Compleat Golfer 5-Star Golf Experience Awards

Each year, Compleat Golfer identifies those special places where people go the extra mile to make you smile. Apart from facilities, the course and the general experience, we also take into account something we call the 'G' factor - golf's version of the 'X' factor! Here's who made the grade in our most recent ratings.

Arabella Country Club Kleinmond, Western Cape, Tel: 028 284 0105 The 'G' factor: Beauty meets challenge A beautiful location, a world-class hotel and a superbly designed golf course make Arabella a premier resort. It entered the course rankings with a flourish, and since then the course has continued to improve. Add consistent VIP treatment to the enjoyment of playing an excellent course and this is a great experience – all the better if you treat yourself to a night or two in the hotel. Deserves high marks for commitment to environmentally friendly practices. Nobody’s perfect: The clubhouse does lack the traditional feel of a ‘real’ golf facility, and during the wet season the course’s drainage becomes an issue.

Atlantic Beach Golf Estate Melkbosstrand, Western Cape, Tel: 021 553 2223 The 'G' factor: Silver service You will always feel like a ‘member for the day’ at this modern course with strong classic touches. Atlantic Beach consistently ranks among the best: the clubhouse facilities more than pass muster, and the course is well maintained year round. It receives particularly high marks for its friendliness, and the staff go out of their way to ensure that members and visitors receive royal treatment. The course is no pushover and needs to be played more than once – each time you are likely to enjoy it even more. Nobody’s perfect: On particularly windy days the fynbos that flanks the fairways (marked as lateral hazards) can claim a few golf balls, but the club regularly supplies visitors with some spare complimentary ammunition.

Blair Atholl Golf Estate Lanseria, Gauteng Tel: 011 996 6300 The 'G' factor: Grandeur Close to Sandton, this ultra-exclusive club has a pleasant country feel with great views of the Magaliesberg. It’s an example of ‘big budget’ done perfectly. Ultra-low density of home sites, a superbly designed and decorated clubhouse and world-class cuisine – it doesn’t get better. Noticeable is the laid-back atmosphere and a great spirit among the small membership. It is difficult to fault this estate – the brilliantly designed course on the Crocodile River, on which absolutely nothing was spared in the quest for a ‘larger-than-life’ American-style golf course, continues to mature – and standards of service in every department are consistently well above the norm. The members and their guests are guaranteed a golf experience that compares favourably with the best anywhere in the world. Nobody’s perfect: Unfortunately the exclusivity of this club will mean that few golfers will discover the joys of playing South Africa’s equivalent of Augusta National. Our best advice for 2009: make friends with a member!

Country Club Johannesburg Woodmead, Johannnesburg Tel: 011 202 1620 The 'G' factor: Country-clubness An upscale suburban country club with two very fine courses and a well-organised clubhouse, CCJ epitomises what a premier suburban country club is all about. The quality and condition of both courses, when linked to a slickly run, opulent clubhouse, makes this a consistent performer in the 5-Star stakes. The pro shop stands out as one of the best in the country, Woodmead is one of the best parkland courses to be found, and recent changes to Woodlands and the clubhouse course put CCJ in the top ranks. Nobody’s perfect: Without an invitation from a member or for a corporate outing, it is difficult to get onto the courses.

De Zalze Stellenbosch, Western Cape Tel: 021 880 7300 The 'G' factor: Classic Winelands Set in the vineyards against a backdrop of the surrounding mountains, designer Peter Matkovich created this often under-rated, wonderfully playable, enjoyable and challenging experience that has retained a true ‘golf club’ feel. This estate has doggedly refused to ‘sell’ its club as a function venue, and it is all the better for this. The modern, tasteful, practical clubhouse is staffed by friendly, efficient people who go out of their way to make the visitor feel welcome. The homes, all conforming to an attractive architectural theme, fit well with the surroundings and the course has improved dramatically over the past few years. Given the surrounds, it is hardly surprising that we have referred to De Zalze as a ‘perfect day out in the Winelands’. Nobody’s perfect: In De Zalze’s case, one has to dig pretty deep and the only slight invasion on the playing experience is some of the housing – but it’s still off the sight-lines.

