Golf cources in KwaZulu Natal

Amanzimtoti Golf Course, Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu Natal: Golf Course Road, Prospecton, (Durban, South Coast). A 20-minute drive down the coast from Durban. Visitors are almost always welcome and the club management say 'Toti' is a slicer's paradise because many of the holes favour the shot hit from left to right.

As fading and slicing are the most common faults among beginners, Amanzimtoti is clearly a good place to start golf once some work has been done on the practice tee, that is. Nevertheless, better players will also enjoy a round here, as the course is invariably in good condition throughout the year, and the last three holes provide an interesting and fairly tough finish, especially in the wind.

Bosch Hoek golf course in Balgowan (close to Howick) KwaZulu Natal / Golf courses in Durban und KwaZulu Natal: Bosch Hoek Golf and Country Estate in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands must qualify as one of the most picturesque layouts in the country. The estate is conveniently positioned at Balgowan near Howick, just a four hour drive from Johannesburg or a leisurely one and a half hour drive from Durban.

The Course: The course measures only 5 840 metres, certainly on the short side when one considers that Bosch Hoek’s elevation above sea level is about 1000m.   The layout is rated a 68, but with the pins hidden away and the grainy cynoden greens speeded up, this would be a tough task for the scratch player.  More importantly, no matter what the novice or expert golfer scores here, the round will certainly be one to remember.

Cathedral Peak Golf Course, Winterton, Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal: The Cathedral Peak Hotel opened this scenic golf course on the 13th January 1996. Set against a majestic mountain backdrop the challenging 9-hole golf course has been termed the "thinking golfer's" course.

Cathedral Peak Hotel's immaculate 9 hole golf course offers alternate tees for an 18-hole game. The new club house boasts rest rooms, lounge area, pub and a terrace with spectacular mountain views - the perfect 19th hole. The length of the course is 5542m and the course is graded a par 70.

Champange Sports Resort Golf course, Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal: Situated in the Central Drakensberg at Champagne Sports Resort this course has recently been extended to an 18-hole layout designed by Huch Biaocchi. The backdrop of Cathkin and Champagne Peaks makes it one of the most scenic courses in the country and it is a fair challenge for the low handicapper as well as being "playable" by the occasional weekend golfer.

The Course: The course is there to be enjoyed - it’s fairly open but with many hazards. The perfectly manicured kikuyu fairways are generously wide and boarded by light rough and many varieties of trees. This is not to say that the course is easy though - the 84 bunkers that line the fairways and guard the bent grass greens will punish misdirected shots. Water hazards are prominent and the course becomes especially tricky in the wetlands.

Teeing off on the signature first hole is both thrilling and daunting. This par-five monster hole measures 605 metres, making it not only the longest hole on the course, but also in South Africa. The elevated tee stands taller than the clubhouse and your drive will have to carry over the Strekspruit Ravine and rough to the fairway far below. The green is around the corner of a dogleg left where two bunkers come into play.

Durban Country Club Golf Course, Durban, KwaZulu Natal: 101 Walter Gilbert Road, off NMR Avenue, Durban: The Durban Country Club boasts 2 championship course; namely the Durban Country club course and the Durban Country Club Beachwood Course.

Opened in 1922, the Durban Country Club is said to be one of the best golf courses in South Africa (ranked #4 in 2004) and is acknowledged to have the best third hole in the world, has hosted the S.A Open championships 14 times. With its dense bush, indigenous trees and undulating fairways it is hard to believe that this spectacular championship course is actually situated in the centre of Durban.

Situated along the shores of the Indian Ocean, this semi-links course has been carved into the dunes. The course is both scenic and demanding and to score well you have to play well. Strong onshore winds that blow through the valley don’t help.

The Course: Extremely challenging to the most skilled golfer, the course will be enjoyed, but rarely mastered. Elevated tees and greens are guarded by an array of tropical bushes, tall trees and large bunkers. This, together with the narrow fairways and steep slopes make for a challenging course. This is not a golf course where you come to learn the game of golf! The Durban Country Club is definitely geared towards the more experienced golfer.

