Located in the scenic coastal town of Melkbosstrand, Atlantic Beach Golf Links, on the spectacular Atlantic Beach Golf Estate, offers a memorable golfing experience against a backdrop of breath-taking natural beauty. This renowned golf course has established itself as one of South Africa’s premier destinations, captivating players with its challenging layout, stunning views, and exceptional course maintenance.
The course layout at the Atlantic Beach Golf Links harmoniously blends with the surrounding landscape, showcasing the coastal charm of Cape Town’s West Coast. Generous wide fairways are lined with indigenous fynbos teaming with wildlife. The course blends into its surroundings and fits perfectly into contours of the flora covered dunes. Each hole presents its unique character and challenges, promising an exciting round for golfers of all levels. It is a thinkers golf course, reward shot making over power.
The course design cleverly incorporates strategic bunkers, undulating fairways, and occasional elevation changes to force you into using every club in your bag. These features provide both a visual spectacle and an exciting test of skill. The Atlantic Beach Golf Links offers holes that showcase the natural beauty of the area and here are four of our favourites:
Hole 3:
The Par 3, 3rd hole, previously the 12th hole on the original course layout, is the signature hole on the course. A short par 3 when the South Easter isn’t blowing, the 3rd hole has uninterrupted views of Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Blouberg Nature Reserve. The green is extremely long, and very narrow, meaning the large putting surface has a tiny landing zone off the tee, and on a windy day you could easily play a fairway wood or hybrid into a back left pin position, or a gentle wedge to a front right pin on a calm day.
Hole 4:
The par 5 4th hole is a sweeping dogleg left. The fairway in wide when you play short off the tee and narrow when you play long and aggressively. Wind will make all the difference in club selection on the 4th hole, with a South East or Western wind making this a guaranteed three-shot par 5. Any wind blowing in from a northerly direction would tempt the longer hitters to take a stab at the 4th green by running up the narrow gauntlet surround the entrance to the green, almost guaranteeing a birdie.
Hole 13:
The stoke 1, par 5 is rightfully ranked as the hardest hole on the course. Most of the year it is played into a strong head wind, and even when the win is at your back, the right to left shape of the first 30% of the hole means any wayward tee shots will be lost to the unforgiving fynbos. A well placed tee shot doesn’t guarantee a result on the 13th hole either, with a sharply sloping fairway from left to right guarded by a mean fairway bunker in the preferred lay up zone. All approaches will be into a highly elevated, sloped green that has a nasty false front. Par is a huge win on 13 and it has been the undoing of many a promising round at the Links.
Hole 14:
The 14th is another featured hole at the Atlantic Beach Golf Links purely for the spectacular views, The green is wide, and not very deep, which means you have to be bang on with your club selection if you want to make par or better here. The green is one of the most exposed on the entire course, so pay attention to the wind when you are choosing a club for your tee shot.
Despite a setback during Cape Town’s epic drought a few years ago, Atlantic Beach has recovered very well. Course maintenance is exceptional at Atlantic Beach Golf Links. The fairways are meticulously manicured, ensuring consistent playing conditions throughout. The greens are fast and true, rewarding accurate putting. The attention to detail and commitment to providing a top-notch golfing experience are evident in every aspect of the course’s upkeep.
Off the course
The facilities and amenities at the Atlantic Beach Golf Links complement the exceptional golfing experience. The brand new clubhouse offers a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, providing golfers with an ideal place to relax and socialise. The Pro Shop, a Pro Shop Express franchise, is well-equipped, albeit small, and caters to the needs of golfers with a variety of equipment and apparel. Practice facilities, including a driving range and putting green, allow players to warm up and refine their skills.
The staff at Atlantic Beach Golf Links are known for their friendly and professional service. Whether it is providing assistance at the pro shop, offering guidance on the course, or ensuring smooth operations throughout, the attentive and knowledgeable staff contribute to an enjoyable visit for all players. Tony, the Golf Director, and Francois the CEO have made Atlantic Beach a world class destination.
In conclusion, the Atlantic Beach Golf Links in Melkbosstrand is a highly regarded golf course. Its captivating setting, challenging layout, and meticulous maintenance make it a must-visit destination for golfers seeking an exceptional golfing experience along South Africa’s beautiful western coastline.