Knysna Golf Club

A survey was done by Knysna GC to determine how flat the terrain actually is on this course next to the famous lagoon. The difference between the highest point and lowest was the length of a ruler. Of course, several greens have been elevated to avoid flooding, and that's a feature of the layout. It must be taken into account on approach shots. Knysna, with its shallow tidal pools that form natural hazards here and there, is a uniquely attractive layout and particularly well cared for in terms of conditioning, tidiness, attention to detail, and presentation. The compact clubhouse is outstanding in the facilities it provides, and the latest upgrade is that of the pro shop. The members seem well served by management and staff, making for a happy club from what I could gather when visiting.

Knysna is making progress in many areas, including general conditioning. The greens are in great shape and roll true. Close to the lagoon, this flat course has an interesting routing, with continual changes of direction. The short par 4s are no pushover as the greens complexes provide a significant test for any approach. Trouble lurks around the putting surfaces. The par-5 ninth is one of the most challenging holes with its narrow fairway protected on both sides by bush and wetlands. A birdie here will be a highlight on your scorecard. The par 3s are varied, interesting and challenging (ranging from 125m to 187m). Knysna has an excellent clubhouse and good service is a given. An enjoyable round in a beautiful setting.

The course has had many upgrades and improvements which has made Knysna GC a much talked-about experience.

Some holes are a little monotonous, but the course is a true challenge. Keep it straight, lots of water lurking.

Knysna is fun to play, one of the flattest courses so it makes iron play relatively easy. Wind is almost always a factor and there are interesting holes. The only gripe is that during the wet season the ninth fairway is often too wet and muddy to use, and a strong par 5 has to be reduced to a very short par 4.

It has obviously been a busy first six months of 2022 for the maintenance staff at Knysna with a newish greenkeeper in situ. Much has been done to enhance the aesthetics of the playing experience. Low hanging branches of trees have been pruned back to create views through to other holes, giving the course more of a parkland feel. Standing on the first tee I noticed the ninth fairway was now visible, having been previously hidden by bush. The greens were hollow-tined in May for the first time in years (coring removes thatch and detritus that builds up below the surface, and improves soil structure) and have recovered magnificently. What I find special about Knysna are the tidal waters flowing in from the adjacent lagoon which not only create attractively clean (home to water birds and marine life) and effective hazards on several holes but add to the natural beauty of the course. Stroke 1, the 371m sixth, would be plain without the water guarding both sides of the fairway. And many a tee shot has found a watery grave at the challenging 175m 12th.

A new head greenkeeper and more attention to the aesthetic aspects of the course has made Knysna a pleasure to play in recent weeks. Despite being an easy walking course it can be exceptionally tricky (especially for higher handicaps like me) as all the greens are raised, making 'clubbing up' essential on most holes, especially against a breeze. Water features abound and can be daunting, especially the 'island' par-3 8th which is intimidating! The clubhouse has excellent facilities, including a bright, cheerful halfway house, plenty of outdoor seating and a well-stocked bar. The spacious ladies' changing facilities are the best I've come across anywhere in the world.

Easy and relaxing course with some challenging holes, especially the approach shot to greens. Flatter and shorter than most courses which makes it more enjoyable for the mid- and high-handicap.

Knysna GC is like a good song on a great album, never getting the full recognition it deserves, and perhaps will always be in the shadow of Pezula and Simola. However, if you chat to the regular players, they love it! And it is easy to see why. A short open course with little danger off most tees. But do not be fooled into thinking "short is easy" as local knowledge is a must for scoring well. Position, position, position! Particularly if the wind is blowing or you are mis-hitting your approach shots. The course is still recovering from recent flooding and the greens and fairways were not in top condition, but it is still a fun day out. The best part for me was the challenge of navigating the course for the first time. It makes you think off the box as there are many ways to successfully play each hole. One thing to improve would be the tee boxes (a victim of the rain).

Great course with wonderful greens and excellent hospitality in the modern clubhouse. A must play in the Garden Route.

September can be a difficult month for organising a Garden Route tour. Uncertain weather and greens being hollow-tined. We couldn't play at George, Fancourt or Pezula for that reason. But we still found a great selection of courses to play for five days, and the weather was sublime. Even better, the courses were not busy. Knysna was a wonderful surprise for a course so far down the rankings. Interesting 18 holes with variety and challenges (the wind was blowing hard). The greens were excellent, as were the clubhouse facilities.

The signature par-5 ninth hole was being played as a short par 4 on my recent visit, due to much of the fairway being waterlogged. This distinctive and intimidating hole (it has penalty areas both left and right of the fairway) bordering a wetland area has long had a history of a boggy fairway following any rain, and the club is now doing its best to improve the drainage on No 9. Another notable change to the course is the widening of most fairways to improve the playability. Other than the ninth hole Knysna is looking superb, and the quality of the greens is the equal of any course in the Garden Route.

A pleasant experience, although very flat. The holes weave among tall trees and marshy floodplains. Excellent greens complexes. Fairways lack definition because it is flat and doesn't have high levels of conditioning. You need local knowledge to master the nap on the greens.

Knysna Golf Club is a gem with a wonderful array of varied holes including the risk-reward short par-4 seventh, the island green par-3 eighth, and challenging 505-metre 16th with its peninsula green. The course has water hazards, tree-lined fairways, slick greens with subtle slopes and borrows, and excellent bunkering. Plus a great halfway house and 19th hole.

Value for money, easy to walk, in good condition, great greens and friendly staff. An enjoyable experience.

Knysna is a contender for being the Flattest Golf Course in South Africa, perhaps the planet, yet the 18 holes have plenty of character and make for an interesting challenge. The greens here are superbly designed and a feature of the course, with quality putting surfaces. Quick too. There are plenty of strategically placed tall trees, tidal water hazards, good bunkering, and you can see that considerable work has gone into presenting this course in the best possible light. It's also a Great Value club and very welcoming to visitors. The catering staff gave us breakfast before golf for R50, and calamari and chips afterwards for R60.

Knysna Golf Club appears to be a club on the move. The clubhouse is welcoming and the layout provides some interesting holes, with the narrow par-5 ninth being especially strong. The greens provide a stern defence to a relatively short layout. The Par 3s provide good variety. The local "Amen Corner" of holes 10 to 12 was a notable feature. Knysna provides value for money and a good tour stop in this part of the Garden Route.

Always a lovely day of golf at this Garden Route gem which plays second fiddle to the two big estate courses in Knysna. The Knysna Golf Club is a great example of South African hospitality at its best and provides great value for money. There are challenging holes and the course plays surprisingly longer than you would think. The par 5s particularly are strong risk-reward holes. The condition was very good for a busy low budget course.

I was pleasantly surprised with this course. Good vibe in the clubhouse and a welcoming club. Course has a nice look and feel to it. Very playable even in the wind.

A firm favourite. Flat but well laid out to make it a challenge.

This under-rated course offers outstanding playability for all levels of golfers. Brilliant greens, lovely trees and surroundings, and a good course to walk and play. The clubhouse is friendly, with good food and service, making this a great place to visit.

The old member golf clubs in the Garden Route really compete well with the new resort and estate experiences in the region. Knysna GC is a fine example. It might not have the wow factor of neighbours Pezula and Simola, yet the overall experience here is still outstanding. It will appeal to golfers who prefer an old-fashioned easy-to-play layout, and it's the only course in Knysna where you can walk 18 holes.