Why foreigners love golf in South Africa

The renowned Course Architect, Peter Matkovich says that South Africa is one of the fastest growing golf tourism destinations in the world. And that’s without the full potential even being touched. Matkovich has been a professional golfer for the past 25 years and has developed many courses, sixteen of which are in the top one hundred in the country. It’s hardly surprising when you think of the world-class courses we have and the full year sunshine we are privileged to have. Often Northern Hemisphere holidaymakers come down here when their winter is rife back home. But the country itself is a big draw card as well. Many international clients come to see the game on safari whilst they grab a few holes at the same time. Cape Town is considered a must for any traveller but overall the country just has so much to offer the golfer who likes to experience something different.

Cape Town and Johannesburg get most of the golfing travellers in the country and that’s predominantly because of their international airports. When Durban international gets an upgrade for the 2010 World Cup it will probably also become a serious destination. The Durban Country Club is an internationally renowned course that attracts many visitors from abroad because of its good name. Unfortunately it and its seven surrounding courses that are in the country’s top 30 are not easily accessible to tourists and therefore loses out of the growing industry amongst the travellers. There are however some spectacular places outside of Cape Town and Johannesburg that pull in golfers. George offers four courses in South Africa’s top 10. It is worthwhile to travel a little further to discover some true gems. Peter Matkovich says that a minimum of twelve golf courses is needed to generate a buzz around an area. He goes on to predict that Kwa-Zulu Natal will probably be home to the next boom in golf tourism.

An eight-year veteran of the Sunshine tour, Richard Fulford works at the Pro Shop in Johannesburg Country Club. Apparently the Club receives a lot of international visitors, and the golf tour operators are pulling them in. The foreigners tell him there are three major reasons for coming to play golf in South Africa. Firstly the exchange rate favours them, secondly the amazing golf courses, and the one thing every single traveller mentions is the weather.

Wendy Raeburn from the Royal Cape Golf Club is an advance bookings agent who believes that most of the people playing at the club are from overseas. Again the golf tour operators have a large part to do with that.

Most of South Africa’s tourists come from Germany and the United Kingdom and thereafter some of the European countries follow. There is quite a bit of competition from countries like Portugal and Spain for this same market and that has in the past affected South Africa negatively. That’s why South African golf courses and tour operators have to keep their prices down, because otherwise it will be a lot easier for the Europeans to simply go somewhere close to home. At the same time it is imperative that the tourists are treated well as first class passengers on a tour. Service is essential to the process.

South Africa is also very well represented on the world golfing scene. Players like Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, to mention but a few are constantly amongst the world’s best in all the major tournaments. South Africa also have the first tournament in the world that offers a one million dollar first-place prize. The Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City has attracted some of the world’s top golfers. There are many reasons why golf in South Africa is such an attractive option to international consumers, but there is one thing that’s for certain, the golf tourism industry has only just begun.