The tour began on Tuesday 1 October, with a group of early arrivals heading to the beautiful Montagu course. Nestled in the lush landscapes of the Fancourt estate the Montagu offered a relaxing warm-up before the official tour commenced. Later that evening, everyone gathered at La Cantina for the opening dinner which gave members the opportunity to discuss the upcoming trip and for some to get to know others they hadn’t yet had an opportunity to meet during their time at the club.
On Wednesday, the group made their way to Simola, a breathtakingly scenic but challenging course. Known for its steep, undulating fairways, Simola’s carts-only policy was a relief for the golfers as they navigated the dramatic hills. The course proved a demanding test for all players with limited run on the fairways making the course play longer than it seemed. Despite the difficulty, the group still enjoyed their experience at Simola and it was a great way to commence the first official round of the trip.
Thursday brought the group to Pinnacle Point, one of the most picturesque courses imaginable. Perched along the cliffs of Mossel Bay, the coastal views rivalled the skill required to conquer the course’s demanding layout. The famous 7th hole was used as an opportunity for Pam and Hugh Hamilton to offer out golf balls given to them for the trip for their wedding anniversary and respective birthdays. All players had to use this ball on the daunting 115m par 3 over a cliff… some balls found land, whilst others found the depths of the Mossel Bay coast. The golf gods won the battle on this day, however the group remained resilient and ready for its next challenge.
Friday took the group to The Links at Fancourt. The golf course famed for hosting the 2003 Presidents Cup, in which member Stephen Leaney played a key role. The Links is currently rated as the number 2 course in South Africa! The course was a brutal test not too dissimilar to that of Royal Adelaide from the Back tees. The courses sinking dune landscapes and subtle placement of bunkers made everyone think about where the next ball needed to be played from. All members walked off the course at The Links with big smiles as you could tell that they knew they had just played one of the best courses in not just South Africa but the world.
The weekend began with a scenic drive to Cape Town on Saturday with a brief stop in local town Swellendam for lunch, where the tour would transition from golf to exploring Cape Town’s many attractions. On Sunday, the golfers headed to Pearl Valley Golf Club designed by Jack Nicklaus. Pearl Valley turned out to be a standout course amongst the group, with lush green fairways, and true greens giving every member the opportunity to put a good score on the board requiring they missed all the water strategically positioned around the course. Post-golf, in celebration of Margaret Banks birthday, the group headed to the delightful Rupert Winery, sampling some of South Africa’s finest wines and food.
Monday was a day of sightseeing, with a trip to the iconic Table Mountain and a peaceful visit to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, offering a break from the intensity of the courses.
On Tuesday, the group embarked on a new adventure, flying to Lukimbi Safari Lodge for an exhilarating game drive. The thrill of spotting wildlife in their natural habitat was a refreshing contrast to the greens and bunkers of the previous days and a great opportunity to relax and unwind. The wilderness continued to enchant with a 5:00am game drive on Wednesday morning and a 4:00pm game drive in the afternoon. The game drive splits gave the members much needed rest time where they could enjoy viewing the wildlife straight from their room and pool. The evening culminated in a special fire dinner under the stars, where the group were treated to music and a dance from the staff at Lukimbi. Thursday followed a similar rhythm, with the same game drive setup as the previous day. The group had a final dinner at the lodge before mentally preparing themselves for the test that was to come.
Friday led the group to the prestigious Leopard Creek Golf Course currently ranked number 1 in South Africa, which borders the famed Kruger National Park. The course had recently been renovated in preparation for a European tour tournament being held at the club in December. The renovations didn’t dampen the spirits of the group as they all took it in their stride. The course offered some scenic views of the Kruger National Park amongst the sloping fairways and greens. It’s fair to say the time off golf assisted quite of a few of the group as the scoring dramatically improved. Post golf, the group boarded the coach and made their way to dinner at Oliver’s situated at White River where they would rest for the night in prep for the long driver that awaited them on Saturday to Sun City.
On Sunday, the group played the legendary Gary Player Course, one of the most famous courses in the world. The course is set to host the Nedbank challenge in December and the grandstands were getting all prepared giving members the feel of tournament golf, some may have even used the stands to their advantage. The course offered another good test to all players and proved a great last course for the final official round of the tour. That evening, the farewell dinner was memorable yet sombre affair, as all were in realisation that this amazing trip was coming to an end. Before the dinner was over the group was serenaded by the amazing Lizzie Hughes in a lovely way to end what has been an amazing two weeks in South Africa.
By Monday, the tour wound down. For some, there was time for an optional 9 holes before people began traveling home or onward to their next destinations, leaving behind unforgettable memories of South Africa’s landscapes, wildlife, and world-class golf courses, one that those on this tour will never forget.
