Located very close to Cape Town, the links-like layout at Milnerton Golf Club is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Rietvlei Lagoon to the east.
Located very close to Cape Town, the links-like layout at Milnerton Golf Club is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Rietvlei Lagoon to the east.
Located to the north of Cape Town on Woodbridge Island, a sandy spit that’s bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Rietvlei Lagoon on the other, the links-like layout at Milnerton Golf Club is an old-fashioned “9 out then 9 in” course that dates back to 1913, when an inaugural 6-hole course was first brought into play.
The course was closed at the start of the First World War and re-opened in 1925. Scotsman Archie Todd, the professional at the Metropolitan Golf Club, assisted with laying out a new 18-hole course and he became the club’s first professional that same year. He won the SA Open title four years later at nearby Royal Cape Golf Club.
In 1995, Milnerton was given a major overhaul by Golf Data when part of the course was given over to a housing development and this resulted in the loss of a few holes, the retention of some others and the construction of a number of new holes.
The 493-metre par five 8th is classed as the signature hole on the scorecard. Wetlands to the left of the fairway form an intimidating distraction from the tee before water to the right of the narrow green lies in wait for leaked approach shots.
Golfers play the outward nine with the prevailing south easterly wind – known as the “Cape Doctor” – at their back so they face a tough time after the turn if it’s blowing hard, as it often does between December and March.
“Milnerton is regarded by many golfers in Cape Town as a true links layout as I tlies on sandy terrain,” writes Stuart Mclean in the book South African Golf Courses: A Portrait of the Best. “However,” the author continues, “while the holes closest to the sea have links qualities, the adjacent holes are more parkland in nature.
Furthermore, the fairways are flat rather than undulating, and the course does not have the hums and hollows which are natural features of true links courses, created as they are from dunes bordering the sea. Nor does Milnerton possess the fearsome rough which is predominant in links golf, although there is plenty of bush lining the holes.
Even without the rough, Milnerton is an exacting test of shot-making, and when the wind blows even the most skilful player is confronted with a tough challenge. An outstanding feature of the course is its many sloping greens, reminiscent of championship layouts in Britain and the United States. Milnerton has a special appeal to golfers during the wet Cape winters, as the sandy base of the course allows it to drain well.”
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
California, United States
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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.
Other Top Course to Consider in the Western Cape The Western Cape of South Africa, renowned for its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture, also stands out as a premier destination for golf enthusiasts. The region boasts a diverse range of world-class golf courses, each offering unique challenges and spectacular views. From the rolling greens nestled against mountain backdrops to coastal links with panoramic ocean vistas, the Western Cape's golf courses are as much a feast for the eyes as they are a test of skill. This area not only attracts seasoned golfers but also offers a welcoming atmosphere for beginners looking to experience the sport in one of the most picturesque parts of the world. Overview of Notable Golf Courses in the Western Cape Fancourt (Links) - Often referred to as the crown jewel of South African golf, Fancourt Links is a meticulously designed course that pays homage to the traditional links courses of Scotland and Ireland. Created by the legendary Gary Player, this course is known for its undulating, windswept terrain and challenging layout, making it a favourite for major golf tournaments and discerning players. Fancourt (Montagu) - Another Gary Player masterpiece, the Montagu course at Fancourt is famed for its beautiful fairways and strategic bunkering. This parkland course blends seamlessly into the landscape, featuring stunning views of the Outeniqua Mountains and perfectly manicured greens. It provides a challenging yet enjoyable game for golfers of all skill levels. Pearl Valley - Set in the picturesque Paarl-Franschhoek Valley, Pearl Valley is renowned for its pristine conditioning and the stunning setting of the Winelands. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the course features a layout that's both challenging and rewarding, with water hazards and bunkers that demand strategic play. The signature 13th hole is a highlight, offering both risk and reward in equal measure. Arabella - Located near Hermanus, Arabella Golf Club is often rated among the top courses in South Africa. It is particularly famous for its challenging back nine and spectacular finishing holes that overlook the Bot River Lagoon. The course's natural beauty is complemented by a layout that takes full advantage of the varied terrain, providing a test for golfers who enjoy a course that requires thoughtful navigation. Pinnacle Point - Situated on the Mossel Bay coastline, Pinnacle Point is a breathtakingly beautiful course that offers sweeping views of the Indian Ocean. This cliff-top course is known for its dramatic elevation changes and challenging holes, particularly those that run along the precipice of the ocean cliffs. The course's design leverages the natural landscape to offer a unique golfing experience that is both visually striking and challenging. These courses not only highlight the best of golf in the Western Cape but also encapsulate the spirit of South African golf: challenging, beautiful, and unforgettable. Whether you're a serious golfer seeking a test or a casual player looking to enjoy a round in a picturesque setting, the Western Cape offers some of the best golfing experiences in the world. Find out more about travel toErinvale Why not register today to be the 1st to Receive Worldwide 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
A good halfway house can turn a great round of golf into a memorable one. It might be a cold beer on a Scottish links, a burger with a spectacular view or a hot drink to warm you up before the back nine. Whatever is on offer, the best halfway houses give golfers a chance to forget about the scorecard for a few minutes and enjoy the experience. We recently asked the Top100 Golf Courses community to share their favourite halfway houses, uncovering plenty of memorable stops around the world. We've picked five of their recommendations, alongside five more renowned halfway houses that are well worth knowing about. What is a Halfway House? A halfway house is a food and drink stop positioned around the turn of a golf course, usually between the ninth and 10th holes. Some are little more than a hut serving snacks and drinks, while others have become destinations in their own right, offering everything from full meals and cocktails to fires, views and plenty of local character. Five Halfway Houses Chosen by the Top100 Community Sunningdale Golf Club (England) There is a reason the halfway hut at Sunningdale has become one of the most famous refreshment stops in golf. The small Swiss-chalet-style building has been in place since 1903, sitting where the ninth holes of both the Old and New Courses meet their respective 10th holes. But the building itself isn't the main attraction. That would be the sausage sandwich. Sunningdale's legendary hut serves a simple sausage on buttered bread, with other food and refreshments available alongside it. The hut has become such an established part of the experience that the club's own tradition says everybody stops, but does so speedily. It's not fancy, and that's rather the point. After nine holes of heather-lined fairways, a hot sausage sandwich and a cup of tea can feel like exactly what golf ordered. Nairn Golf Club - The Bothy at Nairn (Scotland) The Bothy at Nairn has a history that goes well beyond golf. Built in 1877, the stone building and neighbouring icehouse formed part of the Easter Delnies Fishing Station, one of five salmon fisheries operating along the coast between Nairn and the mouth of the Findhorn. In a good season, the fishery could catch up to 5,000 salmon, with ice collected from local rivers and a specially made pond and stored in the icehouse to keep the catch fresh. The buildings have since been given a new lease of life, with the Bothy converted into a halfway house where golfers can stop for snacks and refreshments at the turn. On a cold day beside the Moray Firth, there's also a fireplace to warm up beside. The historic stone building, Highland setting and views across the course provide plenty of atmosphere. One of our community members put it rather simply: a dram of whisky and a fire are hard to beat. Hard to argue with that. Turnberry Ailsa (Scotland) Turnberry's halfway house is about as far removed from the traditional golf hut as you can get. The Ailsa's ninth hole now finishes beside the famous Turnberry Lighthouse, which doubles as a halfway house for golfers. The lighthouse itself dates back to 1873, while the golf course's dramatic ninth was redesigned as part of the Ailsa's major renovation. Inside, golfers can stop for food and drink before heading to the 10th, but the real attraction is outside. From the lighthouse, there are views across the Firth of Clyde towards the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig. It's a halfway stop that feels more like a destination than a quick pit stop. When your halfway house is a historic lighthouse overlooking one of Scotland's most spectacular stretches of coastline, you've got a pretty good excuse to take your time. Ardglass Golf Club (Northern Ireland) At Ardglass, the halfway-house experience is wonderfully straightforward: have a Guinness and enjoy the view. The course's old cottage halfway house at the back of the 7th green has become one of its most memorable