A particular talking point is the par 5 third - it is rated the best third in the world. Playing from a high tee to a narrow fairway with dense bush and a predatory bunker on the left hand side you’ll see why it is the most popular hole on the course.

Durban Beachwood Golf Course, Durban, KwaZulu Natal: 101 Walter Gilbert Road, off NMR Avenue, Durban: The Durban Country Club boasts 2 championship course; namely the Durban Country Club Course and the Durban Country Club Beachwood Course.

The Course: Beachwood Country Club - as it was known before - has now become The Durban Country Club Beachwood Course and is part of Durban Country Club lying about 2 km north of DCC. Although it borders the Indian Ocean, Beachwood does not quite have the accentuated undulating fairways so common to Links courses, especially those of the Country Club Course

Barring the par 3 second, all the fairways run parallel to one another in a N-NE / S-SW direction. The sixth and ninth fairways both have a dog-leg left to consider whereas the other fairways are all straight. There are 41 bunkers around the greens, and 33 fairway bunkers waiting for wayward shots. Four of the holes are blessed with water features and most fairways are lined with trees.

The course was taken over by DCC a few years ago and underwent some refining and alterations to bring the course closer to championship standard - offering the discerning golfer an alternative challenge at Beachwood. An interesting aspect of the course is that it lies at the southern end of Virginia Airport - mainly for small commercial aircraft, private flights, training flights and helicopters - adding an element of excitement to see these small aircraft take off and land directly overhead.

The Western perimeter of the course is lined with private homes bordering the course boundary, but none of these is part of the course, and as such out of bound balls are difficult to recover. For the weekend adventurist this course is a very good challenge to the handicap, for the fairways are narrow and long, and require precision tee shots and lay-ups. The course is maintained with the same diligence and care as that of the Country Club Course.

Empangeni Golf course, KwaZulu Natal, Südafrika: 46 Pearce Crescent, Empangeni : This is a 18 hole golf course with a driving range.

There are golf carts for hire and a Proshop on the grounds. Golfing competitions are held every Wednesday and Friday.

Glengarry Country Club Golf Course, Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal: Drakensberg Gardens, Underberg: Glengarry Golf Course is tucked away in the Drakensberg, truly a golfers delight.

Glengarry Golf Course does not have a driving range however a practise tee is available. It also does not have a Pro shop but you can purchase balls and tees from the clubhouse. Glengarry Country Club is open everyday of the year.

Kloof Country Club Golf Course, Kloof, Durban, KwaZulu Natal: Situated in the verdant hills of the mist belt of Kloof, close to Durban, Kloof Country Club is an attractive parkland course with beautiful trees that define the holes, it is severely undulating. Being set high in the hills inland from Durban, it's a welcome cooler retreat in summer from the humidity at the coast.

The Golf Course: Regarded as one of Natal's finest. Kloof Country Club is set to test even the most talented golfers. Each of the 18 holes has a unique character of it's own and integrates the natural beauty of the area with some challenging hazards. All of the greens are constructed to U.S.G.A. standards and are seeded to Penncross bent grass which does well in the cool Mist Belt climate. Well earned refreshments are available in the conveniently situated Halfway House.

Signature Hole: The 14th is a dramatic long par 4 that plummets down a steep hill, with the green perched on the edge of a kloof falling into the valley below.

Margate Country Club Golf Course, Margate, KwaZulu Natal: Wingate avenue, Gayridge, Margate. Margate golf course game may appear to be easy at first, don’t be lulled into contentment; this is an extensively challenging course!

The Margate country Club was upgraded in1995 and has been transformed into one of the finest golf courses on the Indian Ocean Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Margate Golf and Country Club is now included in the Golf Digest rating of the top 100 courses in South Africa and attracts golfers from all over the country and an increasing number of overseas visitors. The coastal area is sprinkled with several top quality courses and golf estates, and Margate is a match for them all.

The Country Club enjoys an enviable reputation for its friendliness and hospitality. A warm welcome awaits you. It is conveniently located 3km from the sea and town center and is close to the Margate / Uvongo off ramp on the N2 Freeway / Toll Road.

