Update
GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - South Africa's Top 100 Courses is the recognised authoritive body that carries out a comprehensive ranking of the best golf courses in the country annually.
Up until 2018 the rankings were carried out by Golf Digest South Africa, but after the publishing of the magazine stopped that year, the rankings stayed stagnant until 2021.
That year, long-time editor of Golf Digest SA, Stuart McLean, took it upon himself to continue the tradition and released the prestigious rankings under the name "South Africa's Top 100 Courses" (SATC).
This year marks the third year that SATC has published its rankings, and on each occasion no less than 13 Garden Route golf courses featured. Knysna Golf Club was the only GR course to make its debut in the rankings when SATC first published in 2021.
The other 12 have all featured in the Top 100 for at least the last 11 years. It is a largely positive year for the Garden Route courses in 2023 with six courses rising in the ranks, two remaining in the same spot, and five sliding down the list.
Knysna Golf Club's iconic 12th green.
Mossel Bay
The growth is no better encapsulated than by Mossel Bay Golf Club, who managed to rise six places between 2022 and 2023, coming in at number 83 this year. It marks their best rankings since being 74th in 2018, and they are the most-improved Garden Route golf course in 2023.
Pinnacle Point on the other hand makes a welcome return to the top 15 in 2023 after slipping to 16th in 2022. It is their second-best ranking ever after being 14th in 2021.
Plettenberg Bay Country Club's 18th hole.
George
The biggest loss for George in 2023 is arguably the fact that The Links at Fancourt has been dethroned by a resurgent Leopard Creek, with The Links now in second place. It brings to an end nine consecutive years in top spot for The Links, having reached the summit for the first time in 2014.
The most significant numeric loss in the entire rankings is undoubtedly a record no one wants, but this year it belongs to Oubaai Golf Club. Oubaai has fallen by a staggering 16 spots, from 52nd in 2022 to 68th in 2023.
Montagu at Fancourt maintained its top five spot at number five, and joint-best position in the rankings since 2002. George Golf Club fell by three spots to 18th, while Outeniqua at Fancourt also dropped by three to 23rd. Kingswood also lost three spots in the rankings, now 90th on the list.
Goose Valley stayed steady in 85th place this year.
Knysna & Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay Country Club was the only Knysna/Plett course to lose spots in the rankings this year but held onto a top 50 spot, dropping by five to 49th. It is their lowest ranking since 2016 when they were 52nd.
Goose Valley meanwhile maintained its consistency, remaining in 85th, its joint-best ranking since 2014.
In Knysna all three golf courses saw improvements in their rankings. Knysna Golf Club is now in its highest position ever, coming in at 81st in the rankings – a climb of two spots. Pezula Championship Course also went up by two positions in 2023, now 20th, earning a place in the top 20 for the first time since 2018.
Pezula joins Simola Golf & Country Estate in the top 20, that has continued its steady rise up the rankings. Its position at 16th is Simola's best ranking since being 14th in 2014.
Simola climbed one spot to 16th this year.
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