Pearl Valley Golf Course
The Pearl Valley Golf Estate, surrounded by the Simonsberg and Drakenstein Mountains, has its own natural water hazard - the Berg River! Nestling among the orchards and vineyards on the outskirts of two of the Cape's most famous wineland towns, Franschhoek and Paarl, this is a very recent addition to the exclusive Jack Nicklaus repertoire of “Signature” courses.
True to his design principles, by working closely with nature Nicklaus has provided a golf course that fits in beautifully with the environment. The level terrain left Nicklaus free to develop challenging hole strategies – and 76 bunkers have been cleverly sculpted into the fairways and around the greens, and water hazards come into play on just about every hole. The result is a course golfers have to ‘think’ their way around.
The course, crossed by roads in only three places, has a drainage system that allows play to continue just minutes after a severe cloudburst. Unusually, the fairways are sown with all-season cool grass imported from the USA, a first in South Africa.
The course has yet to nominate a signature hole, but the resident pro assures us it's the par-3 13th. The green is on the edge of a small dam that must be cleared, with a bunker guarding the far side.
Click here to view of download ‘Pearl Valley Golf Course Guide’ |
