If you’ve been on one of our tours, you’ll know that I don’t just sell golf tours to Africa, I live and breathe them. My life is a perpetual quest for the next challenging fairway, the next spectacular view, and the next unforgettable round. I’ve been fortunate enough to tee it up on courses around the globe, from the ancient links of Scotland to the dramatic coastline of the Garden Route.
But what makes a course truly special? For me, it’s not just about the design. It’s about the adventure. It’s about the unique blend of challenge, history, natural beauty, and the feeling you get when you step onto the first tee, knowing you’re in for an experience you can’t find anywhere else.
Today, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing a list I’ve agonised over for years. This is my personal, definitive, I might change my mind tomorrow list of my absolute favourite golf courses, starting with the jewels of my home turf.
The Best of South Africa
South Africa offers a diversity of golf found almost nowhere else, from rugged links to lush parklands to courses with live wildlife. My top five are all bucket list material for any serious golfer.
The Links at Fancourt
Simply incomparable. Gary Player’s masterpiece is a true links experience transported to the Garden Route. It’s a strategic, brutal, and breathtaking test of golf. When the wind blows, you’ll need every shot in your bag. It’s a course of sheer imagination and the finest conditioning I’ve ever seen. No wonder we highlight it on our tours.
Pinnacle Point
The sheer audacity of this course is what puts it at number two. Perched on cliffs above the Indian Ocean, the views are so spectacular they are almost distracting. Those terrifying carries over deep ocean chasms, that’s the adventurer in me cheering. It’s a visually spectacular adrenaline rush of a golf course.
Gary Player Golf Course
The home of the “Million Dollar Challenge,” this course is an icon. It’s long, it’s demanding, and it’s always immaculately prepared. Playing here, you feel the history of the game, and the famous 9th and 18th holes over water are as dramatic a finish as you’ll find. A true championship test.
Pearl Valley
Nestled in the heart of the Cape Winelands, the Jack Nicklaus Signature course is pure, pristine luxury. It’s known for having some of the best-conditioned fairways in the country, framed by the majestic Drakenstein Mountains. A tranquil yet tactical round in a setting that’s almost unfairly beautiful.
George Golf Course
Maybe a surprise entry on a global list, but this is a classic parkland track with a heart. It’s old school, wonderfully walkable, and holds a special place for me. It’s everything a proper South African town course should be, welcoming, challenging, and perfectly maintained.
Global
My job with Ascot Tours takes me far beyond the African continent, and the international rounds I’ve played have been just as defining. This list is a mix of history, sheer spectacle, and, yes, that unique adventure factor.
St Andrews Old Course (Scotland)
There’s a quiet reverence when you step onto the Old Course. It’s the birthplace of the game. You feel the weight of centuries of golf history. The double greens, the Road Hole bunker, the Swilcan Bridge, it’s not just golf, it’s a pilgrimage. The ultimate links experience.
Heritage Golf Club РLe Ch̢teau (Mauritius)
This is where world class design meets tropical paradise. The course is a riot of colour and ocean views, but it’s no pushover. It perfectly blends a spectacular holiday setting with a serious, top tier golf challenge. It’s a taste of African adjacent luxury and a highlight for any island golf itinerary.
Pebble Beach (USA)
The most beautiful meeting of land and sea in golf. Every dramatic hole along the Pacific is instantly recognisable from championship history. The 7th hole is perhaps the most famous par 3 in the world. It’s pure, exhilarating drama from start to finish.
Lake Victoria Golf Course (Uganda)
This is one for the pure adventurer. Playing golf with views of the vast Lake Victoria, in a country we’re actively developing our tour offerings in, is an experience in itself. It’s raw, it’s African golf at its most authentic, and it offers a feeling of genuine, pioneering discovery.
Black Mountain (Thailand)
A modern masterpiece that simply blows you away with its scale and impeccable design. The course is built into a valley, creating spectacular elevation changes and a stunning backdrop. It’s precision golf in a lush, exotic setting, showcasing the best of modern Asian course architecture.
So there you have it, my current top ten in the world. Each of these courses represents a core value of what we offer at Ascot Tours, World class quality, unforgettable adventure, and a truly unique destination.
Have you played any of these? Do you agree with my picks? Drop me a line, I’m always up for a debate about a great golf course. And if you’re looking to tick any of my South African or other African gems off your own list, you know who to call.
See you on the first tee,
Scott Edkins Founder, Ascot Tours