Life in the Eastern Cape is said to move at a slower pace – and it’s once you’ve spent some time there that you can appreciate just how satisfying that is. Known as the ‘Friendly City’, Nelson Mandela Bay or just ‘Die Baai’, this corner of SA is about as wallet-friendly as it gets.

There’s more bang for your buck from the pubs and restaurants to the cultural sightseeing, and while the wind may be guilty of blowing a little too hard a little too often, the city of PE has more than enough to offer the accidental tourist. At the risk of sounding like a tourism brochure, you need to get out there to experience the charm yourself – and if you do, these are the courses you'll want to play...

PORT ELIZABETH GOLF CLUB
The course
Being the second-oldest golf course in the country, PE Golf Club has a heck of a history behind it – as the clubhouse full of memorabilia will attest – but the future is looking even brighter for the city’s premier parkland layout. The club has spent a lot of money getting the course into the great shape that it is currently in, including the reshaping of the greens and the introduction of a water reticulation system and, judging by its substantial ‘younger’ membership, it has invested money wisely. Most of the Eastern Province team plays out of ‘The Hill’ and the league teams have been dominating over the past few seasons.
Why play there?
At the moment, PE Golf Club is probably the best-conditioned course in the area, with sloping bent grass greens and lush fairways generating value for good shots. Compared to other PE courses, the greenfees may appear a bit steep, but this is a seriously good track that has hosted no fewer than six SA Open and SA Amateur tournaments – and it’s still under R300.
Greenfees
R270 (affiliated) and R380 (non-affiliated)
Contact
041 374 3140 or golfmanager@pegolf.co.za
Website
www.pegolf.co.za

WALMER COUNTRY CLUB
The course
Walmer Country Club has suffered in the past due to its location near the township, but things are about to change for the good as the course undergoes a redesign, which is part of its evolution into a golf estate. The course has always been a great layout, with a tight opening nine and a back nine that requires some thought off the tee, and it is generally in good condition with a festive, friendly membership base.
Why play there?
Walmer Country Club is one of the most underrated tracks in the area. At R150 a round, you would be hard-pressed to find better value and a surprisingly well-conditioned course.
Greenfees
R150 (affiliated) and R225 (non-affiliated)
Contact
041 581 4211 or manager@walmercountryclub.co.za
Website
www.walmercountryclub.co.za

WALMER GOLF CLUB
The course
The first course in Port Elizabeth to incorporate a housing estate, ‘Little Walmer’ put the profits from the sale of its land to good use, building a magnificent clubhouse and pumping money into the course. The club recently called in the expertise of Simon Hobday to help touch up the nine-hole course, and the result is a more flowing layout with much-improved water features. Despite being a nine-holer, Walmer GC is making serious strides as a club, and the improvements to the course have brought about a change of fortunes in terms of league success and a younger membership. Under good management, this is a club that is going places, and once the course changes settle, it will be another good reason to visit PE.
Why play there?
One of the oldest tracks in the country, Little Walmer is a small course with a lot of heart. The members are friendly and the course is not too challenging, meaning that it’s a great layout for golfers of all ages. At a hundred bucks for affiliated golfers it is also amazing value for money.
Greenfees
R100 (affiliated) and R140 (non-affiliated)
Contact
041 581 1613 or marcelleroux@telkomsa.net

UITENHAGE GOLF CLUB
The course
Although the town of Uitenhage has a tendency to emerge somewhat unfairly as the butt-end of numerous jokes regarding sheep, the sharing of a single gene pool and a lack of personal hygiene, it does happen to have a damn fine golf course at its disposal. It’s also one of the oldest, with the club having been established in 1891.
Why play there?
Although about a 30-minute drive from PE, the trek out to Uitenhage is certainly worth it – because you are unlikely to find a friendlier golf club anywhere. Rumour has it that these guys invented the 19th hole – and have been working hard ever since to make sure they maintain its place as the most welcoming club around.
Greenfees
(affiliated) and R160 (non-affiliated)
Contact
041 966 1868 or info@uthgolf.co.za
Website
www.uitenhagegolfclub.com

HUMEWOOD GOLF CLUB
The course
As the first true links in the country (they might argue that it’s the only true links), Humewood is known and revered far and wide. It certainly is one of the most interesting courses in the country and you could not ask for a finer test of golf. When playing the host of the 2006 South Africa Open championship, it’s as much about battling the elements as the unexpected bounces – on a good day it’s hard to work out what all the fuss is about, but on a bad day the course is downright impossible.
Why play there?
Ask just about any touring pro to name their favourite three courses in SA and you’re likely to find the name Humewood cropping up more often than not. Just walking the fairways of this historic course is a reminder of what the game of golf is all about – and where it came from. Sure, it’s not in the same condition as its manicured cousins, but as a links course, Humewood brings a whole lot more to the party. If you are in PE, be sure not to miss this extraordinary golf course and the opportunity to have a cold beverage at one of the best 19th holes around.
Greenfees
R300 (affiliated) and R450 (non-affiliated)
Contact
041 583 2137 or info@humewoodgolf.co.za
Website
www.humewoodgolf.co.za

NOW THAT WE’VE PLAYED OUR GOLF…

OK, so we have established that Port Elizabeth is an interesting and affordable place to play golf, but is there anything to do here once the clubs are packed away? Well, it turns out there is, actually.

For those of you who are into sports and outdoors, you might be pleasantly surprised to hear PE is referred to as the ‘watersports capital of South Africa’. It makes sense really, since the flat water of the bay and the regular winds make the area a superb spot for a dash of sailing, kiteboarding or windsurfing. The warm water makes it a heck of a lot easier to go swimming too, and the coastline heading away from the bay offers up its fair share of fine scuba-diving and surfing spots. This is also the place where the lunatics of the world annually line up to push their bodies beyond their natural limits in the Iron Man competition and although ‘Iron Man watching’ is not yet an official sport, watching the fitness freaks of the world gunning their way around the city is exhausting in itself.

For the young, trendy, or those who long to be either, a trip to The Boardwalk, located on the city beachfront, is a chance to eat out at a fine restaurant, show off some dance moves and have a dabble on casino tables all at once. Maybe change out of your golf kit first though.

Not far from the city are plenty of nature and game reserves, including Addo Elephant Park, Shamwari, Baviaanskloof, Pumba and Kwantu, so for those into a bit of malaria-free game spotting, you’ve got plenty to choose from.

For those who fancy themselves as culture-vultures, there are the usual city tours and museums documenting the life and history of this interesting city that now ranks as the fifth-largest in the country.