Cape Town regularly features on lists of the world's most beautiful cities. The combination of Table Mountain, the Atlantic Ocean, the Winelands and the Cape Peninsula makes it a destination that exceeds expectations for almost every visitor. For golfers, it adds another dimension: a collection of golf courses that range from historic members' clubs to spectacular estate layouts, all set against scenery that rivals anything in the world.
The courses you need to know
Royal Cape Golf Club holds the distinction of being the oldest golf club in Africa, established in 1885 and holder of the Royal prefix granted by the British Crown. The course is a classic parkland layout in Cape Town's southern suburbs, steeped in over 130 years of South African golf history. Playing here connects you to a tradition that spans the entire history of golf in the country.
Steenberg Golf Club is set on what is reputedly the oldest farm in the Cape Peninsula, dating to 1682. The course winds through the Constantia Valley at the foot of the Constantiaberg Mountain, sheltered from the notorious south-easter wind that can make other Cape courses challenging. The adjacent Steenberg Hotel — a Liz McGrath five-star property — makes it a natural choice for a special day.
Milnerton Golf Club is South Africa's most celebrated links course, founded in 1925 along the shores of Table Bay with Table Mountain forming one of golf's most iconic backdrops. As a genuine links layout, it plays entirely differently in wind — a calm morning round and a south-easter afternoon round are almost two different courses.
Arabella Golf Club near Hermanus is a 90-minute drive from Cape Town but belongs in any serious Cape golf itinerary. Set around the Bot River Lagoon with the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve as backdrop, it is consistently rated among the most scenic courses in South Africa. The combination with a whale watching stop in Hermanus makes for one of the finest day trips from Cape Town.
Pearl Valley Golf Estate in Paarl — a Jack Nicklaus Signature design — offers the Winelands golf experience at its very best. The mountains, the vines, the course condition and the Four Seasons Hotel on the estate make it an afternoon that stays with you.
What to know about playing Cape Town courses
The wind is real. Cape Town's south-easter — the Cape Doctor, as locals call it — is a fact of life from November through February. Strong south-easters regularly reach 40-50 km/h and make exposed courses a genuine test. If you are visiting in summer, plan for wind and bring a low-trajectory game.
Tee times book out. The top Cape Town courses receive significant demand from both local and international visitors. Book well in advance — ideally 3-6 months ahead for popular courses in peak season.
Caddies are available. Most Cape courses offer caddie services and the quality of local caddie knowledge is excellent. We recommend using a caddie — the course knowledge and the cultural experience are both worth it.
Golf carts are not always available. Several Cape courses, particularly the older members' clubs, prefer walking. Confirm before you book if walking is a concern.
Combining golf with Cape Town's other experiences
The ideal Cape Town golf itinerary combines morning rounds with Cape Town's extraordinary range of non-golf experiences: Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula drive, the Constantia wine valley, Boulders Beach penguins, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch wine estates.
For groups with non-golfing partners, Cape Town is ideal — there is genuinely world-class eating, wine, sightseeing and outdoor activity within easy reach of every golf course on the itinerary.
African Golf Escapes is based in Cape Town and knows these courses personally. Let us plan your Cape Town golf experience →
Cover photo: “Erinvale Estate and Golf Club, Somerset West, South Africa” by Wikimedia Commons contributor, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).