There is nowhere else in South Africa — arguably nowhere in the southern hemisphere — where you can play this much good golf in a 130-kilometre stretch. Between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay sit eleven rateable courses, from a 19th-century clifftop classic to three of the country's most famous modern layouts. If you're planning the pilgrimage, here's the route west to east.
Mossel Bay to George
Start at Mossel Bay Golf Club, a friendly old clifftop course with sea views on nearly every hole, then swing past Pinnacle Point — the dramatic one, where several holes play across ocean gorges and your camera roll fills up faster than your scorecard. In George you hit the heavyweight cluster: George Golf Club, the tree-lined charmer locals will tell you is the best value in the region, Kingswood next door, and of course Fancourt, home to three courses — the resort-friendly Outeniqua, the stately Montagu, and The Links, currently sitting where it usually sits: at the top of the rankings.
Herolds Bay to Plett
Just down the coast, Oubaai brings Ernie Els's clifftop links style above Herolds Bay. Then it's on to Knysna: the town course down by the lagoon, Simola on the ridge above the valley (Nicklaus, staggering views), and Pezula out on the Heads, carved through fynbos. Finish at Goose Valley beside the Keurbooms lagoon and the Plettenberg Bay Country Club, where the 19th hole earns its keep.
The itinerary maths
Five days does it comfortably: two nights George, two nights Knysna, one in Plett, eleven courses if your body holds. Even the modest green fees down here buy conditions most inland courses can't match in winter — this is where South African golf goes on holiday.
Now the important part
Every course on this route is on Pin High, and the rankings are decided by the golfers who make this trip. Played the Garden Route recently? Rate every course you remember — thirty seconds each — and help settle the eternal bar argument: Links, Pinnacle Point or Simola? The rankings are keeping score.
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