Fancourt (Montagu) - Western Cape - South Africa

Montagu is a great fun course in the beautiful Fancourt estate.

We played it the day after the Data Dimension Pro Am so the course was in perfect condition with fast greens and generous fairways.

Unlike the next door Links course, this is a resort course designed for golfers of all abilities... as long as you choose the correct set of tees, everyone should have fun here and enjoy the challenge.

It was much more undulating than I expected and the design makes the most of this with some beautiful holes flowing through the natural contours. The greens are big and fairways very generous but to attack the course you have to plot your way around as the greens have some serious breaks especially with the natural grain.

The views are outstanding of the local mountains which adds to the drama.

The only thing which holds the course back from a higher rating is it all feels a bit generic and a bit devoid of the personality of courses like George or Royal Durban.

Good practice facilities but the service from caddies, starter, marshall etc... are below what you would expect of a 5 star resort. You also need to prepare for 5 hour plus rounds, given the resort nature there are lots of people playing of all abilities and there was no evidence of anyone maintaining pace of play despite a full tee sheet.

Overall, a great experience but we had more fun playing George, Simola and Arabella.

I think most would say that the three courses at Fancourt are all very special but there is a clear 1,2,3 and the rankings would back this up. The Montagu takes 2nd spot and is a very good looking parkland course. The first taste that most will get of the course is actually looking at the island green on the last hole, especially when sitting on the perfectly positioned terrace. As I say this is a very pretty course and although the look does not directly affect the holes, it definitely adds something to the round, in a similar way that Druids Glen, Ireland does. The par-5 4th is a great hole, slightly downhill and with a green that butts up against the lake – approaching from the left is the tip here. The toughest hole (SI-1) is the 6th and the drive is the key shot, take on the fairway bunker on the left and a par is very possible but a bail-out drive (which is the sensible option) leaves a long approach over water and the dreaded double bogey is staring you in the face. The tall trees that line the right-side of the dog-legging 7th hole and the moat that runs down the left-side makes this hole my favourite on the opening half. The par-4’s at the 13th and 14th holes have the river running the length of them with the tee shot at the 13th particularly tricky especially for those who fade the ball. The par-3 17th over water to a kidney shaped green with a solo bunker in front and two more behind add beautiful flower beds behind the back bunkers and a little piece of Augusta National comes to South Africa, this hole being a cross between the 12th and the 16th at the home of the US Masters. The round ends with a par-5 complete with the island green as mentioned at the start. After the round the terrace is calling, there is a sadistic pleasure in watching balls land in the water at the green, especially if yours stayed dry! Great fun on the Montagu.

On a 10 days trip to South Africa, I was lucky enough to stay 3 nights at Fancourt and play not only The Links but also this fantastic venue, totally different from it's more famous neighbour but I will say that at the same quality of satisfaction. As there are players liking more the links type courses and some others preferring the Parklands (or tree lines fairways ones), there will be golfers liking this one even better than The Links and they are not wrong at all!! (although I like more The Links, it is fair to say). The golf day was totally diferent here, a cloudy and in sometimes rainy day didn't allow us to see all the course beauty but all the same we found it amazing. After breakfast at the resort and a quick site inspection of the Outeniqua Course, we were taken to the first tee to experience the Montagu. The first thing I have to say is that we were all four single digit golfers and all played decently well so the match we had was a lot of fun, which always help to enjoy better the course. After that, the course is very playable, decently wide for driving and with generous grees so everybody will have fun. But once you select the correct set of tees to suit your game, you will have a nice challenge to score your handicap. I played reasonable well but could not as doubled 15th and tripled 17th with a swimming ball and an OB out there. The course design is fantastic, wooded holes, water holes and in some places huge oak trees that in May (mid fall) might turn into fantastic colours with the mountains backing the picture. Again, a course with no bad holes (maybe 8th and 16th are just not great) and plenty of them unbelievable like 2-4-6-7-10-13-14-17 and a great finishing hole like 18 where if you want to get in 2 shots, you must be strong and accurate but it is possible. The 2nd shot at par 5 4th is as nice as it can get and second at 18th is as challenging as you can expect. Greens rolled great, true and pretty fast although not as fast as The Links. Maintenance was outstanding, perfect in every details. Half way house gave us a great lunch, which in a cold day helped to give us some extra calories for the back 9. The only regret is I would have loved to walk it in a sunny day, it must be great. I am graceful of being able to play it and to show others that there is a lot of great golf to be discovered, being South Africa a place you need to go. My highest rewards to this truly exceptional course.

Fancourt is a five star resourt with the Montagu offering a great test of golf. With water in play on 12 of the holes it is a tough test of the back. The course condition is excellent and there are only a very few week holes. The 17th being the most photographed on the course a 180 yard par 3 over water. If you only play it once and are not a big hitter give yourself a chance and play of the gold (seniors tees). All in all great fun and then to the bar which overlooks the 18th green.