Cape Town and surrounds have some stunning rolling greens, which will make keen golfers flush with pleasure. We’ve compiled a list of the top 6 golf courses for you to tee up on.  

1 - Pearl Valley Country Club (Cape Winelands)

Photo Credit : www.redsandsgolf.co.za Pearl Valley, arguably one of South Africa’s most spectacular courses, also happens to be one of Jack Nicklaus’s most aesthetically appealing courses. With its vivid greens and fairways, crisp white sandy bunkers and stunning scenery, this is a golf course of visual note and more besides. The 500-acre golf estate is, additionally, surrounded by the majestic Simonsberg and Drakenstein peaks, with vineyards encircling it and the famous Berg River serving as a divider of the course, ensuring you’re well and truly blessed with the best when it comes to Cape scenery.

 

2 - Erinvale Country Club (Cape Winelands)

Photo Credit : www.erinvale.co.za Another beautiful estate is Erinvale. With the impressive Hottentot Holland mountains serving as its backdrop, this meticulously manicured championship course offers some of South Africa’s most exciting holes. With two separate nine holes awaiting you, this is a welcome challenge for any enthusiastic golfer. Once again, water and bunkers form a firm part of this estate’s make-up. Plus, there are putting greens, a practice chipping green and a fun driving range too! On the 15th hole and after you’ve mounted the hill, there, before your eyes, you will encounter the stunning view of nearby Gordon’s Bay. What about when you’ve hopped back into your golf cart and packed the clubs away for the day? Well then, you can enjoy a relaxing stay at the Erinvale Hotel.  

3 - De Zalze Country Club (Cape Winelands)

Photo credit: @mrmarketeer (Instagram) Designed by well-known golf estate architect, Peter Matkovich, De Zalze has indeed been placed on the local golfing map - thanks in part to its stunning setting and a course, which focuses heavily on golfing accuracy. It offers a memorable layout, complete with a series of tantalising challenges, especially in the second nine. Nearby, Blaauwklippen River - its river banks lined by majestic oaks - works its way through the country club, and occasionally features in the course too. If you’re brave enough for the challenge, the short, par-four 12th can be played from an island tee, over a stretch of water and a green, which allows for driving… if you can carry over the water, that is. Once you’re done on the 18-hole, par-72 course, make a stop at the estate’s famous Terroir restaurant and enjoy a tasty feast and glass or two of the good stuff in their signature Kleine Zalze wine offerings.

 

4 - Steenberg Golf Estate (Cape Town)

Photo credit: www.golfza.com This course was one of the first to make the Cape Town ranks. Surrounded by vineyards, this parkland course is found in the rich and famously historic Constantia Valley. Nearby, the Constantiaberg mountains watch over it from a protective, safe distance. Another worthy design of Peter Matkovihc, Steenberg offers trying, varied golf, with tee boxes even located amongst the vineyards. It also strongly incorporates the heathland’s natural sand banks and surrounding bodies of water. There are four distinct sections to Steenberg: wetlands, parkland, ‘Cape flats’ and fynbos - and with its five different tees, it is a course for one and all to enjoy, whether you’re pushing championship status or are simply aspiring towards the more junior ranks. As an added bonus, you can choose to combine your golfing experience with a delightful stay at Steenberg Hotel, which offers an excellent restaurant, spa and of course, as is only fitting, a great wine cellar too.  Photo credit: www.1golf.eu

 

5 - Atlantic Beach Golf Estate (Cape Town)

Photo credit: www.1golf.eu Situated in the sea-lying Melkbosstrand, with Table Mountain serving as a distant but breath-taking visual backdrop, this is indeed one of Cape Town’s most picture-perfect courses. Navigate its manicured lawns, favoured by indigenous fynbos bushes, and listen to the call of the ocean as you enjoy a great day’s golf and a breath of fresh, sea air.

 

6 - Royal Cape Golf Club (Cape Town)

Photo credit: @marktrevena (Instagram) As South Africa’s oldest course, the esteemed Royal Cape golf course, founded in 1885, has a strong sense of tradition and history and has played host to the South African Open on many occasions. Nestled beneath the shadow of Table Mountain, on a flat parkland, it is surrounded by beautifully aged trees and numerous dams. In fact, the water forms part of the 3rd to 5th holes, as well as the 14-16th ones. However, it is quite exposed to the elements, providing golfers with further challenges when the Cape Doctor blows. What’s more, its fairways are narrow, demanding accuracy off the tee and the greens are well bunkered, meaning that golfers must be bring their A-game if they wish to conquer this historic course. Conclusion: With these top six Cape estates within relative travelling distance from Cape Town, there’s no excuse for letting those clubs fall into disuse.