Gary Player - The Legend

Big Three Still Tops In South Africa!

Mar 15, 2006 | Filed Under: Golf Course Design

In Golf Digest South Africa’s annual Top 100 Courses, three Gary Player-designed courses continue to lead the way…

At number three is The links at Fancourt, venue for the 2003 Presidents Cup and, more recently, the 2005 SAA Open Championship won by world number-three Retief Goosen after a final-round shootout with compatriot Ernie Els. At number two for 2006 is the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City, host venue for the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge, while heading the list of South Africa’s finest 18-hole layouts is Leopard Creek – the spectacular layout on the border of the Kruger National Park.

Showing their pedigree, not one of the top five courses in this year’s ranking changed from last year’s, despite a number of new courses coming into the rankings - most notably the Jack Nicklaus-designed Pearl Valley which debuted at number eight.

The accolade of best-conditioned golf course in South Africa also went to a Gary Player-designed course. This time it was The Links at Fancourt that topped an impressive list, while 10 Player-designed courses featured in the top 30 of the Top 100 Courses.

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