It’s not hard to see how the Arabella Golf course in the Western Cape managed to be rated above Sishen’s golf course. Picture: Supplied
NOW, FOR the average, and even not-so-average South African golf fan, there can be no more inspiring, uplifting, energising experience than walking onto a pristine, immaculate golf course.
A few decades ago, I had the pleasure of seeing a little bit of the Gary Player Golf Course at Sun City. Now I am not a golfer, and I didn’t get the opportunity to walk through and experience the entire course, but what I did see had even my non-golfing heart pounding.
More recently, a year or two ago, I was in Midrand, at the Blue Valley Golf Course, and “mind blown” doesn’t begin to describe my experience as I looked out from the restaurant at the course that rolled out like a lush green carpet. I actually managed to hit a few balls at the driving range … Well, let me rather confess that I managed to hack out a bucketful of divots on the Blue Valley Golf Course driving range.
The point I am making, however, is that the course was beautiful!
Now one would think that after seeing these courses I would be a bit let down when I saw the Kimberley Golf Course – not so. In fact, and once again I must admit that I didn’t walk the entire course, I must admit that from what I saw, I was really, really impressed.
Creating, setting up and maintaining a golf course seems to be something that takes immense pride.
Local is lekker
I say all this because recently I was rather stunned, pleasantly so, to learn that a golf course right here in the Northern Cape has been rated even above iconic courses like the Sun City course, the famous Fancourt in Outeniqua, the Humewood Golf Club and even the picturesque Pinnacle Point in Mossel Bay.
According to Golf Digest, the Sishen Golf Club in Kathu is one to behold. Rated at No.9 in an impressive list of 30, this course is beaten out by heavyweights like Fancourt in Montagu, Pearl Valley, also in the Western Cape and the reigning king of courses Leopard Creek Country Club in Mpumalanga.
To see the dry, dusty Northern Cape feature on this list, I must admit, left me with a warm tingle of pride.
According to Golf Digest the course, designed in 1980 soared up the ranks quickly. Because the golf course is set on the edge of the Kalahari desert in an ancient forest of Kameeldoring trees, Sishen Golf Club is straddled by dense thickets of thorn trees which provide a beautiful contrast to the high red sand dunes surrounding the property.
Unlike a lot of courses that have that one iconic, memorable hole, at the Sishen Golf club each hole could be considered its signature, while one or two stand out above the others – indeed a rare attainment for a golf course.
Another plus for the club is that Sishen Golf Club promises one of the most special and least crowded rounds on the planet. The course now includes a modern clubhouse and houses that can be rented.
One thing is for sure, after reading the article, if I were a golfer, I’d make a point of checking it out at least once.
Top 30 list of South Africa’s best golf courses, according to Golf Digest:
30. Houghton Golf Club, Johannesburg
29. De Zalze Golf Club, Stellenbosch, Western Cape
28. Royal Johannesburg: West, Johannesburg
27. Country Club of Johannesburg: Rocklands, Woodmead, Sandton
26. Erinvale Golf Club, Somerset West, Western Cape
25. Fancourt: Outeniqua, George, Western Cape
24. Pretoria Country Club, Waterkloof, Pretoria
23. Country Club Johannesburg: Woodmead, Rivonia, Sandton
22. George Golf Club, George, Western Cape
21. Simola Golf Club, Knysna, Western Cape
20. Champagne Sports Resort, Cathkin Park, KwaZulu-Natal
19. Highland Gate Golf & Trout Estate, Dullstroom, Mpumalanga
18. Pezula Championship Golf Club, Knysna, Western Cape
17. Gary Player Country Club, Sun City, North West
16. Zimbali Country Club, Dolphin Coast, KwaZulu-Natal
15. Humewood Golf Club, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
14. The Club at Steyn City, Fourways, Gauteng
13. Elements Private Golf Reserve, Waterberg, Limpopo
12. Royal Johannesburg: East, Johannesburg
11. Pinnacle Point Estate, Mossel Bay, Western Cape
10. East London Golf Club, East London, Eastern Cape
9. Sishen Golf Club, Kathu, Northern Cape
8. Glendower, Johannesburg
7. Fancourt: Montagu, George, Western Cape
6. Pearl Valley Golf & Country Club, Paarl, Western Cape
5. Arabella Golf Club, Kleinmond, Western Cape
4. Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian, Lanseria, Gauteng
3. St. Francis Links, St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape
2. Fancourt: The Links, George, Western Cape
1. Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane, Mpumalanga
So if you’re an avid golfer, now you know where you can take a swing sometime.