Few know much about the course at the ultra-private Millvale Golf Estate, which is located in the North West Province, near Koster and not far from Rustenburg.
Few know much about the course at the ultra-private Millvale Golf Estate, which is located in the North West Province, near Koster and not far from Rustenburg.
Few know much about the course at the ultra-private Millvale Golf Estate, which is located in the North West Province, near Koster and not far from Rustenburg. Back in January 2012, we stated that we should feature Millvale within our South African rankings, but we hadn’t seen enough of the 6,839-metre course at that time. Fortunately things changed in March 2013 thanks to the inaugural Investec Cup tournament, a four-day limited-field event that officially marked the end of the Sunshine Tour’s summer calendar.
Millvale is South Africa’s most private course, owned by Investec, the investment bank, for the use of its top management and clients. It’s also remotely situated in attractive bushveld surroundings to the west of Johannesburg, in the North West Province, so it has very limited play. Investec did not allow the now defunct Golf Digest South Africa access to rate the course for rating purposes
Despite its exclusivity, though, many South African golfers are familiar with Millvale, due to recent television exposure. Investec are major sponsors of the Sunshine Tour, and Millvale hosts the final event of the Chase to the Investec Cup in March. This is the Sunshine Tour’s version of the FedEx Cup.
Millvale hosted the first round of the Investec Cup, which continued with the second round at Rustenburg Golf Club before moving to Lost City at Sun City for the final 36 holes. This was the conclusion of the “Chase to the Investec Cup” (similar in principle to the Race to Dubai and the FedEx Cup on the European and PGA Tours), where the Sunshine Tour’s top 30 golfers toughed it out for a 5 million rand bonus. For most of the players, Millvale was an unfamiliar layout, even the Investec-sponsored player Christiaan Basson had only teed it up here twice before. However, the journey into the Millvale unknown made little difference for Justin Walters, who carded six successive birdies on the homeward nine, posting a course record eight-under par 64.
Previously, only the first two rounds of the Investec Cup were played at Millvale, the final two rounds being at Sun City. But all 72 holes of the 2016 Investec Cup were at Millvale, a tournament won by Haydn Porteous, with a 12-under-par score of 276. The lowest round from the 16-man field was a 65.
Millvale began as a 9-hole Gary Player course some 15 years ago, built for its original owner, the late Richard Charter, on part of his farm. Tyrone Yates then designed and built another nine holes for Charter. This is now the current back nine, being longer and stronger than the front nine. According to Gary Player: “Millvale is perhaps the most undiscovered gem of a golf course that exists in South Africa. The mix of good golf, an African bushveld environment surrounded by wildlife and immaculate conditioning, creates a unique experience for anyone fortunate enough to play. I am proud of my association with the property as golf course designer.”
Millvale is certainly a tough test with water featuring prominently throughout the round. Slick greens and thoughtful fairway bunkering combine with South Africa’s only floating tee to make Millvale an unforgettable experience for those golfers lucky enough to be invited to play here.
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
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Top 100 Golf Courses of South Africa – 2014 Top 100 Golf Courses updates its South African rankings Top 100 Golf Courses has been ranking golf courses in South Africa since 2008, but in 2012 we extended the rankings from 50 to 100, this is therefore our second South African Top 100 iteration. Last month we visited the Western Cape and experienced a number of courses along the Garden Route. Our feeling is that South Africa is hard done by in terms of the number of courses listed in World Top 100 ranking lists. We are likely to include more of the Rainbow Nation’s golf courses in our future World Top 100 charts. As we said back in 2012, the Gary Player-designed course at Millvale Golf Estate keeps itself to itself, but things changed when the club hosted the 2013 and 2014 Investec Cup (won by Justin Walters and Trevor Fisher Jnr respectively). Millvale is our highest new entry, straight in at position 14 and while not many people will be lucky enough to walk these exclusive fairways, we can say that this unique golf facility is an entirely worthy highest new entry. Gowrie Farm, Milnerton, Westlake and Magalies Park also debut for the first time in our South African hundred. Leopard Park, Crown Mines, ERPM, Goldfields West and Langebaan made way for the new entries and slip off the national list and onto our Best In Province rankings. With 170 South African courses on our ever-increasing shortlist, there is certainly room for plenty of future change. Producing a universally approved golf course ranking list is an impossible task, as the best golf course rankings are embedded in the head of each and every golfer. No doubt this latest list will raise a few eyebrows, but we make no apology for showcasing South Africa’s best golf courses because many are underrated and truly deserve wider recognition. The Links course at Fancourt, which remains in 2nd place, is one example and a recent reviewer commented as follows: “The first thing to mention is that of the hundreds of courses that I have played around the world, The Links is an instant favourite and straight into my personal Top 5. Manufactured links courses normally at best can be called ‘links like’ – the Links at Fancourt breaks the mould and is good as many of the world greats in GB&I that set the standard.” Arabella Golf Club moves up two positions to 3rd… one reviewer posted as follows: “Gosh, this golf course is good. I've played at most of the Open courses, Pebble Beach and Valderrama, but Arabella is definitely in my top 5 courses for sheer fun.” Another reviewer concurred: “One of the most visually appealing courses I have ever played. Every hole has its own individual character and both nines conclude with truly spectacular stretches alongside the lagoon.” This unique South African ranking list involved gathering, analysing and processing data from a multitude of sources. If you have an opinion and would like to help shape our future rankings please get in touch. If you’ve played any of our featured South African courses, we’ll be delighted to know what you think, so why not contribute now and post a course review or two? Keith Baxter Editor-in-Chief www.top100golfcourses.com Click the link to see the latest South African Top 100 in detail.
