Golfers with a sense of adventure who value unique experiences have been flocking to South Africa in recent years – and for very good reason.
Combining exceptional courses with luxury resorts, the golf offering throughout the nation is renowned, but it’s what you can sample beyond that which makes it extra special.
Wine connoisseurs will relish the opportunity to explore the world-famous vineyards that surround Cape Town, while others will grasp at the chance to behold the incredible wildlife by embarking on a safari. The cuisine and culture here is also to be cherished – and that’s a formidable dish that keen travellers have found delectable to consume.
When you think of legendary figures such as Gary Player, Bobby Locke and Ernie Els, South Africans have contributed a great deal to the heritage of golf – and their nation is equally worth exploring.
Our travel partners Golfbreaks have a vast collection of packages and deals for you to choose from, showcasing a range of tours that offer something for everyone.
If you are intrigued by booking a golf holiday to South Africa – and we recommend that you seriously consider just that – then let’s take a look at what you need to know and what you could expect.
The Best Golf Courses You Can Play in Cape Town
Tucked away on the south west of the country, Cape Town is South Africa’s second most populated city after Johannesburg and it’s home to many fabulous golfing attractions. It’s a long flight here from the UK – but it’s accessible with many airports offering regularly scheduled journeys.
Recently declared 2025’s ‘Best City in the World’ by Forbes, this bustling metropolis benefits from a wonderful climate during the peak months of the year between September and March, and there are some terrific courses to play.
Royal Cape is South Africa’s oldest golf club and the history is palpable as you play a fine layout that boasts majestic views of Table Mountain and the city around you.
Arabella Golf Club rests between the Bot River Lagoon and the Kogelberg Mountains and is a visually spectacular treat that is one of the most revered in this part of the world, while the dramatic Erinvale Golf Club enjoys a stunning location, with Steenberg, De Zalze and Pearl Valley also worth playing.
The Best Golf Courses You Can Play in Durban
Switching over to the eastern coastline of South Africa, Durban is another picturesque location to discover, with its Golden Mile beachfront among the many highlights.
If you’re looking for somewhere to play golf, the impressive Championship Course at Durban Country Club has a lengthy story behind it and an impressive setting to accompany that history as the venue gazes out across the Blue Lagoon Estuary and the Indian Ocean.
Zimbali Country Club is another standout, designed by former Open champion Tom Weiskopf. Much of the course weaves its way into the indigenous forest, making it a dream environment to spot the local wildlife.
Playing golf here is a distinctive experience – and one to remember.
The Best Golf Courses You Can Play in Sun City
Located a few hours north of Johannesburg, Sun City is a resort that you will likely be familiar with as the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge is staged at the Gary Player Country Club.
This is a challenging layout, one that would test even the finest golfers, but that examination is one that many of you will find thrilling to take on, with the likes of the Cascades Hotel and Palace of the Lost City being your opulent accommodation options.
Elsewhere, you will love to play Lost City Golf Club, which has views of the bushveld and the surrounding mountainous landscape, with its most notable feature being the 13th hole, a par 3 that is home to a colony of Nile crocodiles that may consume any errant tee shot. Yikes!
The Best Golf Courses You Can Play on The Garden Route
Part of the southern coastline, destinations do not come more scenic than the Garden Route, which encompasses a vast region full of ocean views and lush forests. The golf isn’t bad either.
It’s here where you will encounter the legendary Fancourt Links, a former host of the Presidents Cup, which is thought by many to be the best golf course in South Africa. It’s not easy to navigate this testing layout – but it’s an unforgettable experience.
The same can be said of the glorious Simola Golf Course that was designed by Jack Nicklaus, with this fine creation featuring dramatic views over the Knysna Lagoon.
Pinnacle Point is a clifftop course with eye-catching visuals, while other Garden Route masterpieces include the coastal Pezula Championship Golf Course, the Ernie Els designed Oubaai Golf Course, the links-style Humewood Golf Club and another Nicklaus classic at St Francis Links.
Experience The Majesty of Leopard Creek
One of the most famous golfing hotspots in South Africa, Leopard Creek resides on many a bucket list, and it’s clear to see why.
Golf and nature come together seamlessly as this incredible layout is found within the breathtaking Kruger National Park, where there is potential to see elephants, hippos and even crocodiles from afar as you play from these immaculately presented fairways and greens.
This relationship between world-class golf and amazing wildlife make this a golf experience unlike any other.
Discover Unique Golf Tours in South Africa
We mentioned earlier that Golfbreaks offer a collection of bespoke packages that will help you to access the complete South African experience. The golf courses and luxury venues are just part of the appeal, as you will quickly discover.
You could start with the Garden Route Golf Tour, which spans 14 nights and ten rounds (including at Fancourt). You can explore Cape Town and drive along the magical coastline.
Those who enjoy the finer things in life will be keen to embrace the Cape Town & Winelands Golf Tour, across ten nights with six rounds, that features the chance to explore the wine region of Stellenbosch.
You could go whale watching or take a look around Table Mountain as part of the unmissable Cape Triangle Golf Tour, while the Western Cape Golf & Safari Tour, where you can enjoy two nights full board at Gondwana Game Reserve that includes the opportunity to see the “Big Five” of lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and African buffalo in their natural habitat.
Those who dream of seeing this wildlife will also be excited about the prospect of the Rovos Rail Golf Safari Tour. Undeniably the trip of a lifetime, you will stay on a luxury train, head out on safari drives, take a look around Eswatini, the Valley of 1000 Hills and the Drakensberg Mountains, with rounds of golf at Durban Country Club and the Gary Player Course at Sun City thrown in too. Wow! It surely doesn’t get much better than that.
What Makes South Africa a Must Visit
There is so much to recommend about a golf break in South Africa. The hotels are exceptional, the courses both exciting to play and delicious to behold, but it’s the attractions beyond those essentials that separate this nation from most others.
Whether it be safari or vineyards, magnificent coastlines, thrilling cities and mountainous peaks, every golfer will find something extra here to love that will make their holiday a trip they won’t forget in a hurry.
South Africa is epic in scale and intimate in terms of hospitality. There is nowhere else quite like it.
Kieran Clark is the Digital Editor of Golfshake. He oversees editorial content, community engagement, forums, and social media channels. A lifelong golfer from the Isle of Bute in Scotland who has now lived in St Andrews for a decade, he began playing at the age of five and maintains a passion for exploring courses, with a particular affection for historic layouts. Kieran regularly contributes in-depth opinion pieces and features, drawing on his enthusiasm for the game and its culture.