Durban Country Club Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Tel: 031 313 1777 The 'G' factor: Hallowed ground The finest ‘old’ course in the land now has a clubhouse to match. In the past, this grand club, one that has achieved almost legendary status in local golfing circles, only narrowly missed being awarded 5-Star status, but after extensive renovations to the famous gabled clubhouse it now takes its place among South Africa’s very best. And the course, well let’s just say there’s a reason why, for many years, DCC was the only SA course that made any international ‘Top 100’. What is more, over the past year, the management and committee of DCC have managed to change the somewhat stuffy image of this golfing institution, while retaining its priceless feel of history and tradition. Nobody’s perfect: As with most members clubs, the ‘meet-and-greet’ procedures could be better, but the experience is hard to fault.

Eagle Canyon Country Club Honeydew, Gauteng Tel: 011 801 6600 The 'G' factor: Service with a smile A surprise to many when it made the grade last year, but certainly not a surprise to anyone who’s been there in the past year. An old quarry might have seemed an unlikely place for an up-market golf estate, but what was an unsightly hole in the ground has been transformed into something quite spectacular. The course is not without its weaknesses, and ongoing work is likely to improve the quirky layout, but the clubhouse is one of the best around and service levels, together with world-class facilities including a fantastic gym and spa, elevate this club into the big league. Put it on your list for 2009 if it isn’t there already. Nobody’s perfect: The course is going to need a revamp to match the best around, but it is still not without a certain charm.

Erinvale Golf Club Somerset West, Western Cape Tel: 021 847 1144 The 'G' factor: Mountain majesty A superb layout with magnificent mountain backdrops, Erinvale took time to realise its potential, but is now firmly entrenched as a top-rate facility. Visitors are guaranteed a warm welcome with excellent service, and the condition of this course cannot be faulted. With trees and the course maturing, the different feel of the nine-hole loops is now interesting rather than being a weakness. Nobody’s perfect: As at many estates, the proximity of the homes can be distracting.

Euphoria Waterber, Limpopo Tel: 014 743 3759 The 'G' factor: Bushveld beauty Stunning surrounds a magnificent mountain backdrop and an outstanding overall layout and design that has all the boxes ticked. It is unusual for a brand-new facility to be awarded 5-Star status, but one thing this club cannot be accused of is being ‘usual’. The well designed and tastefully decorated clubhouse overlooks an Annika Sorenstam signature course, which is an interesting blend of ideas – combining the beautiful African bushveld with classic links influences. A concerted effort is made by all the staff to make the visitor feel special, and they succeed. Nobody’s perfect: If you want to walk it, go right ahead, but take plenty of water – it’s 14km from start to finish! The course will benefit from another growing season, but minor imperfections do little to spoil the overall experience.

Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate George, Western Cape, Tel: 044 804 0000 The 'G' factor: The complete package The size of this multi-course facility is impressive, and the quality of service remains an industry standard. There are few golf resorts in the world that feature four courses of such quality within their borders – and four equally top-end experiences at each. The high occupancy rates of its hotel and the number of rounds played on Fancourt’s courses attest to the fact that this is a firm favourite among discerning local and international golfers. Particularly impressive is the way that the five-star hotel and golf operations manage to work together. If you want to spoil yourself, this is the place to go. Nobody’s perfect: Playing The Links course is strictly by invitation of a member, and the Montagu and Outeniqua are for residents and hotel guests only. That having been said, Fancourt has regular special packages on offer through the year, together with tournament packages, so keep a lookout on www.fancourt.co.za.

