African Golf Holidays
Often overlooked as a golfing destination, Africa has so much to offer the golf enthusiast. South Africa, in particular, is fast becoming one of the world's premier golfing destinations.
The African continent offers you the chance to play world class courses in magnificent locations with green fees a fraction
of the cost of those in Europe. Variety is what it's all about. Here is the opportunity to play your favourite game, enjoy
a superb safari and stunning Indian Ocean Beaches
all in one unique holiday.
Why book your Golf Holiday with Mahlatini?
Here at Mahlatini we are very passionate about Golf. With two team members, Greg and Chris, specialising in South Africa Golf Holidays we have a vast amount of knowledge and experience organising tailor-made golf trips throughout South Africa. Read our golf specialists profiles below and contact us to arrange your own perfect golf holiday to South Africa.
Gregory Fox
Greg was born and raised in South Africa and started playing golf at the age of 4. He is a member of the Bryanston Country
Club in Johannesburg, Southbroom Golf Club on the South coast of KwaZulu Natal and now Clandeboye Golf Club in Northern
Ireland. Whilst studying at the University of Cape Town, Greg represnted the University playing fairly competitive
golf, he now plays off a more comfortable handicap of 6! Golf has always been Greg's passion and working in golf
now gives him an opportunity to spend even more time doing what he loves!
"South Africa is one of the best kept secrets in golf and is fast growing into one of the world's premier destinations.
The fantastic courses and exotic locations provide a unique golfing experience found nowhere else in the world. Perfect
golfing conditions, the vast and natural beauty of South Africa's countryside together with the diversity of different regions
and courses all play a part in providing the golfing experience of a lifetime."
Favourite Course: Durban Country Club and the Wildcoast are all right up there but I have to give it
to The Gary Player Country Club in Sun City. Players course is an absolute gem and a must for all those on a visit to South
Africa.
Best Moment: Hole in one on the 4th at Bryanston Country Club aged 11
Christopher Goldring
Chris is a member of
Clandeboye Golf Club in Bangor, Northern Ireland where he plays off a handicap of 7. Chris is a regular visitor to South
Africa and everytime he visits he tries to spend as much time as humanly possible on the golf course. "The condition, layout
and scenery of the courses throughout South Africa and in particular along the Garden route are unbelievable. My top choices
on the Garden Route include Fancourt, Pezula, Arrabella, Pinnacle Point and St Francis Links.".
Favourite Course: Pezula Golf Course
Best Moment: Driving the green and sinking the putt for an eagle on the signature Par 4 14th hole.
Golf Holidays in South Africa
With its thrilling championship courses, the internationally acclaimed Sun City Resort has to be the county's most famous golfing destination. The challenging Gary Player
course at Sun City is host to the Nedbank
Challenge. Backed up by the equally impressive Lost City course with its unique club house and the unforgettable par three
13th complete with resident crocodiles - the final resting place for hundreds of golf balls! Most visitors combine Sun City
with a visit to the Cape region. The Cape Town golf courses offer an extensive range of options to be enjoyed whether in
and around the Cape Peninsula, along the West Coast or among the Winelands. Variety is definitely the chief attraction to golf in Cape Town. The courses generally have a distinctive look, from parkland to links, and they
nearly all enjoy superb vistas. The lush green
Garden Route stretches from Hermanus, just East of Cape Town to East London, one of the most beautiful stretches
of coastline in the world. Mountains crowd close to a shoreline dotted with beaches and bays, tall indigenous forests and
amber coloured rivers. In 2005 seven of the garden route golf courses were ranked in the top 20 golf courses in South Africa including the Links at Fancourt, Arabella, George, Humewood, Pezula, East London, and Fancourt
Outeniqua.
For the ultimate challenge Leopard Creek Country Club is a must. Bordering the Kruger National Park, this Gary Player designed course has used innovative landscaping
techniques; lakes and streams have been diverted through the site to create scenic vistas and interesting golf strategies.
The resident hippos and crocs add a new dimension to golfing hazards!
KwaZulu Natal province is affectionately known as the Golf Coast of South Africa. It is here you will find Durban Country Club, which takes its turn hosting
the South African Open. The dunes and its proximity to the beachfront give the course a distinct links feel. As you travel
along the north coast you will find splendid estate courses such as, Zimbali, a Mahlatini favourite, and Prince's Grant.
Golf in Mauritius
With its crystal clear waters and palm fringed white beaches
Mauritius is widely known as a honeymoon and beach destination but it is fast becoming a serious golfing destination.
Here's an overview of our favourite courses.
Belle Mare Plage has two
impressive courses. The Legend was designed by South
African champion, Hugh Baiocchi, located along one of the most superb beaches on the island. Each of the 18 holes
has distinctive characteristics. Superb fairways are laid in the heart of an indigenous forest, culminating in brand new
greens, built to USPGA specifications. Whilst the Links is an 28 hole, par 71 course designed by Rodney Wright and Peter
Allis.
The course at Golf du Chateau was designed to be accessible to a wide range of golfers, its stunning setting on 100 acres
sandwiched between rolling hills and the ocean make it one of the islands most scenic locations.
Ille aux Cerfs Golf Course was voted tenth in the World's top one hundred courses by Golf World Magazine. This is an incredible
course on the small offshore island of Ile aux Cerfs, all 18 holes have views of the sea. The space limitations of playing
on such a small island make this a challenging course. The club house has an impressive restaurant and bar.
Golf in Kenya
Kenya is the perfect destination for the golf traveller, you can easily combine a golfing holiday with a first class safari
and/or relaxing on a stunning tropical beach. Nairobi is a fascinating
city which is traditionally used as a stopover before or after a safari activity, this modern cosmopolitan city is surrounded
by verdant forest and rolling hills. There are seven 18 hole golf courses within a 20 mile radius of the city. The Royal
Nairobi Golf Club was established in 1906 and hosts some of the country's most prestigious events. With a back drop of the
beautiful Ngong Hills, this is one of the country's most
scenic courses. The Windsor Gold and Country Club has one of the best championship courses in Africa, the Sykes monkeys
offer an unusual golfing hazard! The Karen Country Club is a must play, this delightful course is next to house of Karen
Blixen in the colonial suburb of Karen.
The course at Mount Kenya Safari Club straddles the equator and is the only place in the world where you can tee off in the
Northern hemisphere and putt out in the Southern. Despite the fact that this is a 9 hole pitch and putt, composed entirely
of par 3 holes, it is absolutely brutal. While the course is laid out on one of the most beautiful and serene settings in
Africa, you have to be very accurate. The water hazards are many and coupling with the splendid views of Mount Kenya from
virtually every hole on the course with the variety of flowers and birds decorating it, the golfer is sure to leave Mt.
Kenya with lasting memories.
The soft white beaches and the calm blue waters of the Indian Ocean are the ideal spot for relaxation and there are two challenging
courses of note. Nyali is a gently rolling course with a mixture of right and left doglegs and small fairway bushes, strong
winds make it challenging. Nyali has become the Grand Finale of the Golfer of the Year tournaments and also the Kenya Breweries
Festival.
Leisure Golf Club is the only golf course on Kenya's south coast, on
Diani Beach. And is certainly one of the country's most challenging. The finishing hole is a 547 yard par five dogleg, with
a lake with live crocodiles planned for it. This course is certainly not for the weak-hearted.