The large well designed Pro Shop is equipped with all the necessary golf equipment and clothing. Golf timesheets are available so all you need to do is phone / e-mail to book your starting time. Touring groups, societies and Corporate golfers are especially welcome and catered for. Golf carts and caddies are available.

The Course: The course is set on high ground decorated throughout with Palm trees, banana trees and indigenous vegetation. There's a feeling of space, with excellent inland views. A delightful course to play, with water features and natural beauty enhancing the pleasure and challenge for every standard of golfer. The bent grass greens are superb, and five Par-3s are striking, picturesque and highly regarded.

Maritzburg Country Club Golf Course, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal: Duncan Mckenzie Drive, Pietermaritzburg. 18 holes, par-71, rating 70, 6 115 metres. The course opened in 1933.

The Course: It has lush, smooth cynodon greens; pine trees line many of the fairways and water hazards feature on seven holes; numerous bunkers; very hilly course with beautiful scenery; excellent test of golf.

Professional and a clubhouse which offers light snacks and has a dining room. The club offers tennis, squash, bowls and swimming facilities

Monks Cowk Golf Course, Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal: Cathkin Valley, Winterton, Central Drakensburg: Named after the Monks Cowl outcrop on the nearby mountain range, the Monks Cowl Country Club offers the chance to play its scenic golf course against wonderful views of the Drakensberg.

The course is 9 holes, with 18 tees. It is generally level and the 5th hole, which crosses the deep gorge at Hattingspruit, is accessed by a swing bridge. The fairways are planted with Kikuyu, and the greens with Cynodon dactylon.

Mount Edgecombe Country Club Golf Course 1, Umhlanga, KwaZulu Natal: Mount Edgecombe Country Club consists of two championship courses - Mount Edgecombe One and Mount Edgecombe Two. Both these courses have their own clubhouses. The Mount Edgecombe’s Course One, formerly the Hullets Country Club, was redesigned by Hugh Baiocchi and incorporates a residential estate in an ecologically maintained environment. This is one of the few courses in South Africa designed to USGA specifications.

The Course: Character Parkland layout with many exotic trees, formerly known as Huletts CC, until converted to a residential estate in the early 90s. Begins with four shortish holes, then builds in strength right to the finish.

Signature Hole: There are three special holes that constitute the course's "Amen Corner" from the 14th to 16th, where water hazards come into play. The first one is a par 5 with water guarding the green, followed by a par 3 across water, and a par 4 where a dam must be carried to reach the fairway.

Mount Edgecombe Country Club Golf Course 2, Umhlanga, KwaZulu Natal: Mount Edgecombe Country Club consists of two championship courses - Mount Edgecombe One and Mount Edgecombe Two. Both these courses have their own clubhouses. Mount Edgecombe Two's Club House overlooks the Pani Dam where, if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the resident fish eagles.

The Course: New course opened at the end of 1997, very undulating and different from the No 1 course, with indigenous bush in places, although it also has its share of imposing water hazards. Has its own small clubhouse overlooking the Pani Dam where fish eagles can be spotted.

Signature Hole: The ninth is a long and narrow par 4 that has water all along the left side of the hole, and thick bush on the right.

Port Shepstone Golf Course, Port Shepstone, South Coast, KwaZulu Natal: Main South Coast road, Port Shepstone. 18 holes, par-72, rating 69. The fairways, which are mainly covered with Buffalo grass, are fairly wide and are generally in an excellent condition. The putting surfaces are country club grass and the rough is kept short on a flat but picturesque layout, with three holes (7, 9 and 10) right next to the river.

Driving range and a practice tee. There is a clubhouse which offers light snacks and has a dining room, tennis, squash and bowls facilities.

Prince's Grant Golf Course, Stanger, North Coast, KwaZulu Natal: With panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, this development has been designed to capture the gracious colonial life-style of early Natal. The course architects, Matkovich & Hayes, designed the course to present challenges similar to those of traditional links course in Scotland, and the unsheltered fairways mounds and well shaped bunkers are reminiscent of the fabled links courses of Great Britain.