Leopard Creek Malelane, Mpumalanga, Tel: 013 791 2000 The 'G' factor: Opulence This is as swanky as bushveld golf gets – a stunning combination of natural bush and a course that is consistently groomed to perfection. This country estate comfortably achieves the marks required for our 5-Star award, and then some. It is an exclusive, low-density development, but visitors can take advantage of stay-and-play deals and every golfer should experience Leopard Creek at least once. No matter what your level of expectation might be, it is sure to be exceeded. Nobody’s perfect: Exclusive playing policy means you need to know a member – or pay to stay and play. Temperatures and humidity can become unbearable in the height of summer, but even 40-degree-plus heat cannot spoil this special experience.

Oubaai Herold’s Bay, Western Cape Tel: 044 851 0131 The 'G' factor: Coastal perfection The modern African-themed’ architecture is impressive at this superbly constructed course in a beautiful area. Ernie Els’ first course design opened to mixed reviews, but the course has matured into a great test and the management and staff ensure that the experience here is everything one might expect from a big-budget operation. The routing might have made more of the terrain, but the service and facilities are top-drawer and the course received high marks for conditioning. Nobody’s perfect: Two clubhouses (one for members and one for visitors) is an anomaly, but we can live with that.

Pearl Valley Golf Estate Paarl, Western Cape Tel: 021 867 8000 The 'G' factor: First impression The course is one of the best conditioned anywhere and the surrounding mountains are magnificent. From the moment you turn off the road onto that long drive up to the gatehouse, you know you’re in for a treat. The modern clubhouse is certainly something very different, but for all its radical departure from traditional forms, it is impressive. What it may lack in soul is more than made up for by friendly, efficient staff, and it is easy to see why this facility can demand high greenfees. Some eyebrows may have been raised when it was announced that this relatively new estate would host the SA Open, but it has since proved that it is more than up to the task. Nobody’s perfect: The flow in and around the clubhouse could have been better planned, and the halfway house seems an afterthought.

Pecanwood Hartebeespoort, North West Province Tel: 012 244 0112 The 'G' factor: Slicked and polished This is a seamless operation that set the highest standards of professionalism when it opened, and it has maintained its position among the best. The management and staff at this facility understand that doling out VIP treatment to every visitor ensures that they will keep coming back for more. The course is one of the best conditioned layouts throughout the year, and the quality of clubhouse facilities and food and beverage is top notch. A little out of the way for the Johannesburg and Pretoria markets, but as the club’s full diary proves, it is well worth the drive to Hartbeespoort Dam. Nobody’s perfect: This is a high-density estate; the homes are too close to the playing area in places.

Pezula Championship Course Knysna, Western Cape, Tel: 044 384 1222 The 'G' factor: Location, location, location It’s perched on the Knysna East Head – need we say more! There’s no doubt that Pezula remains a remarkable experience, particularly for those willing to invest in a night or two’s accommodation in the hotel, but even for the day visitor, it’s something of an iconic stop on the Garden Route and is a box that must be ticked on the ‘I’ve played’ list. Pezula has been through some disastrous events, but always bounces back better than before. Nobody’s perfect: For some, the course is a bit ‘quirky’ and the halfway house is hardly conducive to a breakfast break.

Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort Mossel Bay, Western Cape Tel: 044 693 3438 The 'G' factor: Breathtaking It’s hard not to be blown away by the sheer drama of this cliff-top marvel with its breathtaking views of the ocean. Some of the holes here must rank as the most spectacular in the world. This is a great combination of quality golf course and a clubhouse that makes the most of its stunning location. The staff here also go out of their way to make every golfer feel special, which is what the 5-Star Experience is all about. Without exception, every golfer who has played this course will look forward to playing it again.  Nobody’s perfect: The density of stands is likely to result in the aesthetics of certain holes being compromised, and when the wind gets up many golfers might find the course to be a bit too tough.

Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Linksfield north, Johannesburg, Tel: 011 640 3021 The 'G' factor: Tradition This is a grand old classic with two excellent parkland layouts and a great combination of traditional values and modern facilities. RJ&K has qualified for our 5-Star awards since we began recognising the best, and although at times food and beverage service levels do sometimes flirt with the cut mark (particularly when operating at full capacity), the overall experience remains extremely good. Both courses offer parkland golfing at its best, and the management and staff continually seek ways to improve these superb layouts.   Nobody’s perfect: This club is obviously a popular venue for corporate days and securing a tee time can be difficult.

