George – The Golfing Mecca of the Garden Route

Index:

• George Golf Course • Fancourt Montagu • Fancourt Outeniqua • Fancourt Links • Kingswood Golf Course • Oubaai Golf Course • Short Golf Courses

With breathtaking views and spectacular scenery, the Garden Route and the Southern Cape coastal regions lend themselves to many pleasures, both man-made and natural.

Dotted throughout the Garden Route and along the Southern Cape Coast are hidden gems to be discovered by the adventurous golfer who is looking for a total golfing experience – that perfect blend of design, scenery, weather and challenge.

Successfully hosting the President’s Cup in 2003 has put George and the Garden Route firmly on the international map of world-class golf destinations.

Here is a short overview of all the courses in George, this will give you an idea of which course is more suited to your golfing abilities, so if you are a scratch golfer, or like most of us a social golfer who believes they can be scratch golfers, you will know exactly which course will suit you best. Even if you don’t chose the right course, the Garden Route is such a beautiful area that even if you walk further than you should, the beautiful scenery is bound to keep you captivated and bring you back to this Golfing Mecca.

George boasts 5 of the top 50 golf courses in South Africa!

George Golf Course

This densely wooded course is a favourite with the local market because of its scenic setting and impressive layout. The course feels as if it has been carved out of a forest but the fairways are a generous width, so only wayward shots end up in the trees – the perfect setting for holiday golf. George Golf Course is highly ranked by legend professional Gary Player and is the perfect golfing experience for both the low handicapped golfers as well as the Sunday golfers. One of the oldest courses in South Africa the Clubhouse is a unique experience and will definitely be enjoyed by all.

Fact File

Visitors allowed: Yes (Not Wed & Sat)
Spikes: Soft spikes only
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Length:
Championship, 6162 metres
Club, 5862 metres
Ladies, 5204 metres

Green Fees

Affiliated visitors R 280
Non- affiliated visitors R 380
Price of golf cart R 200
Caddie fee R 120
Clubs for hire R 200

Contacts

Telephone no (Pro Shop): +27 (0)44 874-7597.

For Golf Bookings, please call +27 (0)44 873 6116.

e-mail address: info@georgegolfclub.co.za

website: www.georgegolfclub.co.za

Fancourt Montagu

The Fancourt Montague

Since opening in 1991, Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate has established itself as one of South Africa’s premier Golfing & Leisure Resorts of championship proportions and immaculately maintained greens. These Gary Player designed courses are demanding but fair test set in beautiful surroundings. The generous fairways and fast bent grass greens give a taste of the type of course, which is popular on the US tour.

The Montagu golf course is a world-class layout that is always in an excellent condition. It is situated in spectacular surroundings that take in magnificent mountains and interesting wild life. The course has been ranked as the top course in South Africa a couple of times. Golf at the Montagu course is a true test of your golfing ability in beautiful surroundings.

Fact File

Visitors allowed: Tuesday – Sunday
Spikes: Soft spikes
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Length:
Championship, 6284 metres
Club, 5981 metres
Seniors, 5652 metres
Ladies, 5147 metres

Green Fees

Affiliated visitors: R 690 ( Must be booked in at Hotel )
Non- affiliated visitors: R 690 ( Must be booked in at Hotel )
Price of golf cart: R 290
Caddie fee: R 175 ( A grade ) R 150 ( B grade )
Clubs for hire: Yes

Contacts

Montague Street, Fancourt Estate, George

P.O. Box 2266, George, 6530, RSA

Fancourt Outeniqua

The short par four, 4th, will keep big hitters guessing.

The Fancourt Outeniqua Golf Course is cleverly designed and presents a challenge to golfers of all levels. The course took shape under Gary Player and was officially opened in 1991. It is named after the mountain range that runs alongthe Garden Route coast of which it enjoys magnificent views. Like its neighbour the Montagu, the golf course is in magnificent condition all year round. The short par four, 4th, will keep big hitters guessing whether or not to go for it and face the risk of the waterway that dominates the right side of the green and fairway, or play it safe and lay-up. Fancourt Outeniqua. Since golf at Fancourt is limited to members, their guests and hotel guests, the golfer wll have ample time to play at his own pace and take in the golfing experience that is Fancourt.

Fancourt Outeniqua took shape under Gary Player and was officially opened in 1991.

Fact File

Visitors allowed: Always welcome
Spikes: Soft spikes only
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Length:
Championship, 6320 metres
Club, 5996 metres
Seniors, 5601 metres
Ladies, 4893 metres

Green Fees

Affiliated visitors, R 690 – Must stay at Hotel
Non- affiliated visitors, R 690 – Must stay at Hotel
Price of golf cart, R290
Caddie fee, R175
Clubs for hire, Yes

Fancourt Links

Hosts of the 2003 Presidents Cup, 2005 Womens World Cup and 2005 SA Open

The Links is a fantasy world. The rolling, endless humps, hollows and surrounding dunes in this green moonscape isolates one from the prevailing environment as a player faces up to the challenges presented by a timeless golf course. The layout follows an ‘ebb and flow’ type challenge to the golfer. A few very demanding holes are often followed by a more forgiving hole. The direction of play varies constantly. This makes the challenge of the wind more interesting. This course is beautiful, but if you are a higher handicapped golfer this will prove a great challenge, it is however something that you have to do, the experience provided at the links is world class. Even if you do end up losing a dozen of your golf balls, the scenery is amazing, and it truly does feel like you are in a different country all together.

