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Golfing holidays and golf breaks in South Africa.
The Fancourt Golf Club.
Montagu Street, George, South Africa 6531
Unique to South Africa, The Links golf course at Fancourt was officially opened in November 2000. Created from a previously flat piece of land, over 700 000 cubic metres of earth was moved in transforming it into a typical Links style. The course presents undulating windswept terrain and dune-style landscape and is the only such course in South Africa.
Every hole has received detailed attention to ensure that the overall balance in terms of length, position of hazards and shot values are in harmony. As a result, The Links presents a stern test in all weather conditions.
Set to test the best golfer in every way, The Links has some extraordinary holes, like the par-3 second, with its bunker in the heart of the enormous green. Gary Player, the course designer, said, "We included the bunker to break it up, but the front left of the green is severely sloped, so the golfer can use the contours to get the ball near the flag. You will never be stymied by the trap" Player added.
In a first for South Africa, the tees and fairways are a mix of four cool season grasses: Kentucky Blue, Rye, Fescue and Bent, with the greens a dominant Bent. These grasses allow for the traditional Pitch and Run shot to be played and also for the ball to 'chase' along the fairways.
The clubhouse at The Links is located only metres from the 18th green, with terraced areas and picture windows, to take maximum advantage of course and mountain views. All in all there is a very special atmosphere.
The Links - Course Guide
Hole 1: Par 4 - 352 meters - ON YE GO
The opening tee shot is to a very wide fairway. The left hand side of the fairway should be favoured, which will leave the golfer with a clear view of the green, which is protected, on the right by a huge dune. On occassions, the golfer will only see the top of the flag, when placed behind this dune.
Hole 2: Par 3 - 211 meters - LANG DROP
This downhill long Par 3 will require a long iron or fairway wood, depending on the tee and pin positions. The green is unique in that it features a bunker in the green while at the same time being very undulating. A par on this hole will always be satisfying!
Hole 3: Par 4 - 429 meters - CALAMITY
This hole requires accuracy on the tee shot, to leave the golfer with a medium to short iron to a green that is protected in the front by the Plattner burn. When not sure it is best for the golfer to play a lay-up shot and then try to pitch and putt for Par. This is probably the most intimidating hole on the golf course.
Hole 4: Par 4 - 452 meters - TRANQUILITY
After three difficult holes to start with, the golfer is faced with a long Par 4, where the fairway is wide and the front of the green is 'open'.
Hole 5: Par 5 - 502 meters - WETLAND
This hole normally plays into the prevailing breeze and it requires a good drive, a lay-up shot short of the wetland fronting the green, followed by a pitch shot onto the green. Only the very long hitters will be able to reach this green in two.
Hole 6: Par 4 - 312 meters - FIVE PENNY PIECE
The tee shot requires accuracy to stay out of the fairway bunkers. The best angle into this very small green is from the right hand side. Only the most accurate pitch shot will set the golfer up for a par or a birdie.
Hole 7: Par 4 - 435 meters - WIDE
While the fairway is very wide the best angle into the green is from the left. The approach shot to the green from the right hand side of the fairway is 'blind'. When the wind is from the left, the golfer must be careful to avoid the wetland to the right of the green.
Hole 8: Par 3 - 185 meters - BONNIE VIEW
The dune to the left obscures the fairway to the left of the green, giving the impression that the target is small. The wetland to the right of the green is very much in play and anything slightly to the right will be penalised.
Hole 9: Par 5 - 557 meters - LONG
Depending on the wind direction, the golfer may be tempted to try to carry the large bunker on the left of this slight dog-leg to the left. 40 metres short of the green, runs the Plattner burn. Only two exceptionally long shots will cross the burn. The green is small and slopes off severely to the right.
Hole 10: Par 4 - 373 meters - KILIMANJARO
The fairway is wide and prominently features two fairway bunkers. After a good drive, a medium iron will allow the golfer to reach this highly elevated green, which is the highest point on the golf course. The deep bunkers in front of the green will catch any mis-hit approach shot to the green. When the pin is at the back of the green, the approach shot must be left short of the pin, from where two putts up the hill will ensure a well earned par.
Hole 11: Par 3 - 147 meters - VALLEY
A series of tees offer different angles on the tee shot on this, the shortest Par 3 on the golf course. The green is split in two by a deep valley, the 'Valley of Sin', from where two putts will always be tricky.
Hole 12: Par 4 - 460 meters - SHEER MURRRDER
This hole calls for length on the tee shot and extreme accuracy on the second shot. Any ball to the left of the green will end up in the wetland. Conservative play is to the right of the green from where a pitch and one putt may result in a Par.
Hole 13: Par 5 - 487 meters - OUTENIQUA
As the shortest Par 5 this green can be reached in two shots. However the tee shot must first negotiate the fairway bunkers, whereafter the golfer will be in a position to reach the green in two. The cross bunker to the left and short of the grass creates 'dead' ground between this bunker and the green, as this bunker appears to be much closer to the green than it is.
Hole 14: Par 4 - 330 meters - WEE WRECKER
A brave tee shot with a driver, will be rewarded with only a short pitch shot into a very small green surrounded by dunes. This is one of the most picturesque holes on the golf course.
Hole 15: Par 4 - 422 meters - ROON THE BEND
This dog-leg to the left entices the golfer to try to 'carry' as much of the wetland on the inside of the dog-leg as possible, to set up a very short pitch shot to a peninsula green. This hole reflects a risk and reward philosophy. The bolder the tee shot, the easier the second shot will be.
Hole 16: Par 5 - 534 meters - WESTWARD HO!
After a good drive, the golfer will have to decide whether to lay up short of the large bunker to the left of the fairway or to try to hit a fairway wood far down an ever narrowing fairway, The bunker to the front left of the green protects the pin position behind it.
Hole 17: Par 3 - 175 meters - PRAYER
At first this hole seems very intimidating. It does however play generally downwind. The hole plays significantly more difficultly when the pin is on the back part of the green. The Player burn in front and to the left of the green is an intimidating hazard.
Hole 18: Par 5 - 502 meters - NEAR THE DRAM
The tee shot on the finishing hole is uphill to a wide fairway. The par 5 is reachable by the long hitter under downwind conditions. The main defence of this hole is the undulating green.
No. of holes: 18
Length: 6154 metres
Par: 72
Course Type: Links
To take your golf break a stage further, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Telephone:+44(0)1462 437611
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Golf Clubs in South Africa |
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