start planning yours now…
Mossel Bay Golf Club “See the Sea from Every Tee”
Mossel Bay Golf Club was founded in 1905 with the original golf course positioned at the old aerodrome. The land on which the present course was built was made available to the Club by the Mossel Bay Municipality in 1924. The course was designed by Bob Grimsdell and was built over a period of two years.
During 1999/2000 the golf course was redesigned by Danie Obermeyer and rebuilt by Philip Basson. This happened as the result of the vision of a developer, Mr. Urs Windholz, who developed The Mossel Bay Golf Estate on the land surrounding the golf course. His vision included the rebuilding of the golf course and revamping of the club house to create a very upmarket, golfing facility.
Further renovations were done to the club house during the course of 2019 and it now of a standard where it can easily hold its own against the best in the country.
The club is a people’s place with a strong membership base of 850 active golfers, they do in excess of 45 000 rounds annually which is no surprise as this is a must play course on the Garden Route. It is a challenging yet user friendly par 72 layout with excellent bent grass greens. Springbok and other wildlife are in abundance on the course.
Mossel Bay Golf Club is currently home to Martin Vorster and Jordan Duminy, two up and coming golfers who have already represented South Africa on The International stage.
Facilities:
• Chipping & Putting Greens • Restaurant & Function facilities (150 people) • Fully stocked Pro Shop
Driving range – Pro for lessons in attendance Newly upgraded members bar & restaurant Best pizza’s in the Southern Cape
Louis Oosthuizen - Mossel Bay’s Favourite Son
Born in the small country village of Albertinia (50 klm outside of Mossel Bay) on 19 October 1982, Lodewicus Theodorus “Louis” Oosthuizen came from humble beginnings. Louis grew up on a farm in a tennis-playing family, his father and brother both having achieved at provincial level, but it was golf that ultimately won his heart. At the age of nine, Louis decided golf was his future, often spending his time at Mossel Bay Golf Club.
Excelling as an amateur player on Provincial and National levels, he caught the eye of Ernie Els who from 2000-2002 supported his early career through the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation.
During his amateur career, on 12 December 2002, Louis shot a round of 57 (15 under par) on the Mossel Bay Golf Club course. This would be a pivotal moment for the rest of his career. Between 2000 and 2002, Louis won several amateur titles, including The World Junior Championship in Jamaica. He won the Open Championship in 2010 and is currently ranked 18th in the world.
Oubaai Golf Course
In designing the Oubaai Golf Club, an 18-hole championship golf course and driving range, Ernie Els and his team have taken full advantage of the spectacular landscape of the Western Cape. They had the support of Nicklaus Design as technical advisors.
The Clubhouse has a dramatic location that overlooks the 16th, 17th and 18th greens. Open-air terraces offer panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and the Gwaing River valley. The course itself has been sculpted in accordance with the landscape, ensuring that the surrounding environment is enhanced and not hindered.
The Ernie Els golf design philosophy is based on flexibility. In addition, golf courses fairly display challenges and hazards while affording players the opportunity to use a full range of shots and plan strategically for individual holes.
Oubaai Golf also offers a full service practice facility including driving range, and two practice putting greens. The golf practice facilities at Oubaai are among the best in the Garden Route and include a large driving range, putting green and short-game area, all complimentary with your round of golf.
The Garden Route on South Africa’s south-eastern coast is, undoubtedly, one of the most breathtaking regions in the country. Known for its lush, green forests surrounding the coastal towns that are artfully scattered along the coastline, and a plethora of indigenous fauna and flora, the sheer natural beauty of the region is unmistakable.
It’s here where you’ll find the equally gorgeous and awe-inspiring Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa and it’s Championship Golf Course in the picturesque seaside town of Knysna.
Whether you are a golf aficionado or not, you’ll be able to appreciate the stunning, Championship course at Pezula Golf Club. Hailed by many as one of the most beautiful golf courses in the Western Cape, Pezula Championship Golf Course has also been named among the Top 20 South African Golf Courses for 2020 by Golfer’s Digest.
With accolades pouring in, it seems that 2020 will truly be a special year for Pezula Golf Club. The club is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, and with it, offering members and non-members some seriously special packages.
The popular stay-and-play packages are specifically designed to cater to those looking for a luxury getaway and round or two (or three?) on the spectacular Pezula Championship Golf Course.
While it is the in-your-face, jaw-dropping beauty of the Championship Course that first grabs your attention, the course is, so to speak, not just a pretty face. Elevated high on the Eastern Head of Knysna, the course offers challenging holes with strongly contoured greens and ample bunkers.
Challenging, yet rewarding, the Pezula Championship course will be a dream to play for players of any level - even if it’s just to take in the magnificent views around you.
And while the golf course certainly contends to be a scene-stealer on the Pezula Estate, the equally gorgeous Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa shines brightly in its own right.
The beautiful, all-suite hotel encompasses the beauty of the surrounding nature from every angle. From the lush, green gardens that surround the hotel, to the on-site nursery, Koi fish ponds and Kol Kol bath; Pezula perfectly orchestrates the harmonious marriage of nature and luxury.
With an award-winning spa, Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa offers utter relaxation at its finest. Specially designed, African-inspired treatments will leave any person taking a turn at the spa in a complete state of tranquillity.
Zachary’s Bistro, Pezula’s on-site, gourmet restaurant, specialises in creating mouthwatering dishes inspired by the area and prides itself on using only the freshest, local produce - some even grown in Pezula’s own nurseries.
However, it’s not just the on-site activities that make a trip to Pezula oh-so-worth-it. Knysna and the surrounding towns are a hub of exciting activities, from fine dining hotspots (did someone say Knysna oysters?!) to enlightening cultural experiences and drop-dead gorgeous beaches - including the famed and mystical Noetzie Beach.
In essence, Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa and the beautiful Pezula Championship Golf Course is not only a feast for the eyes but a place to rejuvenate, re-energise and excite the soul.
Africa’s first Jack Nicklaus designed golf course
Indulge in five-star, luxury accommodation, warm service and great golfing in Knysna, at the heart of South Africa’s Garden Route. Simola Hotel Country Club and Spa is the ultimate leisure, golfing and residential destination.
Surrounded by breathtakingly natural beauty, the uniquely elegant Simola Hotel Country Club and Spa stands sentinel over the town of Knysna. Offering discerning guests sophisticated accommodation and contemporary comfort, the hotel and restaurant overlook the Simola Golf and Country Estate and the exclusive Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the first in Africa to be designed by the Golden Bear himself.
Aside from jaw-dropping views from just about every hole, the golf course features spacious changing rooms, chipping and putting green, driving range, pro-shop, golf carts and halfway house.
On the border of the Knysna forest, Simola is less than 7km from the centre of town and the world renowned Knysna estuary. Its convenient location makes it the ideal base from which to explore the rest of the Garden Route.
An 1,800 hectare lagoon, kilometre after kilometre of sandy beaches, the brooding Outeniqua Mountains, the famous – and mysterious – Knysna forests, and the 160,000 hectare Garden Route National Park (the only unfenced national park in South Africa).
Knysna has many other attractions to offer, too: excellent dining, trendy shopping, probably the top contemporary art gallery in the country, and a rich and varied selection of events and festivals that celebrate culture, sport, and the good life. The area also offers unique animal sightings and experiences, a multitude of outdoor and adventure activities and, of course some of the continent’s best golfing.
