The Big FiveIn African Golf

Africa may not spring to mind when pondering world-class golf courses, however, green by luscious green it is unabashedly marking itself on the map. A peak in golf course construction has struck the continent during the last five years, with an impressive crowd of globally acclaimed players and designers looking for a piece of the action and choosing to develop on its scenic soils. It is South Africa which steals the crown as the flourishing heart of golf across the continent, boasting an astonishing array of championship courses worthy of any top 10 list. Nonetheless, snapping at South Africa’s heels is Kenya, Mauritius and Morocco’s arousing combination of legendary, picturesque and challenging courses for golfers of all abilities, providing some welcome competition for Africa’s ‘rainbow nation’.

Fancourt Links Ile aux Cerfs Golf CourseSamanah Country Club Kilimanjaro Golf & Wildlife Estate

Legend Golf & Safari Resort Legend Golf & Safari Resort, Limpopo

With all three of its courses frequenting the global golf rankings, Fancourt in the Western Cape embodies world-class golfing. Legendary designer Gary Player has named the Links par-72 course his greatest feat as a golf architect with its undulating, dune-style landscape. In 2003 it hosted the Presidents Cup which ended in a nail-biting tie between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, and in 2005 it held the prestigious South African Open. Its superiority in African golf is evident, and don’t be surprised to be putting and driving alongside golfing legends including Justin Rose and John Bland for Fancourt is a favourite with the pros. The Links is a private club; however, limited tee times are available for those staying at Fancourt Hotel or Manor House.

Stealing the top spot as the course’s most difficult hole is a par four at the 12th. This hole plays into the prevailing breeze and requires an accurate tee shot, followed by an approach to a small, undulating green with wetland to the left and low area to the right. The signature 15th is equally as challenging and demands a spot of aggression from players. This is one of the few dogslegs on the course and is also flanked to the left by wetland. An assertive tee shot sets up a much easier second shot in this par four. Overall, Links measures a commendable 6,919 yards though it can be stretched to 7,535 for professionals. Whatever your ability, it is a course of unequalled supremacy in Africa, and boasting a setting along the nation’s garden route makes it a scenically beautiful one.

As would be expected of a course designed by Jack Nicklaus, this par-72 in Marrakech is one of exquisite architecture. The harmonious blend of subtly contoured greens, minimal rough, and lengthy fairways which meander around clusters of dusty red riads and villas make this course a favourite with the elite. However, amateurs fear not: five tees to each hole ensure golfers of all abilities can excel at this desert-style course which firmly grips the title of one of Morocco’s finest clubs.

Complementing the impeccable design is a relatively understated display of landscaping which sees the ample fairways snake around scrubby patches of red-stained

bushland, stumpy palms, and modest lakes. Instead, what commands the attention of even the most absorbed player is the looming vistas of the snow-laced Atlas Mountains which can be admired from a number of holes and create an imposing backdrop to the action. Those embarking on a round at Samanah should prepare for the par four at the 4th where a slope down to the green offers a rare birdie opportunity; meanwhile, the greatest challenge of the course is perhaps the par five at the 16th where carrying the lake is essential unless you wish to find yourself in deep water.

Fancourt LinksWestern Cape, South Africa

Samanah Country ClubMarrakech, Morocco

Samanah Country Club, Marrakech

Fancourt Links, Western Cape

Driving into the top spot for unrivalled scenery, the title of this course speaks for itself. This 18-hole championship course is flanked by the shimmering masses of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, and peppered with glistening lakes, clumps of acacias and gushing waterfalls. Designed by David Jones, the course melds seamlessly into the natural lay of the terrain and is fringed with indigenous grasses and plants to offer the ultimate ‘out of Africa’ atmosphere.

Greens are large and bunkers well-placed on this course, whilst four sets of tees at each hole accommodate all abilities, with the championship length standing at approximately

6,500 meters. The second hole is particularly scenic, running the length of a gently cascading lake, whilst the 6th and the 7th embrace the grandest views of Kilimanjaro. Finally, a par three at the 18th may demand a spot of calculated risk to reach the floating island green; a challenging way to complete this engaging course. Kilimanjaro Golf & Wildlife Estate really is a jewel in the heart of Africa, and if you can draw your eyes away from the awe-inspiring scenery for long enough, and successfully avoid the occasional rabble of guinea fowl waddling across the fairway, you may get around this stunning.

From dusty savannahs to exotic emerald islands – African golf just got tropical. The sultry, sun-drenched setting of Ile aux Cerf in Mauritius embraces lush rainforest and rugged volcanic outcrops. It was designed to stimulate the senses, filling your lungs with the sweet scent of plants, pervading your ears with the tranquil sounds of waves crashing, and widening your eyes with views of sparkling aquamarine waters from all 18 holes. And did I mention the course? Designed by legendary golfer Bernhard Langer on an old sugar plantation, it meanders lazily around the southern half of the island and is carpeted in Salam Seashore Paspalum grass – a luxuriant turf supremely resilient to the humid climate.

Ile aux Cerfs is a water-heavy par-72 course with nine lakes interspersing the holes, three of which require precarious tee shots across sea inlets. This aquatic challenge is balanced by generous fairways and four tee decks for each hole. A birdie opportunity calls at the 2nd where a precise second shot is needed to make the small, undulating green below the recommended par of four. A chance for an eagle swoops in at the 4th where the fairway of this par five hole is split in the middle, whilst particularly courageous players can try and scoop a birdie at the 14th as well. Ile aux Cerfs is glamorous golfing with an impressive level of difficulty and in a truly unique island setting.

Kilimanjaro Golf & Wildlife EstateArusha, Tanzania

Ile aux Cerfs Golf CourseTrou d’Eau Douce, Mauritius

1) Sunset, Kilimanjaro Golf2) Arial View, Kilimanjaro Golf3) Kilimanjaro Golf, Tanzania

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Ile aux Cerfs Golf Course

Nestled in the South African province of Limpopo, this is a par-72 golf course of sheer international excellence and originality. Each of the 18 holes on the unique “world-in-one” signature course was designed by a golfing legend, so get ready to test your might against the likes of Trevor Immelman at the 1st, Sergio Garcia at the 16th, and Retief Goosen at the 18th. With the ingenuity and character of these world-class players engrained in every strategically placed bunker and perfectly undulating green, visitors can expect a golfing challenge like no other. This is the longest course in South Africa, playing at 7,145 yards off the normal tees and 8,500 yards from the championship tees – yet this level of scale pales in comparison to the 19th hole. Yes, you heard correctly. Gimmicky it may be, but Legend Golf & Safari Resort’s Extreme 19th hole is spectacularly enticing and fabulously exclusive. Boasting a tee that sits perched on the rocky tip of Hanglip Mountain, this exceptional par three can only be reached by helicopter. It is the longest and highest par three on earth with sweeping views of the African bush punctured only by the beckoning glare of the manicured green lying a whopping 470 yards below; an outrageous and unforgettable challenge.

If you thought this course couldn’t get more impressive then you were mistaken. Along with bags of entertainment and difficulty, this resort is not short of outstanding scenic beauty. Located in the Entabeni Safari Conservancy, the fairways weave through open grassland in two circuits of nine, past unassuming herds of antelope, zebra and giraffe and with a navy blue backdrop of jagged mountains. This is an idyllic and unparalleled golfing experience for the most adventurous of players.

Legend Golf & Safari ResortLimpopo, South Africa

Legend Golf & Safari Resort Extreme 19th Hole Legend Golf & Safari Resort, Limpopo

Legend Golf & Safari Resort’s Extreme 19th hole is spectacularly enticing and fabulously exclusive.