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GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Simola Golf and Country Estate is now the only remaining local golf course inside the Top 20 golf courses in South Africa, with Pezula Championship Course falling out while Knysna Golf Club has returned to the Top 100.
The original rankings of South Africa's Top 100 golf courses were brought about in 1998 by Golf Digest, and continued until 2018 when the publishing of the SA version of its global magazine was stopped.
Long-time local editor Stuart McLean has taken up the responsibility of publishing the country's Top 100 golf courses, and now publishes the rankings on the website South Africa's Top 100 Courses (SATC).
The 2021 edition of the rankings, the first in three years, was published on SATC's Facebook page in a staggered manner over the course of five days, with 20 released each day. The first local course up to bat was Goose Valley Country Club, which came in at number 93, level with its last ranking.
This is a far cry from the club's highest ever ranking - 49 in 2008. In terms of general presentation, the club ranks number 57.
Photo gallery: Simola Golf and Country Estate among Top 20
Next up was Knysna Golf Club which was welcomed back into the Top 100, having been absent from Golf Digest's rankings since 2004 when the club achieved its best ranking to date - 83rd. In 2021, Knysna is ranked 91st in SA, and punches well above its weight in the general presentation category, coming in at 25th.
Pezula Championship Course
It would be a while before another local club was spotted on the rankings, but it was eventually time for Plettenberg Bay Country Club to strut its stuff as it climbed five spots up to 40th in the rankings. The club's highest ranking was number 32, coming in 2004. It now ranks at number 58 for general presentation.
This left only the Knysna region's two most prolific golf courses in terms of the rankings - Simola and Pezula - to be mentioned. Pezula would show up first, dropping five places to 22nd, losing its spot in the country's Top 20 list. Historically, its best ranking came in 2004 and 2006 at number 14. The club has also ranked at number 26 for general presentation.
Part of Simola's course layout. Photo: www.ellephoto.co.za
This meant Simola was the only one left, and it turned out to be the only local club inside the Top 20, climbing one place up to 19th. Previously, its highest was 12th in 2008. Simola also impressed on the general presentation front, coming in at number 10.
"We at Simola are very proud to have retained our Top 20 status," said Jaime Kietzmann, Simola's golf operations manager.
"We are truly humbled at the recognition afforded to us. Moving up one place from the last rankings is validation of our commitment to presenting a world-class golf course to all our visitors."
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