Black 6308 metres, CR74.4/137
Yellow 5851 metres, CR72.1/132
White 5500 metres, CR70.1/129
Blue 5089 metres, CR68.0/127
Red 4592 metres, CR64.9/121
Women’s white CR76.3/150
Women’s blue CR73.8/134
Women’s red CR70.8/121
R1 400 including cart non-affiliated
R995 including cart affiliated
Students R575, Juniors R250
Ronald Fream, David Dale 2000
044 302 5310
www.pezulagolf.com
22 (2022) & 22 (2021)
Pezula has some of the most photographed holes in South Africa. A round at this course on the East Head high above the town of Knysna delivers one exceptional hole after another. The front nine has magnificent views over the Knysna Lagoon, and the drama reaches a crescendo on the back nine as the holes tumble downhill to the brink of the high cliffs above the Indian Ocean.
Pezula’s attraction lies in the originality of many of its holes, and the exhilarating elevation changes. Taking your driver out has never been this exciting or as much fun. The routing by American designers Ronald Fream and David Dale was inspirational. Given such undulating and inaccessible terrain on an environmentally sensitive property, there are only three holes where you play uphill.
And five different tee options on every hole means Pezula caters exceptionally well for a broad range of golfers. The front tees are 1 800 metres shorter than the championship tees.
Pezula is a cart course for good reason due to the East Head terrain. Even for fit and strong walkers the course is best enjoyed in the comfort of a cart, particularly in terms of pace of play. There are long walks between shots, and unless you are the only golfers on the property you would be holding up other groups in carts. There’s an extremely steep and twisting climb from the 16th green to 17th tee.
While Pezula is part of an estate, the houses have been built well back from the golf course.
63 by Kevin Stone, 2006 Vodacom Origins
On the par-5 13th, from a tee on the edge of a sheer precipice facing the ocean, the hang time on tee shots seems to last forever. The short par-4 14th is thought of as Pezula’s signature hole, with the ocean views, sloping fairway and challenging short-iron approach to a well-bunkered green. On the front nine the long par 4 seventh stands out. A downhill tee shot is followed by a further descent to the green.
The luxury Pezula Resort, Hotel & Spa sits alongside the golf clubhouse, and offers both suites and villas for guests. High above the 18th hole there is two-bedroom self-catering private villa with its own pool. Additionally there is the self-catering Pezula Golf Villas across the road from the clubhouse, suitable for golf groups.
Pezula has a short-game area close to the first tee, and a hitting area for shots up to 100 metres.
1/ Pezula achieved an Honourable Mention as part of the Platinum Clubs of the World (5-star clubs of excellence) in the Golf & Country Club category. The Top 100 Clubs and 75 Honourable Mentions comprise the top 1% of all private clubs worldwide.
2/ The 17th, at 290m from the back tee, is a fun short par 4 where golfers have had aces, the green being in range for a well-struck driver. However, the green cannot be seen until you reach it, as it’s hidden by a dune ridge.
3/ Pezula hosted 2023 Vodacom Origins of Golf Final, won by Neil Schietekat on 15-under 273. There was an albatross 2 at 18 by Callum Mowat and 9 eagles at four par 4s, No 4, 10, 14 and 17.
4/ Former club champion Danny Maritz in 2007 founded Turfworx (George), which has the maintenance contract at Pezula and Oubaai. He has been in the industry for 20 plus years and worked previously in Gauteng.
2023 Ivan Palframan & Liz Keller
2022 Ivan Palframan & Liz Keller
2021 Johan Greeff & KJ Redman
2020 Danny Maritz & Liz Keller
2019 Danny Maritz & Liz Keller
Conditioning Ratings
Facility Ratings
Greens and tees were excellent. However, some bunkers were unplayable; the rest were muddy, hard and semi water-damaged. Some fairways were too long, having not been cut. I would not expect this after a hefty green fee. I'm a big fan of the course design and the collection of holes on two contrasting nines.
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