George Golf Club Review
George Golf Club is a picturesque golf course located in the charming town of George in the Southern Cape, South Africa. The club boasts a rich history dating back to 1886 and is regularly ranked as one of the top golf courses in the country by satop100courses.com. SOS had the pleasure of playing a round at the course recently as part of our Year End Tour, and here’s our review of the experience.
Positives:
One of the biggest positives of George Golf Club is its location. Nestled at the foot of the majestic Outeniqua Mountains, the course is surrounded by stunning scenery, which provides an idyllic setting for a game of golf. The well-maintained fairways and greens also make for an enjoyable round as the putts role true.
Another notable positive is the variety of holes on the course. There are several holes that require precise shot-making, while others require a bit more power. The course is challenging, but fair, which makes for a great test for golfers of all levels. Overall, the course is well-designed, and the layout makes for a fun and exciting outing.
The staff at George Golf Club also deserve a mention. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm hospitality and excellent service. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and always willing to assist with any queries or concerns we had.
The greens fees are reasonable too, with the club offering us a group booking deal that included carts. On a side note, carts were cancelled on the day of play due to heavy rains overnight, but the club compensated for this by arranging extra caddies for our visiting tour, who were competent and fun – making wagers between themselves about how we would play (which provided us with extra incentive and a few laughs). Note to touring parties with big numbers, book well in advance.
Negatives:
One of the negatives of the course is that it can be quite crowded. Given its popularity, it is not uncommon to have to wait a bit for a tee time or have a slow round due to the number of players on the course. This can be frustrating for golfers who want to play a quick round.
Another minor negative was the halfway house, which was extremely slow in getting our orders out and a few of us had our lunch delivered to the 11th tee box after an extended wait in halfway for food that didn’t arrive or orders that were taken incorrectly. The clubhouse facilities are also somewhat dated and could benefit from an upgrade.
Feature Holes:
The first of two feature holes that stood out for us was the par-3 15th hole. This hole requires a precise downhill tee shot to a difficult and narrow green. Surrounded by huge established trees, the green itself is not small, but it is undulating, which makes for a challenging putting surface. Overall, it is a beautiful hole that provides a great test of accuracy and skill.
The second feature hole that stood out was the par-4 18th hole. This hole requires a long and accurate tee shot, as the fairway is flanked to the left by a huge dam. The bail out is right, but the green is elevated, so a long uphill approach is required.
Overall, it is a great finishing hole that can make or break a round – or decide a match play. In conclusion, George Golf Club is a great course that offers a unique and challenging golf experience. While there are some minor drawbacks, the stunning scenery, challenging layout, and warm hospitality make it a great choice for golfers of all levels. If you are in the area, we would highly recommend giving it a try.