Golf

Westlake Golf Course, photo courtesy Aubrey Kilian

Cape Town and the greater Western Cape Province offer golfing enthusiasts some of the most majestic and scenic championship-status courses in South Africa. Cape Town’s golf courses are highly rated in terms of setting, layout and quality, while the Western Cape’s wide variety of unique top-rated golf courses is guaranteed to meet the needs of any golfer visiting the Cape, irrespective of handicap.

Choose one that fits into your travel itinerary and enjoy the natural beauty of the Cape as you chip a few down some of the greenest fairways the country has to offer.

The Mowbray Golf Club is recognised as one of the best in the country, having hosted all major local amateur championships. The course is set at the foot of Table Mountain and is renowned for its breathtaking views, lush fairways and immaculate greens.

Visit Mowbray for a memorable game of golf, then relax with friends as you look out onto the 18th hole from a comfortable lounge.

Mowbray has hosted the South African Open seven times and the Bells Cup on three occasions. Many of the world’s biggest names in golf have played this course, including Bobby Locke, Norman von Nida, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros, Vijay Singh, Nick Faldo, Lee Trevino and Ernie Els.

If a more established course tickles your fancy, take a drive down to Fish Hoek to the Westlake Golf Club to try your luck on the greens.

Established in 1932, the club boasts an 18-hole, par-72, 5 700m parklands course that blends old-world charm with modern amenities.

Westlake is one of Cape Town’s premier courses. It promises golfers an easy walk along an interesting course lined by towering trees, and quite a few doglegs. From the first-tee box to the 18th hole, every step affords panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

Closer to the city centre – 10 minutes’ drive from it, in fact – you’ll find the Rondebosch Golf Club, which has an 18-hole course that’s rated as a “must-play” in the golfing fraternity. With magnificent views of Devil’s Peak and Table Mountain, the course is a popular choice for local and foreign visitors.

Since its establishment in 1911, the club has built a solid tradition, which is upheld by its strong membership. Continued development and beautification has ensured that the course maintains its excellent condition all year round. It remains a challenge to the serious golfer, but is user friendly for the less experienced.

Rondebosch has hosted seven consecutive Sunshine Tour events, two professional ladies’ European Tour events and the South African Ladies’ Amateur Open. The river that winds through the course provides a challenge to the players and is home to a variety of birdlife, including cormorants, kingfishers, ducks and egrets.

For those who prefer to leave all the organising to the experts, you could use the services of a professional tour operator. Visit our list of tour operators specialising in golf to make a selection of one that piques your fancy.