One of Africa’s biggest treasures lays within one the greatest nature reserves around, The Pilanesberg National Park.
This treasure that was founded by hotel magnate Sol Kerzner, is none other than the world renowned Sun City resort.
Besides the great hotels, gambling and entertainment facilities, Sun City is also known for its spectacular golf courses.
Most well known of the two is the Gary Player Golf Course, designed by Gary Player himself, an 18-hole par-72 championship course that is regularly ranked as the leading golf course in South Africa and have been ranked in the top 100 of the world. Home to the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge, these fairways have been walked by the best in the game, from Jack Nicklaus to Gary Player to Ernie Els to Tiger Woods.
Playing the course which is always in ultra top condition offers much more than just a few golf swings and putts, it is very much a physical test as a mental one as well.
It is 6 550 metres in length, but the heat makes it feel much longer and takes no prisoners.
The par-five ninth hole is one of the most scenic with its island green, while the stroke one eighth hole is a stern test for even the best of professionals.
The course record of 63 is held by two of the greatest players to walk the fairways in Ernie Els and Henrik Stenson.
Player has designed over 300 championship courses around the world, but this is the only course that officially carries his name. The club also has a Gary Player Spa, restaurant and pro shop.
The course is one of two within the Sun City Resort, the other being the Lost City Golf Course, with its famous crocodile hole with the green in the shape of the African continent, which was also designed by Gary Player but in a desert style.
The Lost City Golf Course with its undulating and rocky terrain has an 18-hole desert-style golf course which is surrounded by spectacular views across the bushveld. Wide fairways, a series of lakes which separates the ninth with the finishing hole, the course covers more than 100 hectares and incorporates 28 000 square metres of water features.
At 6 893 metres this course is not as demanding as its bigger brother which lays a stone’s throw away.
Being only a short walk away from the spectacular Palace of the Lost City, the clubhouse, in the design of the Zimbabwe ruins, offers players facilities which include golf carts, changerooms, lockers, a bar and restaurant. TheCrocodile Restaurant is a great place for light meals and snacks while gazing over the mountains formed by an extinct volcano that erupted 1200 million years ago.
All of this and a few extras is a short 90 minute drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria and is worth every kilometre driven.
For more information make sure to visit http://www.suninternational.com/sun-city/activities/Golf/Pages/default.aspx
