KwaZulu-Natal occupies an area of around 36,000 square miles and it lies to the east of South Africa, bordering three other provinces and the countries of Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland. Durban, the largest provincial city and busiest port in the country is also a well-developed tourist centre that markets its sub-tropical climate and long, sandy beachfront to potential visitors.

The KwaZulu-Natal Golf Union is the governing body for male amateur golfers in the province and its 88 member clubs are spread throughout the five districts of Zululand, Northern Natal, Midlands, North Coast and Southern Natal. Female golfers have their own provincial authority, the Kwazulu-Natal Ladies Golf Association, an organisation that can trace its roots back to 1918.

Any list of top tracks in KwaZulu-Natal has to include three terrific Peter Matkovich courses at Prince’s Grant, Cotswold Downs and San Lameer. Hugh Baiocchi’s Champagne Sports course at Winterton and the 18 holes of Tom Weiskopf’s Zimbali course are wonderful late 1990s designs, but the “Best in Province” tag still belongs to the old Durban (Country Club) layout that was first played in 1922.