The British Novelist Roald Dahl once said, “Life is more fun if you play games.” And though he penned this sentiment years ago, it still rings true, and it is doubtful he had golf in his mind.
Golf is an old popular sport played on a course by hitting a ball with a club from a tee into a hole. The goal is to get the ball into the hole in as few strokes as possible, and the golf game is played casually or competitively.
Popular opinion in South Africa might get you thinking that golf is for the propertied and moneyed folks because, for years, it had been associated with the high class owing to the expensive green fees, but things have changed.
Today, middle and lower-class South Africans have found a new way of learning and playing golf because of the availability of cheaper golf courses aside from those like the Links Club in the Fancourt estate, the 18-hole Bryanston Country Club, Leopard Creek golf course on the banks of the Crocodile River bordering the Kruger National Park and a few others whose membership remains strictly by invitation, with hefty annual membership fees, as News24 puts.
But today, in South Africa, playing on an exceptional golf course with stunning vistas and aesthetically pleasing holes doesn’t mean you must drain your bank account because there are several courses you can play on affordably if you want to enjoy on a budget:
Top 5 cheapest golf courses in South Africa
Here is the list of the cheapest golf courses for a perfect tee time in South Africa.
South Africa is a golfing wrap sheet like no other in Africa due to its historic golf courses of varied layouts. It is also known for producing world-class golfers like Gary Player, who had an impressive career, bringing fame to the country by winning the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour 24 times and having a record-breaking 63 blue ribands in the Sunshine Tour.
Check out the most affordable courses in SA;
1. Wingate Park Country Club
Wingate Park Country Club is perhaps one of the oldest golf courses and arguably one of the country’s most recognized courses since its opening for public use in April 1951.
It is one of the most iconic places to play regular golf in Gauteng, South Africa, having perfectly manicured fairways, practice facilities, and five bowling greens.
To play at Wingate Park Country Club on weekdays, you have to part with between R150 and R50 if you are a senior member with a Wingate Park membership card and an average golf playing fee of below R260 if you are a junior member.
Wingate Park Country Club golf course is open from Monday to Sunday.
Address – 539 Norval Street, Pretoria, 0153 Gauteng, South Africa
Telephone – 012 997 1312
Email – admin@wingatecc.co.za
2. Metropolitan Golf Club
Known as the ‘jewel of central Cape Town,’ Metropolitan Golf Club South Africa is one of the facilities steeped in the rich country’s history since the days of the Anglo-Boer War between 1899 and 1902 when SA was still under the British Empire.
It was called the Green and Sea Point Golf Club then, with a nine-hole layout before undergoing several revamping processes to become the Metropolitan Golf Club, the masterpiece it is today, offering unique golfing experiences.
The golf course was annexed to utilize the incredible natural landscape it sits in, and its holes were redesigned and extended to 18, making it more than impressive to the eye.
Metropolitan Golf Club’s green fees are affordable, ranging from R310 to R390 for members and R515 to R5690 for visitors.
Address – Fritz Sonnenberg Road, Mouille Point, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Telephone – 021 430 6011
Email – info@metropolitangolf.co.za
3. Akasia Golf Club
Akasia Golf Club is set only 14km from Pretoria against the magnificent backdrop of the Magaliesberg mountains, known amongst golfers to be one of the cheapest and best golf courses in South Africa.
It gifts players an unforgettable golfing experience with its stunning 18-hole course surrounded by acacia trees and plenty of wildlife.
Akasia Golf Club costs R100-R150 to play nine holes on weekdays, and those with full membership play in the course for free. To play 18 holes, you will pay R200 per day on average.
Address – Waterbok Street, Theresapark, Pretoria, 0182, South Africa
Telephone – 012 542 1309/3087/3999
Email – admin@akasiacc.co.za
4. Hillside Golf Course
Hillside Golf Course in the Rachel de Beer Street area in Pretoria is regarded as the best value golf course in South Africa, with the cheapest peak green fee of R50 from Tuesdays to Fridays and on weekends plus public holidays and just R25 for unlimited golfing on Mondays.
This visually impressive 9-hole course was formerly a disused dump site but was transformed to the current state to beautify the surrounding area and give golfers a lovely retreat while golfing.
5. Waterkloof Golf Club
Waterkloof Golf Club, one of the leading public golf courses in South Africa, is home to professional and amateur golfers.
Its playing course offers spectacularly located tees as it skirts the jaw-dropping serene environment and the rolling terrain of Waterkloof Estate in Pretoria.
The 18-hole venue is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, charging a fee ranging from R165 to R240 per player on afternoon plays and R180-R350 per player for official golf tournaments requiring a ‘shotgun start,’ whereby groups of golfers tee off at the same time around the course.
Waterkloof Golf Club says you must write to them if you want to play shotgun start golf on their course, and you must be in a group of 80 players minimum.
Address – Waterkloofrif, Pretoria, South Africa
Telephone – +27 12 007 1147
Email – events@waterkloofgolf.co.za