Set out on a magnificent tract of indigenous Natal coastal bush 75km north of Durban, Princes Grant Golf Course Estate and its magnificent Club House are the jewels in the crown of the Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa. The golf course is situated on the Kwazulu Natal North Coast, the course is in the vicinity of Stanger.

The Course: Prince's Grant Golf Course rates in the "top twenty" of South African golf courses and certainly one of the country's very best coastal courses, golfers will be assured of a truly memorable golfing experience. The par -four 12th which can be extremely challenging, is less than 300m from tee to green. This hole is a good example of a challenging, very short par -four. Bunkers and thick bush demand an exacting tee shot and approach from the golfer. The superbly contoured green requires precise judgement with the putting blade.

Signature Hole: The 15th, the signature hole is an excellent par -five with superb views 60km all the way down the coast to Umhlanga. This fairway, which runs parallel to the sea, is overlooked by many of the private homes that are built on this estate, all with commanding views of the course and the surrounding magnificent countryside.

Club Regulations: Appropriate golf attire is required. Golf Union And Home Club Membership Cards required. No Handicap Required Unless Entering Competition.

Royal Durban Golf Course, Durban, KwaZulu Natal: 16 Mitchell Crescent, Durban. Flat but interesting championship course within the confines of the Greyville horse racing track, and close to the city centre. Several holes border on the racetrack on the opening nine, so don't come to Royal with a slice.

The Course: This course is one of the most demanding golf courses in the country. At first glance it looks easy with its flat layout and lack of trees, but there is little protection from wind and that can mean a difficult game.

Signature Hole: There's a good balance of holes, short and long, and one of the most exciting par 4s is the ninth, just 279 metres from the back, with a green placed between a large tree and perilously close to the rails of the racetrack.

Sakabula Golf course, Howick, Natal Midlands, KwaZulu Natal: Off Underberg Road, Merrivale, Howick: Sakabula Golf Club and Sakabula Country Estate is a unique combination of agricultural smallholdings around a delightful 18-hole, par 73, golf course in a scenic rural environment.

Sakabula Golf Club, situated in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands, is an 18 hole, par 73 course consisting of two very distinct and different 9 holes. The first 9 holes traverse an undulating valley providing breathtaking scenic views over the Drakensberg Range. The second 9 holes wind along a stunning natural watercourse and wetland area with numerous dams. The two 9's are so interestingly different in character and challenges that the golfer can experience what normally could only be found on two different golf courses.

Sakabula Golf Club has several interesting features including a large indigenous paperback thorn tree that stands on the 14th green. The long 500 metre par 5 at the 5th hole, all uphill, is considered a real test of stamina by many golfers. The 10th hole tee start is managed by a traffic light that is manually switched back to green by the golfer as he clears the area that was unsighted from the tee box.

San Lameer Golf Course, Southbroom, South Coast, KwaZulu Natal: The San Lameer golf course is situated on the Durban South Coast and is rated one of the top 30 South African golf courses. (Rated 28 in 2004). Opened in 1922 the course is situated on the largely unspoiled South Coast of Kwazulu-Natal. Fashioned out of the dense coastal bush and set in a nature conservation area with its rich bird life; San Lameer is a nature lovers paradise. Designed by Peter Malkovich and Dale Hayes, the course features lots of water and magnificent views.

The estate course is extremely conscious of protecting the environment and was designed to avoid areas of sensitive vegetation and utilise natural features. This course is a nature lover’s dream surrounded by over 195 species of bird, troops of Impala, reedbuck and bushbuck.

The fairways are narrow where many different challenges present themselves; right - to - left doglegs, large bunkers, thick rough and water hazards! The country club greens are fast yet smooth. To enjoy this course you will have to play conservative golf, straight down the middle, and stay out of trouble. 

The par-three 4th could be compared with the famous 12th at Augusta, across water to a narrow green.

