Fancourt Golf Estate: South Africa’s No 1 Destination

With 54 holes and a luxury hotel on site, it’s hardly surprising that Fancourt Golf Estate is renowned globally

Fancourt is located in George, part of the captivating Garden Route region in the Western Cape of South Africa. It stretches for 400km along large expanses of panoramic Indian Ocean beaches, with beautiful mountain ranges and natural forests.

Fancourt has become a global landmark for golfing and leisure travel, but its gradual expansion can be traced back to the establishment of the Manor House by its first custodian, Henry Fancourt White in the late 1880s. The estate was transformed into a hotel and golfing destination in 1989. Today, Fancourt is owned by Dr and Mrs Plattner, with award-winning courses and unparalleled service, against the backdrop of the ever-present Outeniqua mountain range.

Golf takes pride of place at Fancourt, and deservedly so. Designed by a team led by Gary Player, all three of the estate’s 18-hole courses – Montagu, Outeniqua and The Links – have garnered praise from the international golfing community and their fairways attract players from all corners of the world. Montagu and Outeniqua, both sprawling parklands, are ranked No.6 and 16 in South Africa respectively, while The Links, inspired by Scottish courses, is at No.1. Voted among the World’s Ten Best Golf Resorts on CNNGo, Fancourt has supplemented its courses with its own Golf Academy, practice facilities and every modern convenience, allowing golfers to immerse themselves in a five-star experience.

It should be every avid golfer’s desire to play in this famed leisure and lifestyle destination, and to stay at The Manor House boutique hotel, the jewel of the estate. Representing the epitome of romance, The Manor House offers a true feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life. Exquisitely furnishes and decorated with sensual metallic finishes, the Manor House offers accommodation of uncompromising quality. It incorporates eco-friendly design features and provides a refreshing outlook on modern golf travel.

Golfers can also stay at the Fancourt hotel, recently announced as the global winner of Luxury Golf Resorts, as well as Country winner Luxury Garden Resort at the 10th World Luxury Hotel Awards. With a luxury spa, four restaurants, and two five-star hotels, Fancourt delivers an extraordinary leisure experience. It is the perfect place to rest before and after your rounds.

Sculpted into what Player has described as his ‘greatest feat as a course designer’, The Links is the golfing hallmark of the Fancourt Estate. Featuring an undulating, windswept terrain and dune-style landscape, The Links holds top spot in South Africa by Golf Digest SA, and is No.43 in Golf Digest US’s list of the world’s 100 greatest courses.

A slice of environmental and golfing heritage, The Links is considered a masterpiece, and has hosted a range of golf legends including John Bland, Justin Rose, Retief Goosen, Branden Grace and Ernie Els.

Apart from its distinctive design, The Links – which incorporates significant rises and falls – has been lauded for its vital role in environmental sustainability and designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperation Sanctuary. This certification necessitated a degree of ecological value that includes wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, and other environmental factors. The Links is a private club, but limited tee times are available for guests staying at Fancourt Hotel or The Manor House.

Beyond The Links is the Montagu, which has developed into one of the nest 18-hole parklands, earning it sixth position on Golf Digest SA’s list of top courses in South Africa. Exquisitely conditioned to provide a riveting golf experience, this tree-lined course covers large tracts of varying terrain on rolling land. A warm-up area – a full-length range and a chipping and bunker practice area – helps you warm up while buggies are available for hire, weather permitting.

For a more relaxed game, Fancourt’s Outeniqua presents an 18-hole parkland that is far easier than its counterpart, Montagu, yet still offers its fair share of challenges. Water hazards feature on as many as 11 of the holes. Named after the mountain range that forms its breathtaking backdrop, the course is pristinely conditioned yet still accommodates a large volume of players. As with its sister courses, a detailed stroke saver guides golfers through the course with distance measurements and images.

Aside from its award-winning golf courses, Fancourt houses comprehensive practice facilities for those who want to work on their games. These facilities include a chipping and bunker practice area and a driving range with both open-air and undercover practice bays. Young golfing enthusiasts and aspiring professionals are also welcome to attend Fancourt’s onsite Golf Academy and gain access to expert advice and tuition.

Want to find out more?

Tel: +27 (0) 44 804 0000
Email: hotel@fancourt.co.za
Website: fancourt.com