Golf holiday in Somerset West
From the courses around Somerset West to the bucket-list links of the Garden Route, the Western Cape is, above all, a golfer's playground.
14,000
golfers in 22 clubs, Western Province Golf Union
12,000
members in 33 clubs, Boland Golf Union
6,000
members in 25 clubs, Southern Cape Golf Union
Close to Villa Helderberg
First of all, play at top courses nearby, including Erinvale, Helderberg Village Golf Club or the relaxed Grabouw Mashie Golf Course. Erinvale, designed by Gary Player, sits at the foot of the Helderberg just minutes from the villa, so you can play an early round and still spend the afternoon at a wine estate. So ask us and we will help arrange your tee times.
Opened in 1995 as the first golf estate in the Winelands, Erinvale has a flatter front nine with water and a back nine that climbs the Helderberg, with wide views over False Bay. It hosted the 1996 World Cup of Golf and the SA Open in 2003 and 2004.
Visit the club
One of the oldest clubs in the area. Since 2018, ten holes by Peter Matkovich give it a parkland front nine and a links-style back nine among dunes, reached through a tunnel under the railway. Masters champion Trevor Immelman is one of its best-known alumni.
Visit the club
Not a course but a practice venue, with driving range bays, a putting area, short-game practice, coaching and food and drinks. It is handy for a warm-up before your round, a lesson, or an hour of practice while the rest of the family relaxes by the pool.
Visit the club
A friendly course close to the beach, with mature gum trees, water hazards and a sea breeze that keeps you guessing. Its bent-grass greens are among the best in the area, and a tunnel under the road leads to holes 11 to 17. It is also a good choice for beginners.
Visit the club
This championship course winds through the De Zalze estate, home of Kleine Zalze wines, past vineyards, olive groves and the Blaauwklippen River, with views of the Helderberg. Golf Digest ranked it 31st in South Africa (2024/2025). Perfect with lunch and a tasting afterwards.
Visit the club
The fourth-oldest club in the Cape is a tree-lined parkland course with mountain and vineyard views; at the sixth, your approach carries the corner of a neighbouring vineyard. It hosted the SA Open in 1999 and again in 2026, and has an excellent practice range.
Visit the clubDriving times from Villa Helderberg are approximate. Green fees, tee times and opening hours change, so check with each club before you go, or ask us and we will help you book. Photos of Erinvale (Aerial Picture and Video), Strand and De Zalze (SkyPixels): CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. Other photos are illustrative.
Worth the trip
These famous courses lie further along the coast, so they suit an overnight trip. Also ask us for current green fees. We can also suggest where to stay along the way.
The Links at Fancourt is undoubtedly the most impressive piece of golf design and construction ever in South Africa. In fact, Fancourt owner Dr Hasso Plattner commissioned a course that would be a thorough test for every golfer and rank among the top courses in the world.
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Overlooking the Indian Ocean near Mossel Bay and designed by Peter Matkovich and 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke, Pinnacle Point is surely one of the most unique and scenic golf courses in the world.
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Designed by Gary Player, these two world-class parkland courses rate among the best in the world and are especially renowned for their year-round condition. They also capture the natural beauty of the Garden Route.
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Tell us where and when you would like to play and we will help you plan it.
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