Pearl Valley Golf Club

Pearl Valley, a Jack Nicklaus designed course, has been consistently rated as one the top 10 courses in South Africa. It has gradually climbed up the rankings to grab the 3rd spot in 2023, and deservedly so.  The course was chosen as host to the 2007 and 2008 South African Open Tournaments.

Surrounded by a trio of majestic mountains, Pearl Valley is only 45 minutes drive from Cape Town and close to the famed gourmet and wine centres of Franschhoek and Paarl. Although one of the more expensive courses in and around Cape Town, it is popular for South Africa Golfing Holidays.

The course is fairly flat and easy to walk, especially on the immaculate, carpet like fairways. There are plenty of bunkers and vast tracts of water that come into play on many of the holes. Sometimes the water hazards are blind from the tee box, with water encroaching further into the fairway than you expect. – Lucky then that a golf cart with GPS is included in your green fee!

The par 5, 4th hole has a split fairway which requires you to cross the bisecting brook twice in order to reach the green. The shallow, pebble filled stream looks innocuous but swallows balls whole!

There is plenty of water on the course, as you would expect from a Jack Nicklaus design. Beware of the steep run offs, where balls trickle off the grass and into the lake. The 13^th hole, par 3, is the ‘signature hole’ of the course and one of the most scenic. The water cuts in from the right but a green side bunker awaits any cautious tee shots, meaning you need to play positively. This hole tests your ball striking and your nerve! View a video of Pearl Valley Golf Club and its facilities here.

The immaculate, modern clubhouse has views over the 9th and 18th fairways with a bar and terrace as well as a separate fine dining restaurant. The changing facilities and showers are second to none and there is even a gym, spa and hairdresser on hand, if you need them!

Expensive by South African standards but a ‘must play’ course for anyone on a South Africa golf holiday staying in Cape Town or the Winelands region. The course is an easy drive from nearby Franschhoek, which is an ideal location to base yourself to play a number of other Winelands courses such as Stellenbosch, De Zalze, Paarl and Erinvale.

For more information about South African golfing holidays or staying and playing at Pearl Valley Golf Club, contact us here or call +44 208 249 5919 to speak to our South Africa golf holiday’s team.