Garden Route, South Africa · South Africa · Ernie Els
Fancourt — The Links Course
James Kinloch
Golf Travel Specialist · played this course
Fancourt's Links Course in George is the most underrated golf course anywhere in the world. Ernie Els designed it to play as a genuine links course inland — fescue rough, bounce-and-run fairways, wind exposure that changes the scoring profile entirely from one day to the next. The result is a course that would charge twice what it does and still be considered fair if it were located in Scotland.
I have been sending clients to Fancourt since 2012. The most consistent reaction: 'Why isn't this more famous internationally?' The honest answer is that it sits in George, which sounds like a county town, and nobody outside of South African golf circles has heard of it. That is good news for the people who make it there.
At R3,500 (approximately £145) for resort guests, it's exceptional value for a course ranked consistently in South Africa's top five.
Signature hole
Par-4 18th, 471 yards, the finishing hole
"A long par-4 into the prevailing wind, finishing in front of the manor house with the Outeniqua Mountains behind. I've played this hole fifty times. It never bores me."
Designer
Ernie Els
Par
73
Yardage
7,438
Green fee
from £145
Best for
Best time to go
April to October. The Garden Route is temperate year-round but winter is the preferred season.
Play Fancourt
James can arrange tee times, transfers, and accommodation around this course. One call is all it takes.
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