features, with golfers able to stop for a pint before continuing their round. A recent visitor described it as a gorgeous cottage with Guinness, while another praised the combination of a Guinness, sausage roll and views over the Irish Sea. It fits Ardglass perfectly. The County Down links is already one of the most dramatic places to play golf in Northern Ireland, with the Irish Sea never far away. Add a pint of Guinness just before the turn and you've got a halfway house that feels distinctly of its surroundings. Sometimes you don't need to reinvent the wheel. Blair Atholl Golf Estate (South Africa) Blair Atholl might have been one of the less obvious names to appear among the community recommendations, but the descriptions made it impossible to leave out. The halfway stop sounds less like a quick break and more like an event. One golfer highlighted the chicken burger, a chef cooking a barbecue beneath the trees and a deck sitting beneath a stream. Another mentioned silver-service high tea. That's quite the halfway-house menu. It's also a good example of why the best stops aren't necessarily the most famous. A halfway house can become memorable because of the food, the setting or simply the feeling that you're being looked after rather than rushed back onto the course. Five More Renowned Halfway Houses St Andrews Links - The Old Course (Scotland) If we're talking about halfway houses, it makes sense to visit the place that has a claim to starting the tradition. In the 19th century, David "Old Da" Anderson sold ginger beer and other refreshments from a cart on the Old Course at St Andrews. It has been described as golf's first refreshment stand. The modern version sits behind the ninth green and keeps the tradition going, albeit with a rather more substantial menu. The pork and haggis sausage roll is a popular choice, while the club's own Tom Morris 1821 Lager provides a suitably Scottish accompaniment. It's difficult to think of a more fitting place for a halfway stop. The Old Course is steeped in golfing history, and even the break between nines has a story of its own. Pine Valley Golf Club (New Jersey, United States) Pine Valley's halfway house is memorable before you've even ordered anything. Rather than a conventional hut, it is built into the base of an old water tower, which golfers encounter around the eighth hole and again near the 12th tee. It's an appropriately unusual feature for one of the world's most unconventional golf courses. The tower doubles as a stop for drinks and snacks, giving golfers a chance to take a breather before continuing around Pine Valley. It even boasts an impressive collection of golf balls from around the world. There aren't many halfway houses that can claim to be built inside a water tower. Quivira Golf Club (Baja California Sur, Mexico) Quivira has taken the halfway-house concept and spread it across the entire round. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course has multiple all-inclusive comfort stations, each offering golfers food and drinks as they make their way around the Cabo San Lucas layout. The most spectacular is The Cliffs, perched almost 300 feet above the Pacific, where golfers can stop for a breakfast burrito and take in the views over the ocean. Then there's The Oasis, the main halfway house near the ninth green. Here, the emphasis is on the food, with freshly prepared Baja cuisine including tacos and tostadas, alongside a full tequila bar. A final stop, Cañada, sits near the 16th tee, while another comfort station beside the oceanfront practice facility offers snacks and cold drinks before golfers even reach the first tee. The food and refreshments are included in the green fee, making Quivira's comfort stations much more than somewhere to grab a quick drink. Tacos, tequila and spectacular Pacific Ocean views make the breaks almost as memorable as the golf. Whistling Rock Country Club (South Korea) At Whistling Rock, there isn't just one halfway house to look forward to. The South Korean club is made up of three nine-hole loops, each with its own themed tea house: Cocoon, Temple and Cloud. The three buildings are each distinctly different. One is a rounded structure between a lake and forest, another is a formal wood-and-glass building, while the Cloud tea house sits high among the trees. The result is a halfway-house experience that feels distinctly different depending on which nine you're playing, with each tea house adding another layer to the Whistling Rock experience. Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Scotland) Royal Dornoch's halfway house is proof that sometimes the best idea is a simple one. The stop sits behind the ninth green of the Championship Course, with views back across the links towards the Dornoch Firth. And then there's the traditional order: hot chocolate with Bailey's Irish Cream, a combination that makes considerably more sense when you're standing on a Scottish links in a North Sea wind. It's a small detail, but one that has become part of the Royal Dornoch experience and exactly the sort of halfway-house tradition golfers remember.
