On assignment to experience some of Knysna’s top attractions, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the region’s top golf course – the Pezula Championship Golf Course. I am by no means a golfer myself, but since my husband’s only weakness in life is smacking golf balls along fairways, I have developed a fair appreciation for the game; and as you can imagine, I earned MAJOR brownie points when I dragged him along to play a round at Pezula.
I think it’s safe to say this is the one and only time that my hubby would EVER wake up at 6am to spend 3 and a half hours at work with me on a Sunday. It was a dream come true for him and he barely waited for the sun to rise before shooting an excellent round of 78 on the par 72 course. While my own dreams have little to do with eagles and hole-in-ones, I was completely mesmerised by the natural beauty and magnificent layout of Pezula. It is without a doubt the most stunning course I have ever seen and I have plenty of reasons to call it South Africa’s best course for non-golfers.
1. Beautiful location: Pezula Golf Club enjoys prime position on Knysna’s East Head. It overlooks the Indian Ocean, the sprawling wetlands that surround Knysna, and the distant forested mountains.
2. Stellar sunrise: Most people wouldn’t believe that I spent my 30th birthday watching my hubby play golf, but it’s true. And I have to admit; watching the sun rise up and cast its ethereal glow through the trees onto the undulating fairway of the 3rd hole was the perfect way to see in the new decade.
3. Great staff: From the second we arrived we were well taken care of by the Pezula staff. The resident pro, Clint, had a great sense of humour and kept popping up in his golf cart to ensure we were having fun. Clint was quick to affirm that as the non-golfer, I had the most important job of taking photos. He showed us his second office (the 17th tee) and argued that it’s incredibly unfair to expect players to concentrate on the game with such beautiful views.
4. Photography: While my hubby’s golf analysis was that “Pezula rewards great shots and punishes bad ones”, my photographic analysis is that you can’t get a bad shot at Pezula! The views are magnificent and varied with lofty trees, textured fynbos dongas, rolling fairways, deep bunkers, reed-lined dams, endless seascapes, rugged cliffs, misty valleys, luxury homes, and resident birdlife.
5. Quality time: My love language is quality time, so spending 3 and a half hours on a beautiful championship course with the man of my dreams was a total treat. (We were alone, so it would be longer with a 4-ball).
6. Driving the cart: It’s not every day your man lets you do the steering! Despite the speed cap, the course is so undulating that at times it felt as if we were in a dinky 4×4 rally.
7. Plan your dream home: Pezula Golf Estate houses sell for anything between R4 million and R30 million, so there is plenty of inspiration to plan your dream home.
8. Outdoors: It was the middle of winter, but the sun was shining brilliantly and we enjoyed the fresh outdoor air in Gucci-style. While the mister was playing, I could take a stroll along the cart pathways, enjoy the views, and even work on my tan.
9. Clubhouse: The Pezula Clubhouse is beautiful and it’s no surprise that it’s a popular choice for weddings and functions. The vast terrace laps up the sunshine and boasts stunning views over the greens to the Indian Ocean. The Clubhouse has a restaurant and bar, a boutique proshop, halfway dining facilities, and comfortable change rooms with showers.
10. Free: While a round of golf will cost a non-affiliated member R595 (R750 as of 1 October 2013) for 18 holes (including the shared use of a golf cart), tagging along is a lot more cost-effective. Depending on the size of your group, you may only have to pay for the use extra golf carts.
11. Great rewards: They say “happy wife, happy life” and the same applies for husbands. Give him a round of golf at one of South Africa’s top championship courses and he may just surprise you by spring cleaning your home. Yes, it really happened!
12. Awards: If you need any more validation, take it from the experts. In 2001, just a few months after opening, Pezula was awarded Best New Golf Course in South Africa. Since then, Pezula Golf Club has raked up several other awards and Compleat Golfer has rated it a “Five Star Golf Experience” every year since February 2005.
Whether you’re a pro, amateur, or non-golfer, Pezula Championship Golf Course is one of South Africa’s most exciting courses where you can be guaranteed a five star experience! What golf courses do you recommend?