Simola Knysna, Western Cape, Tel: 044 302 9677 The 'G' factor: Elevated style Jack Nicklaus’ design will certainly keep you interested for all 18 holes on this perfectly manicured course, but it’s the piece of ground he had to work with that’s really special. There can be few more impressive views from any clubhouse in the world, and if any club can offer finer cuisine at a better price, we have yet to find it. This upscale estate and hotel may have endured an inauspicious start, but it has arrived. The well-planned flow of golfers, slick service and the well-positioned homes all combine to make this a truly world-class facility.   Nobody’s perfect: The mountainous terrain was always going to pose a challenge when routing the holes, and in places more space between fairways was needed.

Steenberg Golf Club Tokai, Western Cape, Tel: 021 715 0227 The 'G' factor: Consistently classy A modern yet mature course with the right address, it took Steenberg a while to come into its own, but as improvements to the course and the service levels were made, Steenberg earned its stripes among the best and makes the 5-Star cut for the third year in a row. Consistent attention to detail and the refinements to the course, together with much-needed appropriate renovations to the clubhouse, have paid dividends. Prices demanded for properties here would suggest that this has become the ‘in’ place among Cape Town’s well-heeled. Nobody’s perfect: As with all high-density estates, the homes seem rather cramped and do adversely affect the aesthetics of the course, but it is still a pleasure to play.

St Francis Links St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape, Tel: 042 200 4500 The 'G' factor: A purist’s dream This modern classic celebrates the origins of golf, but with all the bells and whistles of the modern era. As far as true links courses go, this is a beauty and, when combined with an excellent clubhouse and top-notch service under the leadership of the legendary Jeff Clause, St Francis comfortably qualifies as a truly great experience. The décor in the clubhouse has a strong African flavour, and the course designed among the beautiful natural sand dunes is maintained to the highest standards. This is a radical departure from the designer Jack Nicklaus’ usual formula, and is sure to delight the traditionalist. Nobody’s perfect: Perhaps too fierce a test for the average golfer when the infamous winds blow, and a little out of the way – but the trip to St Francis is well worth the effort.

Sun City Pilansberg, North West Province, Tel: 014 557 3700 The 'G' factor: The walk of champions It’s impossible to play Gary Player’s original modern masterpiece on home soil without hearing the roar of the crowds. As home of the ‘Million Dollar’, there’s still a feeling about the place that makes it irresistible for golfers of all levels. Throw in the surrounding resort and the fact that The Lost City (a course that anywhere else would probably be considered a ‘must-play’) is a wonderful ‘second’ round, and you’ve got a recipe for success that keeps the punters returning time after time. If you haven’t played ‘Sun City’ at least once, you have officially missed out. Nobody’s perfect: Seventy-five percent of the time you play here, it will be a corporate/sponsor-invite day when everything’s running perfectly and you’re guaranteed an extraordinary experience. But for the walk-up player or tourist, service standards, regular conditioning work on the course, and ‘course closed’ issues may leave you wondering why we think it’s ‘5-Star’.

Zimbali Country Club Umhlali, Kwazulu-Natal, Tel: 032 538 1041 The 'G' factor: Subtropical splendour A spectacular KwaZulu-Natal coastal location with a magnificent forest and a distinctly exotic character, the uniqueness about Zimbali includes a very different course design and a clubhouse that features imaginative architecture. The boutique hotel is exquisite and the service and facilities compare well with the best. The course took a while to come into its own, but is now on track to join the heavyweights. It features interesting changes in elevation, and makes the most of the lush, indigenous flora. Zimbali continues to grow and improve its facilities with each passing year. Nobody’s perfect: A few holes might frustrate the average player and in a high wind the novice will battle.