Margate Country Club
Margate Country Club features superb greens, particularly the 9th and 18th both finishing par fives that share a vast contoured green in the St. Andrews tradition.
It's a relatively easy start up the first and second fairways (except the out of bounds on the left) but the course gets more demanding from the third hole.
The 10th and 11th on the second nine are really challenging holes, the short 11th par 3 being one of the most deceiving and demending holes to be found anywhere. Although only 3kms from the sea it is located on relatively high ground and abounds with tall trees and excellent inland views.
Port Edward Golf Course
You'll enjoy more than the golf at Port Edward. This country club is reputed to have the friendliest 19th hole on the Golf Coast.
The nine hole course is short but testing with pretty coastal and inland views. Water comes into play on four holes and the sloping fairways can be tricky to play. It's enjoyable however and there is always the warm welcome back at the clubhouse.
San Lameer Country Club
This par 72 course is a tough 6100m walk in the park but caddy carts are available. The par 3 14th hole is a photographers' dream setting with the coastline as a backdrop, and both tee and green cut into the side of a hill. A circle of bunkers protect the green and palm trees abound left and right.
The 13th hole is a superb par 5 but water, water everywhere. You cross water twice en route to the green but it is an absolute joy to play and reachable in two for brave long hitters. The clubhouse is quite magnificent and has a spectacular view from terrace.
Southbroom Golf Course
It has a tough and tight layout through lush coastal bush and offers spectacular sea and surf views from the fourth and fifth tees.
The first hole is an excellent start, a tricky par 4 to test tour opening skills, and the short par 3 4th hole will stop you in your tracks. It is the most talked about hole, for it is part of the sand dunes that protect this magnificent coastline and on rare occasions you can watch the dolphins play or a whale basking in the warm Indian Ocean currents.
Monkeys and birds abound and a birdie or two of your own is on the cards for even the average golfer who can hit two straight shot in a row. Beware the deceiving 68 rating (par 71), there plenty of bush out there!
St Michaels Golf Course
The completely redesigned St. Michaels Golf Course is an outstanding example of what can be achieved by employing professional golf course architects to design and supervise construction.
The 9-hole 18 tee course has a most challenging layout with many water features and some demanding holes. The "short" 6th hole at 140m requires a perfect tee-shot to survive and the 9th par 4 back to the clubhouse is considered by many golfers to be the best hole on the course.
Umkomaas Golf Club
It is a challenging 5 479 m course which tests the abilities of the low handicapped golfer to the full. Although there are no water hazards the course is heavily wooded and abounds with bunkers.
The most difficult hole has to be the par 4 3rd. Besides its formidable length (415 m) the fairway slopes from right to left and the tee-shot is critical if you are trying to the elevated green in two.
A spectacular golf course and sea view awaits you on the 14th tee with the fairway stretched out way below you, and it's out of bounds on the right, all the way to the green.
Scottburgh Golf Club
Comparatively short at 5 323 m it boats 2 par 5's and 5 par 3 holes, with the par 4 3rd being the most talked about hole on the course. It has the narrowest of fairways with out of bounds on the right and a coastal forest on the left to contend with.
Like all coastal courses, Scottburgh can become quite tricky in the wind but one of the most spectacular shots is from the 18th tee where one flies the drive over towering trees, into the wild blue yonder and hopefully the fairway below.
Port Shepstone Golf Course
The Port Shepstone Golf Course is situated on the banks of the Umzimkulu, Natal's second largest river. The well wooded first nine is considered by many visitors to be quite stunning in its natural beauty.
The first three holes are more difficult than they appear and shots are easily thrown away here. The course is an easy walk along lush and level fairways except for the climb to the short 5th hole tee - aptly named the pulpit.
The second nine is longer and the fairways wider but very exposed to the elements.