The Fancourt Links

Fact File

Visitors allowed: Limited to 16 hotel guests per day
Spikes: Soft Spikes
Holes: 18
Par: 73
Length:
Championship, 6930 metres
Club, 6477 metres
Ladies, 5721 metres
Senior, 5205 metres

Green Fees

Affiliated visitors: Limited hotel guests ( 16 ) per day only @ R1500.
Limited hotel guests ( 16 ) per day only @ R1500.
Price of golf cart: Walking course only. Cart only by medical certificate @ R 220.
Caddie fee: Caddie is compulsory p/p @ R150 (includes lunch for the caddie)
Clubs for hire: R250 per set

Kingswood Golf Course

Perfectly placed between Fancourt Links and George Golf Course at the heart of the Garden Route’s golf hub.

Kingswood Golf Course

From its perfect blend of design and scenery, to its temperate weather, you’re certain to find Kingswood’s Championship Golf Course a unique challenge, and one you’ll want to take up again and again. Kingswood is a Sally Little signature golf course designed by Danie Obermeyer, and together they have created a masterpiece of exciting challenges for all golfers. Little has put a female footprint over the male master plan with a variety of tee boxes making the course accessible to players of all levels. The greens however are lightning fast, so be prepared, the fairways are more forgiving, so it is a great blend of tricky short game and more forgiving long game.

Designed to blend in with the lush background of the Garden Route, Kingswood Golf Course is an altogether unique 18-hole challenge. You’ll notice that a ‘links’ theme is prevalent throughout, manifested in a number of special touches. This magnificently set golf course is a prime example of using the natural indigenous beauty of the area to provide a competitive game that is challenging to the skills.

Fact File

Visitors allowed: Yes
Spikes: Soft spikes only
Holes:18
Par:72
Length:
Championship,6286metres
Club,6020metres
Seniors,5685metres
Ladies,4973metres

Green Fees

Affiliated visitors: 18 Holes R 300, 9 Holes R 175
Non- affiliated visitors: 18 Holes R 475, 9 Holes R 295
Price of golf cart R 220
Caddie fee No caddies
Clubs for hire R 200

Oubaai Golf Course

Oubaai Golf Course is proud to be the first Ernie Els signature course in Western Cape. The golf course design allows for a challenge to all levels of golfer and is a testimony to the talents of South Africa’s favourite golfing son.

Oubaai Golf Course

Located approximately 10km from George Airport on the coastline of the Garden Route near Herolds Bay, Oubaai Golf Course is a championship layout. It is rated by Els, a two-time winner of the US Open and a British Open title-holder, as one of his favourite courses in the world. This unique course is has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and offers a golfing experience for all types of golfers, it does however become very tricky when the wind picks up over the sea. So pick your day out at Oubaai carefully. Come rain, wind or brilliant sunshine the golfing experience at Oubaai is not to be missed.

Scenic Oubaai Golf Course

Fact File

Visitors allowed: Yes
Spikes: Soft spikes only
Holes:18
Par:72
Length:
Championship 6516 metres
Club 6066 metres
Ladies 4783 metres
Senior 5165 metres

Green Fees

Affiliated visitors R 600
Non- affiliated visitors R 600
Price of golf cart R 150
Caddie fee N/A
Clubs for hire R 100

Short Golf Courses

If you do not feel like walking to far, or just want to work on your short game, George has some very unique and very well maintained Mashie Courses (Short Golf Courses).

Three Chameleons Short Golf Course

In the heart of the Garden Route and built underneath the splendid Outeniqua Mountains. Many believe it to be the best maintained and conditioned short golf course in South Africa. Each individually designed 9 holes, offers a variety of water features and hazards to make it an interesting and challenging layout. It has three par 4’s and the total length of the course is 2400m.

It is also an ideal starter course for youngsters and beginners who are often intimidated by a big course.

It is a fun day out and the greens are in great condition.

Glenwood Short Golf Course

At the entrance to George, this is also a very well maintained short Golf Course, situated right next to the driving range it is an opportunity for you to work on your short game after hitting a couple of long drives down the range. Prices are very reasonable. This short course has a great view of the Outeniqua mountains and if you can’t get a 4 ball on one of the 18 hole championship courses, second best might become your premier option.

Golfing in the Southern Cape has become more and more popular, and with some of the best courses in the country and the magical surroundings it is no surprise that we have developed so many top golfers. Louis Oosthuizen a member at Mosselbay, and one of the students at Ernie Els & Fancourt foundation at Fancourt has already won a major by winning the Open Championship in 2010. Another golf super star coming up the ranks is South African Ladies Golfer, Lee-Ann Pace who topped the European order of merit last year.

All of this is because of the golfing Mecca that the southern cape has become, so if you aspire to become a top golfer or just love the game, there is no other place in the world that offers you so many different and top class courses all at your doorstep.

Article by Gareth Menton