Pearl Valley Golf & Country Estate
On the opening of his design, Jack Nicklaus declared: “Surrounded by mountains this is one of the most spectacular settings in which I have designed a golf course.”
The scenery alone would make this a memorable track, but this has to one of the Golden Bear’s top layouts. Water features on most holes, but it’s the green complexes that make this such a challenge. Since opening in 2003, it has already hosted three South African Opens and is home to Lee-Anne Pace, a rising star on the LPGA Tour. Regularly voted the “best-conditioned course” in South Africa, Masters champion Trevor Immelman famous declared that “I really feel like these fairways; they are some of the best, if not the best, that I’ve ever played on”.
Each nine has a stand out hole, the fourth and 13th. The fourth calls for three carefully planned shots over a creek to a very tricky green. It has been voted one of the best par-5s in the country and it’s warranted.
The 13th is a knee-knocking par-3 where avoiding the water on the right often leads to a pull into a deep bunker on the left. Measuring 7,400 yards from the tips down to 6,100 yards from the forward tees, players of every standard can enjoy this course, although the water seems to be ever present.
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