Top 100 Golf Courses of South Africa 2012 8th January 2012 Top 100 Golf Courses extends its South African rankings Top 100 Golf Courses (www.top100golfcourses.com), the most informed and dedicated ranking website, presents its 2012 golf course rankings for South Africa. For 2012, Top 100 Golf Courses has extended its South African rankings by 50 new entries to a Top 100. We can't claim to be the first publication to rank South Africa's Top 100 golf courses but we are the first to showcase them all online with detailed independent articles for each course. South Africa boasts around 450 golf courses serving approximately 150,000 registered golfers across the Rainbow Nation, so the new Top 100 represents approximately the top 20% of golf courses in the country. South Africa's top golf courses have been assembled based on detailed research, which utilises a unique process (see the "About Us" page on the Top 100 website for more details). The result is the most authoritative ranking list of South Africa's greatest golf courses, but it's not perfect. There are a number of very exclusive South African facilities that are not only hard to access but also rather secretive. A little like England's Queenwood, the Gary Player-designed course at Millvale Golf Estate keeps itself to itself. We have no doubt that Millvale should feature in the South African course rankings, but we have insufficient experience of the luxury facility. In the few years since we last ranked South Africa's courses, many new, high profile facilities have opened. The signature course at the Legend Golf and Safari Resort is larger than life. The 8,500-yard course is set in an enormous 50,000-acre estate where herds of giraffe, zebra and antelope roam free alongside fairways that weave though open grassland and dense bushveld in two large circuits of nine. Each hole has been assigned its own "signature designer", starting with Trevor Immelman at the 1st and ending with Retief Goosen at the 18th. This gargantuan 18-holer pales into near insignificance when compared to the gimmick that is the Extreme 19th – a par three played from the top of nearby Hanglip Peak, 470 yards above the level of a massive green that's contoured in the shape of the African continent. According to Peter Matkovich – the architect behind one of our highest new entries, Pinnacle Point – this is: "The most dramatic golf course site I've ever encountered anywhere in the world!" The prolific Zimbabwean architect is also the man behind Zebula Golf Estate, Elements Private Golf Reserve and Ebotse Golf & Country Estate which are debutants in our new 2012 South African Top 100. The Jack Nicklaus-designed St Francis Links is our second highest new entry, which offers as links-like a game of golf as you will experience anywhere on the continent of Africa. The Golden Bear's Masai Mara course at the Serengeti Golf & Wildlife Estate burst into the limelight in November 2011 when it hosted the South African Open (which Hennie Otto won) and it's another of our new entries. Our highest new entry is Gary Player's Blair Atholl, which measures a staggering 8,300 yards from the tips. Blair Atholl was Gary Player's home for almost a quarter of a century before developer Robbie Wray helped transform the property into a low-density residential estate with a championship golf course as its focal point. This unique South African ranking list involved gathering, analysing and processing data from a multitude of sources. So, until a definitive description as to what constitutes a great golf course has been defined, the belief is that nobody does it better than Top 100 Golf Courses. Feedback is genuinely welcome, in fact it's actively encouraged. So please tell us what you think about the latest list of Top South African Golf Courses. We won't ever claim to be "definitive" but we are the most "informed" golf course rankings in the business. If you've played any of our featured South African courses, we'd be delighted to know what you think, so why not contribute and post a course review or two? Keith Baxter Editor www.top100golfcourses.com Click here to see the detailed South African Top 100 list.
