Greencard Golf Tour: South Africa 2023 Event Report

Read our report into this memorable trip as the Greencard Golf Tour returns to South Africa.  This three venue event which trialled our new team and paris format was a huge successand laid the foundations for the future of the Greencard Golf Tour.

Greencard return to golf in South Africa.

Our visit to South Africa in March 2023 started with a seven night stay at the superb Fancourt Golf Resort near George. The resort is located less than 10 minutes from George airport, with the airport transfers arranged it was a simple process to transfer to the resort.

Fancourt is in our opinion one of the world’s best golf resorts. The luxury accommodation is steps away from fantastic practise facilities with unlimited balls. Two championship courses on site and the Links a short transfer away.

We would be playing our golf on the Montagu and Outeniqua courses both of which are a fantastic way to experience the best of golf in South Africa.

The Montaguwas originally designed by Gary Player and has developed into one of the finest 18-hole parkland layouts, earning it the number 6 position on Golf Digest’s list of top golf courses in the country.

The Outeniqua, also designed by Gary Player is ranked number 11 in South Africa by Golf Digest. The course is named after the mountain range that forms its breath-taking backdrop, it is pristinely conditioned and always provides a true test of golfing with its many risk and reward opportunities.

Trialling the new Greencard event format

Arabella Golf & Spa Hotel – Hermanus

After a very enjoyable week at Fancourt it was time to transfer by coach to Arabella for our next three nights. The drive time is just under four hours and including a quick stop in Swellendam we arrived at Arabella in time to change and head out to Hermanus for dinner.

The following day we played the superb Arabella course for the first of our two rounds. It was actually quite a windy day and this made the course a real test, particularly on the back nine. However, by the time we had finished the wind had dropped again and we were able to enjoy the wonderful terrace overlooking the course and the lagoon beyond.

We woke the next morning to a rainy outlook, however, we need not have worried as by the time our tee times arrived the sun had made an appearance and the rain had drifted away to allow another pleasant day to enjoy this stunning course.

After three nights, it was time to say goodbye to Arabella and board our coach for the short 90 minute transfer to the Vineyard Hotel.

The Vineyard – Cape Town.

Located in the suburb of Claremont, the Vineyard is a lovely 4 star family owned hotel set in beautiful gardens in the shadow of Table Mountain.

Having checked in, the group took advantage of the lovely weather to have lunch on the idyllic terrace overlooking the beautiful gardens with Table Mountain as the backdrop. Later in the evening several of us had a superb dinner at the Barristers restaurant, located a couple of minutes from the hotel. There are not many places left in the World that you can enjoy a quality meal with wine for less than the equivalent of £20.00.

We had five nights at the Vineyard with a round at each of Steenberg and Pearl Valley. With no golf booked for the next morning we had arranged a wine tasting and lunch at Groot Constantia Vineyard. We had the tour booked for 11.00 and whilst it was interesting learning about the wine making process, by 11.30am we were enjoying the wine tasting!

Someone did mention the fact that it was only 9.30am in the UK as we were having our first glass! However, we battled through and followed this by having lunch in their onsite restaurant. The food was lovely and the live music was excellent.

Steenberg Golf Course – Cape Town.

Our round at Steenberg was next on our golf itinerary. The course, situated on the Steenberg wine estate is set in the heart of the tranquil Constantia Winelands and is surrounded by the Silvermine mountain range. This 18-hole Peter Matkovich championship course is consistently regarded as one of the finest golf courses in Cape Town.

We enjoyed a day of pairs golf before we returned to the hotel for a quick change and then took the coach to Guardian Peak Vineyard for dinner. It was another fine evening, full of laughter and entertaining conversation. We were once again the last to leave the restaurant!

Free day with the penguins!

As seasoned Greencarders know there is so much more than just the wonderful golf in South Africa, so with another free day following we took the opportunity to take a tour of the area. We left the hotel and took in the views of Camps Bay before driving over the awesome Chapmans Peak. This led us down to Simons Town where we visited a penguin colony.

Once we had bid farewell to the Penguins we had a lovely lunch at the Harbour House restaurant in Kalk Bay close to Fish Hoek. It was a stunning spot with the view from the table looking directly out over the waters of False Bay.

After lunch we drove down to the V&A Waterfront for refreshments and the opportunity to see the harbour and of course the shops!

A stormy finish to the day at wonderful Pearl Valley.

On our final full day of the tour we played Pearl Valley, this masterpiece was shaped by the vision of golf legend Jack Nicklaus and his unique touch is evident throughout the course.

When we arrived at the course the wind had picked up and we could tell this was going to be a tough test. In addition, the weather forecast suggested rain and thunderstorms were approaching.

The final group had made it through to the 15th hole before we felt the first few drops of rain. By the time the group had teed off the 16th the thunder and lighting appeared and within minutes a deluge of rain followed.

Fortunately, we had made it back to the clubhouse by this time and although it was a shame not to finish this great course, we were quite happy to be dry!

That evening, we all ate at the nearby Italian before having a farewell drink in the hotel bar to toast what had been a wonderful couple of weeks in South Africa with many memories and more friendships formed.

Looking forward to 2024!

Golf in South Africa is a wonderful experience and we are already looking forward to returning next year.

If you’d like to join us in South Africa 2024 our event includes 5 star accomodation and golf in Fancourt, Sun City, and Buhala Safari Lodge in Kruger National Park. Additional highlights of our package include 12 rounds of mixed team event golf (two on the much sought after Leopard Creek), plus an optional safari drive.

Please click below for full details.

Please be aware we do have limited availability on this event.

Greencard Golf Holidays South Africa 2024 event.