INTRODUCING SOUTH AFRICA
While Nelson Mandela, Table Mountain and Big Five safaris are the first things that come to mind about South Africa, the Rainbow Nation is actually much more than that. From the incredible acrobatics of giant whales near the shore, ancient customs still practiced by the Zulu tribes and active trading in the world's most widely held gold bullion coin, the Krugerrand, this is an epic country of amazing diversity. Along with such stunning attractions, South Africa is also a one of its kind golf destination and has produced more golf champions than almost anywhere else on earth.
The diversity of South Africa also influences its golf courses. Here, wild game freely walks on the fairways, a helicopter takes you to tee off from a mountain-top, awe-inspiring cliff-top holes bear strong resemblance to Pebble Beach and inland links remind strongly of the British Isles. It feels at times that the oceans, animals and veneration you see when golfing are literally spilling over on to the golf course.
Gary Player, Bobby Locke, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Brandon Grace and Louis Oosthuizen are just some of the names that has firmly placed the country on the golf map with no less than 18 major championship trophies on its mantle, and and Gary Player is in an elite company of only four other golfers in the world to have won all 4 Majors.
The Western Cape featuring Cape Town and its surrounds along with the Garden Route makes for the crown jewel of golf in South Africa. The next largest concentration of courses are in the North around Johannesburg, nearby Sun City and along the Limpopo Golf and Safari Route. The area around Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal brings up the third golf trail in the country with some truly fantastic layouts.
The golf seasons are distinct in South Africa. Western Cape is best enjoyed between September to March, while Durban experiences drier winter months from June through September. The northern regions remains good for golfing round the year. You can never go wrong with a golf vacation in the Rainbow Nation.
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