Other Courses Nearby Golf in South Africa is a celebrated affair, thanks to the country's stunning landscapes and excellent weather, making it a prime destination for golf enthusiasts. Among the top courses that stand out for their design, history, and unique challenges are Blair Atholl, Glendower, The River Club, Royal Johannesburg & Kensington (East), and Steyn City. Here is an introduction and a brief overview of each of these prestigious courses: Blair Atholl Golf Course Nestled in the serene landscape near Johannesburg, Blair Atholl Golf Course is a testament to luxury and challenge in golf. Designed by Gary Player, one of South Africa’s most famous golf icons, the course spans over 7,500 yards. Known for its lengthy play and the integration of natural features such as rivers and lakes, Blair Atholl combines beauty with the rigor of the sport. It's a private estate that exudes exclusivity and offers a tranquil escape with picturesque views at every turn. Glendower Golf Club Located in the heart of Edenvale, Glendower Golf Club is a classic parkland course known for its meticulous maintenance and historical significance. It was established in the early 1930s and has since hosted numerous prestigious tournaments, including the South African Open. The course features well-placed bunkers and challenging water hazards, requiring precision and strategic play. The lush, rolling fairways and mature trees make it a visually appealing course as well. The River Club The River Club in Sandton is not just a golf club but a reimagined lifestyle complex. While it's more known for its high-profile corporate and social gatherings, the golf course itself offers a unique experience. It’s recently been redesigned to incorporate modern golfing trends while maintaining its classic charm. The River Club remains an exclusive venue, focusing on privacy and high standards of service. Royal Johannesburg & Kensington (East) The Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club is one of the most prestigious golf clubs in South Africa, with a rich history dating back to 1890. The East Course is particularly renowned, regularly hosting the Joburg Open as part of both the PGA European Tour and Sunshine Tour. This course is characterised by its challenging layout, with long fairways, deep bunkers, and the infamous stretch known as the "East Beast". Its history and the quality of play make it a revered course among both local and international golfers. Steyn City Steyn City Parkland Residence is not only a luxury residential estate but also home to a magnificent golf course designed by the celebrated golfer, Jack Nicklaus. This course is famous for its beautiful landscaping and innovative design that respects the natural environment. It offers a challenging yet enjoyable game for golfers of all levels, with water features and strategic bunkering enhancing both the difficulty and the aesthetic appeal of the course. These courses not only highlight the variety and depth of golfing experiences available in South Africa but also underscore the country’s love for the sport, blending challenging gameplay with stunning environments. Find out more about travel to playModderfontein Golf Club Why not register today to be the 1st to Receive World Rankings releases for 2024. Lockhart Travel Club Concierge Services FAQ What is the Lockhart Travel Club? Lockhart Travel Club is dedicated to offering its members unique opportunities for world-class golf exploration and adventure. It connects members with like-minded individuals worldwide, aiming to fulfil their desire to play at the best golf courses globally. The club originated from Robert Lockhart's passion, a Scotsman who introduced golf to America in the late 19th century, and it continues to embody his spirit of golf travel (Lockhart Travel Club). Who are the members of the Lockhart Travel Club? Members are individuals from some of the world's greatest clubs, sharing a common passion for golf and adventure. The club welcomes golfers eager to travel, play, and check off their bucket list of courses. They are driven by the opportunity to see and play the best courses worldwide, taking advantage of the club's network. What kind of experiences does Lockhart Travel Club offer? In 2023, the club provided opportunities to play in various top-ranked courses and locations, including the Sand Hills of Nebraska and Colorado, the best of Japan and Korea, the English Heathlands, the classic courses of France, and the best of New Zealand’s North Island. The 2024 schedule promises unique experiences in 19 different countries, including Thailand & China, Brazil, South Africa, the Northeast USA, and Australia. How do I join Lockhart Travel Club? Interested individuals can inquire about membership by contacting the club directly via their official email. The club values connections among golf enthusiasts and strives to plan unique, unforgettable opportunities for its members throughout the year. For more detailed inquiries or to apply for membership, please refer directly to the Lockhart Travel Club's official website or contact their membership services. Lockhart Travel Club About Us: Learn more about the club Top 100 Golf Courses - Lockhart Travel Club: Explore member experiences and trips.
