The Links at Fancourt Country Club

The Links at Fancourt Country Club

Fancourt is one of South Africa's leading golf and leisure resorts if not the top and is situated in the heart of the breathtaking Garden Route in George, South Africa. The resort is made up of hotels, homes, spas, restaurants and three golf courses amongst other things. The Links, Montagu and Outeniqua golf courses are all ranked in the Top 20 in South Africa. Fancourt opened in the early 90's with the Outeniqua and Montagu golf courses which have matured and developed into two of the finest 18-hole parkland layouts in the country. But it's the special course that was added in the year 2000 that we want to talk about now. A course that saw the old George Airport magically transformed into this truly magnificent golf course, The Links at Fancourt Country Club.

The Links is an awe-inspiring example of magnificent design and golf-course construction and without a doubt the most impressive course of its kind in the country. Dr Hasso Plattner, the owner of Fancourt, took a very hands-on approach in the creation of the course, and commissioned one which would not only be a thorough test for every golfer, but would also rank among the top courses in the world. The testament to that was in 2014, The Links was ranked No. 1 in South Africa by Golf Digest SA and No. 34 in the world by the USA Golf Digest. A feat not easily achieved. But this achievement can also be accredited to Gary Player and his design team who spent months studying the classic links courses of Scotland and Ireland. The team came back to South Africa ready to recreate some of the finest holes from these courses and create a genuine links test on what was once an airfield. Well the world stood to attention and Player and his team created a course which is awe-inspiring and has elicited praise from some of the world's finest golfers.

But for those of you packing the clubs in the boot of your Jag and heading to The Links at Fancourt for a round, there is a catch. The Links is a private Club although limited tee times are available for guests staying at Fancourt Hotel or The Manor House at Fancourt. So unless you are a member, one of their guests or a hotel resident, it would more than likely be a wasted trip. But for those of you who fall into these categories it is fair to say that Fancourt golf course might be too difficult if you are the average weekend golfer. So for those who are planning to play Fancourt Links for the first time: bring your 'A' game.