Highland Gate is in a relatively remote part of Mpumalanga, a three-hour drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria, so you know how popular this course has become when you visit in midweek and find it teeming with golfers. There were 100 in the field on the Thursday I arrived to play in the first week of December, and 140 on the Friday when I departed. It’s easy to work out why golfers, particularly larger groups, are flocking to this scenic destination in such numbers. The Ernie Els course is beautiful to look at, offers a spectacular setting, and importantly is highly playable despite the many elevation changes. I opted for the blue tees, slightly shorter than the white, and had my lowest round of the year. The fairways, barring one or two, are not difficult to find off the tee, and the cool season grass is a pleasure to play from. The greens run at a superb pace and are not tricked up. The clubhouse has excellent facilities and there’s plentiful overnight accommodation at houses on the estate. What’s not to like.