Selborne Golf Course, Pennington, South Coast, KwaZulu Natal: Old Main Road, Pennington. Selborne is perfectly positioned on the sub-tropical coast of KwaZulu-Natal, and is surrounded by the beautiful, well established Selborne golf course. Selbourne was built in the grounds of an old colonial home and is now one of the top courses in South Africa. The bird-life, lush vegetation and abundance of water make for a beautiful setting. Selborne has built a reputation as the “Augusta of South Africa”.

The Course: This beautifully manicured and maintained 18-hole, par 72 golf course provides a challenge for the more proficient golfer whilst also offering the social player an enjoyable round. With its natural forests and trails, Selborne is rated as one of South Africa's most scenic courses. There are water features on the 15 and 18 holes.  There is a resident golf professional available for those who need to brush up on some of their skills.

Signature Hole: The par-five third is a unique hole, curving and sweeping downhill through an avenue of trees and bush to a green protected by water.

Southbroom Golf Course, Southbroom, South Coast, KwaZulu Natal: Southbroom Golf Club continues to improve its course, year on year, and has climbed the BMW Golf Digest rankings to 63rd in the top 100 courses in South Africa.

Southbroom Golf Club boasts one of the most popular golf courses on the lower South Coast of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. As an integral part of the Southbroom village, the course is a rare South African layout and if it wasn't for all the palm trees and tropical foliage, you'd think you were in Britain or Ireland.

Only a stone's throw from the Indian Ocean, Southbroom Golf Club affords golfers impressive views of pristine beaches and the sea; the tranquility of playing alongside the lush indigenous vegetation of the Frederika Nature Reserve; and an opportunity to feel the pride of the Southbroom village as the course meanders past elegant coastal residences. Each of the 18-holes has its own unique feature and ability to test the skill of even the most accomplished golfer.

The Southbroom golf course is not a breeze to play especially when you experience it on a windy day. The par-3 fourth, just 114 meters, is the most famous of the two seaside holes. On a calm day it's a wedge, but it's a tiger when the wind is blowing into you.   Water, in the form of both dams and river flowing to the sea, quietly but surely come into play and golfers need a careful game plan to negotiate this charming course.

Established in 1938, the Southbroom golf course has consistently been improved and upgraded over the years and always has a neat, manicured look about it. A recent improvement doubled the size of the green on the par-5 ninth which now sweeps towards the edge of a large water hazard that is hidden from view when playing your approach.

The clubhouse commands impressive views of the course and the Indian Ocean, affording opportunities for frequent whale and dolphin spotting, and lives up to the early expectations of "popular amenity and social centre" of the village. With the fine accommodation facilities available, Southbroom is becoming the hub for both foreign and local golf groups who come to enjoy the Golf Coast experience.

Umdoni Park Golf Course, Pennington, South Coast, KwaZulu Natal: One of the hidden treasures of the Golf coast. This 18-hole course situated on 200 hectares of indigenous coastal forest is renowned for it's fauna and flora and magnificent vistas. A true pleasure to play. Umdoni is another typically short but testingly old-fashioned South Coast course where the wind plays a major roll in your game. A strong North Easterly can make this course a challenge to any golfer. Very hilly, and the holes take you through some beautiful indigenous bush. Splendid views over the Indian Ocean abound.

Signature Hole: A uniquely South African hole, called Majuba, is the par-3 12th, just 110 metres, but played steeply uphill to a green seemingly perched in the bush. The course is open everyday of the year and is open to visitors at any time.

Umhlali Golf Course, Umhlali, North Coast, KwaZulu Natal: Neighbouring on Ballito Bay, only 15 minutes North of Umhlanga Rocks, Umhlali, just 20 minutes drive north of Durban is a scenic undulating course in a tropical garden setting. The Umhlali Country Club is one of the oldest and the most picturesque on the north coast of Natal.  This is an ideal holiday golf course in beautiful and relaxing surroundings.

The Course: Although not a very long course, the holes are cleverly designed and varied, providing a fair golfing test. Indigenous vegetation is predominant at some of the holes, with others featuring mainly palm trees and water hazards.

