Top 5 Golf Courses in KZN

Glorious sandy beaches, plenty of sunshine and vast spaces of unmatched natural beauty—South Africa ranks among the Top Golfing destinations in the world, with Kwazulu Natal hosting some of the very best handicaps.

The province of Kwazulu-Natal ticks off an endless list of sights and adventures, offering everything from breathtaking beaches that stretch for kilometres, game reserves with the Big-5, and lush green valleys, grasslands and mountains, to a wealth of world-class golf courses adding to its appeal.

The Golfers Paradise

The sunny, sub-tropical climate makes Kwazulu-Natal a stunning and attractive golfing all-year-round golfing destination, offering challenging fairways and sublime vistas. For golfers already living the luxury Golf Estate lifestyle, access to the courses forms part of everyday life. For local and international golfing enthusiasts, combining seaside holidays with golf provides the ingredients of a truly memorable South African golfing holiday.

Whether a golf fanatic or a novice wanting to experience the dazzling, polished greens, wildlife, and magnificent landscapes and views, make sure you practice your handicap on these Top Five iconic KZN golf courses.

Durban Country Club Golf Course: Ranked as one of the BEST in the world

Kwazulu Natal’s Gold Coast promises players a plethora of fantastic golfing options, with the number headed by the iconic Durban Country Club. Established in 1922 on a majestic cluster of dunes overlooking the Blue Lagoon estuary, the Golden Mile, and the Durban skyline, The Durban Country Club ranks firmly as one of the Top Golf Courses in the world by Golf Magazine in the USA. Golf Digest SA also ranks this course in the Top Five Golf Courses in South Africa.

Durban Country Club hosts more South African Opens than any other golf club in SA. Building its reputation on the Fabulous Five, with each hole individually superb, the par-3 second and par-5 third ranks among the worlds most celebrated, with the third hole being the signature hole.

The Durban Country Club provides a truly superb golfing experience. The lush hilly landscapes, gusty winds, stunning views of the Indian Ocean, and silky, sandy terrain make this golf course one of the most unique and challenging in the world, both to the amateur and pro golfer alike.

1. Fairmont Zimbali Resort: A challenging terrain where enthusiasts test skills

Dotted along the Dolphin Coast, Golf Digest ranks Zimbali Golf Course as one of the Top 25 Premier Golfing Destinations in South Africa. A unique piece of wonderland on the North Coast of KZN, the 18-hole Tom Weiskopf designed course stretches within a coastal forest reserve featuring irresistible ocean and forest views and exhilarating natural surroundings.

Creating a dramatic and beautiful setting, Zimbali is home to an evergreen golfing paradise course. The par-72 championship course boasts challenging terrain with steadfast elevation variations, wetland areas with ponds and well-maintained vegetation and greens, testing the skills of both amateurs and pros.

1. Cotswold Downs: USGA specifications ensure world-class putting surfaces

The baby among the Top 5 Kwazulu Natal golf courses—opening in 2005, Cotswold Downs is a magnificent 18-hole championship green, designed by a South African renowned golf course designer, Peter Matkovich. Rated by Complete Golfer in 2008 as the best-conditioned golf course in KZN and one of the best in South Africa, this relatively new and challenging but enjoyable course blends seamlessly with lush bent grass, rolling fairways, and many ponds, dams and wetlands.

Located to the South of the Valley of 1,000 Hills, Cotswold Downs is a model of excellent design in which golf and nature go hand-in-hand. This figure-of-eight course is a popular choice amongst challenge-seeking golfing enthusiasts for its super-smooth finish, excellent elevation techniques and placement of tee boxes, bunkers and water hazards. Its USGA specifications display world-class putting surfaces maintained to international standards.

1. Mount Edgecombe Country Club: The ideal course for any handicap

Tucked away in the rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal on the North Coast, Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate is one of the premier Golfing Estates in Southern Africa, boasting two unique championship courses designed around and among the hills. While both differ, they share rolling hills with isolated indigenous bush, a stream running from East to West, the Pani Dam, and two delicate wetlands.

Many pro-golfers characterise this Golf Estate as the ideal course for any handicap as both are challenging but fair. Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate is where pro golfers can challenge their game, and amateur golfers can better their skills.

1. Durban Beachwood: Treasured for its wildlife and challenging signature 6th-hole

Treasured by many golfers for its wildlife—especially the wild monkeys that play on the greens, Durban Beachwood ranks 33 in the Golf Digest Top 100 Courses in South Africa. A stone throw from Durban Country Club, this 18-hole course provides a grand challenge for the golfer that enjoys a typical links layout.

Fairways lie in a parallel formation, and 80 bunkers coupled with the wind from the Indian Ocean ensures a challenging yet forgiving game. The course has a challenging signature 6th hole—complete with stream, bush and water hazards and a small airport nearby with private aircraft and helicopters taking off and landing directly overhead.