The Links at Fancourt

The Links at Fancourt is without doubt the most impressive piece of golf design and construction ever in South Africa. Fancourt owner Dr Hasso Plattner, who took a very hands-on function in the creation, commissioned a golf course, which would not only be a thorough test for every golfer, but would also rank among the top courses in the world.

Player's design team spent months studying the classic links courses of Scotland and Ireland and then, armed with inspiration from the best that those countries had to offer, embarked on the ambitious task of recreating some of their finest holes to make a genuine links test on what was once an airfield.

The result is awe-inspiring and has elicited praise from some of the world's finest golfers - The Links was the host venue for the 2003 Presidents Cup, which ended in an historic tie after a dramatic play-off between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. In early 2005, it was the host venue for the Women's World Cup of Golf, which was won by the diminutive duo of Rui Kitada and Ai Miyzato of Japan.

In December of this year, The links will host the SAA Open, the world's second-oldest national Open championship, after The Open Championship.

The Links at Fancourt is a private club, with play restricted to members and their invited guests. There are limited times available to guests staying at Fncourt's hotel - booking is essential.

There is little doubt that a round at The links is a special experience, enhanced greatly by the expert caddies at the club. These caddies are among the best in the world and are sure to assist any standard of golfer negotiate his or her way around The Links.

When playing The Links, it is difficult to believe that one is not in Scotland or Ireland, until, that is, one notices the imposing Outeniqua mountain range that rises impressively in the background.