Gary Player Country Club

The Gary Player Country Club is perhaps South Africa’s most famous course thanks to the annual "Nedbank Golf Challenge tournament” which has been hosted here since 1981. Naturally the “Black Knight” (with a little help from Ron Kirby) designed the course and it’s one of the longest courses in the country, stretching out beyond 7,000 metres from the tips.

The Sun City Resort is a huge Las Vegas-styled entertainment complex and should you find yourself drawn to the glamour and the glitz, you’ll have two great courses to choose from – Lost City and Gary Player. Undoubtedly the hard-as-nails Gary Player course is the best.

In this extract from the book South African Golf Courses: A Portrait of the Best author Stuart McLean writes: “The course is intimidating, but different sets of tees make it accessible to the club golfer. Stretched to its limit, however, it can only really be played competitively by professionals and top amateurs.

When built, the course presented a completely new experience to South African golfers used to conventional designs – Player having successfully introduced the American influence in golf course architecture in this country. The lure of the greatest first prize in golf attracted a host of famous golfers and put Sol Kerzner’s resort on the world map.”

Topographically the land is relatively flat but don’t let that lull you into thinking that this is a boring course. It is not. Routed through the bush, past lakes and strategically placed bunkers this is a serious test for any golfer. The greens here at Gary Player Country Club are simply stunning. Some are shaped like kidneys and others shaped like clover but all the greens are well protected by cunning bunkers, water hazards, swales or mounds. Once you reach the slick putting surfaces you’ll need your finest touch to avoid three putting, or worse!

Author Geoffrey Giles, in this edited extract from the book Golf Courses of the World, writes: “Gary Player once said: ‘If I am one of the greats, it’s for one simple reason: no bunker shot has ever scared me and none ever will.’ With his legendary talent, it is no surprise that he makes good use of both fairway and greenside bunkers.

Another theme is the emphasis on accuracy. Poor drives will find dense bush, and the slick greens will generally not hold approaches from the rough. Although the course can be brutal, especially the massive par-4 8th and nail-biting 18th, the course is fair and the player with guile and accuracy will generally succeed here.”

The par fives at the Gary Player Country Club, which opened for play in 1979, are especially exciting, but the 9th will stick in the memory for eternity. This is a genuine three-shot-hole for most golfers but if you are a long hitter you might be tempted to go for the island green in two. Take a deep breath, hold your nerve and swing smoothly. What a cracker!