Umhlali Golf Course sports sweeping fairways, exotic palm trees and seven magnificent water holes. Accommodating thousands of visitors annually it offers the kind of hospitality one would expect on the Dolphin Coast. Strategically positioned T-Boxes are designed to test the skills of the more competitive golfer, as well as catering for the longer handicappers, playing off the front markers.

Umkomaas Golf Course, Umkomaas, KwaZulu Natal: Umkomaas Golf Club, is the first golf course on the Golf Coast circuit and the third oldest golf course in KwaZulu Natal. Umkomaas hosts a fourth hole classified as one of the toughest par 4's in the country while the 18th hole ranks as one of the most testing finishing holes anywhere in the world.

Umkomaas Golf Course is a challenging course testing to both the low or high handicapped golfer. Enjoy spectacular ocean views, rich bird life and majestic trees.

Facilities at Umkomaas include a Restaurant/Bar, Pro shop, Halfway House and function facilities.

Victoria Golf Course, Pietermaritzburg, Natal Midlands, KwaZulu Natal: The Victoria Country club of Pietermaritzburg is superbly located in the scenic parklands adjoining the Queen Elizabeth Nature Reserve, and above all, boasts one of South Africa’s most picturesque golfing venues.

The Course: The immaculate 18 hole greens, designed by the renowned Robert Grimsdell, offer a magnificent variety of holes within the lush, rolling landscape. Visitors are invited to pit their skills against the individual challenges of this exacting course. Prolific wildlife including crowned eagles, African goshawks, sparrowhawks, duiker and nesting thickbilled weavers enhance the club’s magnificent views.

Wild Coast Sun Golf Course, Near Port Edward, KwaZulu Natal: The Wild Coast Sun Country Club is a rugged beauty of a course. Carts are compulsory but this does not detract from the competitive challenge. The course may be a daunting challenge for professionals and amateurs alike but its wide fairways and huge greens, attract golfers of all levels.

A first glance at the score card might suggest that this course is a bit of a push-over - less than 6 000 metres in length with six par threes. On face value this might seem so but in reality the Wild Coast Sun Country Club is one of South Africa's most testing layouts. Indeed renowned American golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones Jnr has created a dramatic golfing experience overlooking the Ocean.

Possibly the greatest challenge is to conquer the prevailing winds which add an entirely new dimension to the course. Some of South Africa's finest and certainly most dramatic golf holes can be found here. The thirteenth, a par 3 played across a waterfall is generally regarded the best short hole in the country.

And for drama nothing can match the outstanding par 5, twelfth. Here the drive is hit from a high elevated tee to a fairway far below that snakes its way through a valley flanked by a dam and stream on the left with a natural hillock on the right. The more of the river you take on with your drive the easier the approach to the green - an excellent example of a risk and reward par 5.

In keeping with modern business trends, the Wild Coast has boosted its fleet of carts to 60, with a few in reserve. This will cater for a full field of 120 players at any one time.

Zimbali Sun Golf Course, Port Zimbali, North Coast, KwaZulu Natal: Zimbali Lodge is well known for its stunning 18-hole golf course. It offers a challenging round of golf of world-class standards and stunning views.

Note: Golf carts are compulsory and available for hire, the Club’s Pro Shop has all the golfers necessities and the clubhouse offers a bar and restaurant.

The golf course runs alongside the Indian Ocean and boasts spectacular sea view from the 14th through to the 18th. This adds to the scenic beauty of the of course and compensates for the stiff coastal wind that sometimes blows causing the golfer the odd problem or two.The Zimbali Golf Coastal Resort Course varies. Starting off with a coastal links feel, the course takes a dramatic turn through rough rolling wetlands and ends up in the Zimbali Coastal forest. The course is also a tough walk but fortunately golf carts are compulsory!

Most of the tees are high on the side of hills or sand dunes. The fairways cut through the valley and the greens, seemingly always at the bottom of the next hill. This makes judging distance a time consuming task, especially for first those playing this golf course for the first timetimers to the course!

Tom Wieskopf, the designer of this Northern KwaZulu-Natal masterpiece and past winner of the British and SA Open championship, stays true to his philosophy of providing a fair challenge to golfers of any level.