De Zalze Golf is the perfect choice for fans of great golf and wine, set in the footsteps of the Helderberg Mountains in the heart of South Africa‘s Winelands.
Cape Winelands
Around an hour east of Cape Town and you’re in the mountain-backed rolling green valleys of the Winelands region, which has become one of South Africa’s premier destinations for international tourists who love wine, gorgeous countryside… and golf.
The cultural and historic towns of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl are within easy reach of each other and there are hundreds of vineyards and wine estates that offer guided tours and tastings. The Stellenbosch Wine Route is perhaps the most popular wine tour for tourists taking in the incredible wine, countryside, history and food of the area.
With picturesque vineyards, orchards and green valleys backed by spectacular mountain ranges, there’s bound to be fantastically scenic options for golfers. Around 15km south of De Zalze Golf is the superb Gary Player-designed Erinvale Golf Club, while an hour further south is the excellent course at Arabella Country Estate which runs alongside the banks of the Bot River lagoon.
Steenberg Golf Club is just south of Cape Town, consistently named one of the best conditioned courses in the country, and there’s also Pearl Valley Golf Club, around 30km north of De Zalze Golf, a Jack Nicklaus design which hosted the South African Open between 2007-09.
Set in the heart of South Africa’s famed Winelands, within the renowned De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate, the 18-hole championship De Zalze Golf Course opened in 2001 just 3km south of the university town of Stellenbosch, the cultural and historic capital of the region. Designed by Peter Matkovich. it’s a tranquil and highly scenic parklands course which hosted the 2006 World Amateur Team Championships. Rory McIlroy also played here as a 17-year-old member of the Irish team at the 2006 Eisenhower Trophy.
The undulating and perfectly manicured fairways are generously wide and there’s water features guarding the par 3s. The oak tree-lined Blaauwklippen River runs through the grounds and goes through the middle of the 18th hole which is one of the best short par 4s in South Africa with a tee high on a hill nestled in the vineyards from where you can attempt to drive the green across the river. There are nine tees in total to make the course enjoyable for most golfers while the clubhouse terrace has splendid views over the gorgeous countryside and serves breakfast and lunch.
Accommodation
De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate is one of South Africa’s most scenic golf estates. As well as being an internationally awarded working wine farm and winery, there’s excellent food and lodges to go along with the superb golf course.
De Zalze Lodge overlooks the first fairway and is a peaceful four-star establishment providing studios, standard and superior rooms and two to four-bedrooms suites as well as self-catering options. There’s an array of leisure activities including cycling trails through the rolling vineyards, or you can just relax by the stunning infinity pool. Guests can enjoy wine tastings at Kleine Zalze, right next to the Kleine Zalze restaurant.
