Gary Player Country Club Golf Course, South Africa

The Gary Player Country Club in the Sun City Resort, South Africa is acknowledged as a difficult and demanding course. When construction of the Resort began in 1978, the decision was taken to build a golf course that would rival the best in the world. South Africa’s most successful professional Gary Player, was an obvious choice to route the course in what is the crater of an extinct volcano. The result was an 18-hole golf course with a par of 72 that surpassed all expectations. Every December since 1981 it has been home to the Nedbank Million Dollar Golf Challenge(what used to be the Million Dollar Golf Challenge).

The course lies amidst beautiful nature and is regarded as one of the best in the world. Stretching over more than 7000 meters this typical parkland course is fairly flat, Gary Player C.C. is one of the world’s longest golf courses. All 18 holes are to be classified as difficult, with wide kikuyu grass fairways and bent greens, little rough, and many trees and streams, the many water hazards and sneaky bunkers. The magnificent views of the resort’s four hotels and lake, as well as the surrounding mountains that form part of Pilanesberg National Park, is enough to stir the blood.

A feature hole? Well they’re all good at the Gary Player Country Club, but for risk and reward the stand-out is the 9th. Play this par 5 from the forward tees and then have a go for the island green with your second and thrill to the challenge of this superb test of golf.