Black 6460 metres, CR76.3/152
Yellow 6090 metres, CR74.4/149
White 5646 metres, CR71.9/144
Blue 5262 metres, CR69.2/140
Red 4699 metres, CR66.2/133
Women’s blue, CR75.8/143
Women’s red, CR72.2/133
High season non-affiliated R1395
Peter Matkovich 2006
044 606 5300
www.pinnaclepointestate.co.za
Pinnacle Point is one of a rare group of golf courses in the world built on high cliffs overlooking the ocean. It’s a spectacular experience and ranks with the likes of Pebble Beach in California, Old Head in Ireland, Kauri Cliffs in New Zealand and Playa Grande in the Dominican Republic.
Several of the holes at Pinnacle Point are amazing in terms of wow factor, and even when you’re playing inland you still enjoy wonderful views of the Indian Ocean. The Peter Matkovich course in Mossel Bay is possibly South Africa’s major golf attraction for tourists, and has contributed immensely to the success of the Garden Route as an award-winning golf destination. With sensational views from every tee, it was once described by St Francis Links CEO Jeff Clause as golf on an “Imax Screen.”
It became a global phenomenon from the day it was first opened for play in late 2006, and was soon featured on the covers of international golf magazines. American writer George Peper described it as being set “on more jaw-dropping terrain than Pebble Beach and a much better course than Old Head. This is extreme golf, but it is honest golf. There are no silly holes – just engaging, exhilarating ones.”
Pinnacle Point is primarily a cart course owing to the severity of the terrain. The opening three holes climb uphill, and there are long walks around ravines where having a cart helps speed up play.
For the club’s tenth anniversary the clubhouse, pro shop and restaurant were revamped, while next door there is the La Vita Spa, plus a function venue and new cart barn. A new fitness centre was opened next to the driving range and reception area. The estate itself has grown enormously, and in the last year luxury homes have emerged on the peninsula behind the ninth tee.
64 by Jordan Duminy in 2019 Pinnacle Point Open
Where to start? There are three fabulous par 3s on the cliff edge, while the par-3 17th playing towards the ocean is one of the country’s best one-shotters. There are downhill holes like the par-5 fifth; a short par 4, the eighth, where long hitters can attempt to carry a ravine over the ocean; and a dramatic tee shot at 12 with plenty of hang time where the fairway is a distant long drop. And the round finishes with a scary downhill par 5 to a green on the edge of the cliff.
Excellent range, which includes the Louis Oosthuizen Junior Academy, is at the entrance to the estate, before you drive through security to the clubhouse. There are practice putting greens at the clubhouse.
Leisure Rentals offer luxury lodges, villas and penthouses on the estate.
1/ The World Golf Awards voted Pinnacle Point as South Africa’s Best Golf Course in both 2016 and 2017.
2/ Pinnacle Point teenagers Martin Vorster and Christo Lamprecht were in SA team of four which won Junior World Cup in Japan in June 2019. Lamprecht was youngest SA Amateur champion at 16 & 25 days in 2017. Vorster won 2018 Junior British Open aged 16.
3/ The estate’s first Sunshine Tour event was played in November, 2018. The Vodacom Origins of Golf Final was won by Englishman Steve Surry on a six-under total of 210. The two most difficult holes for the pros were both par 3s, the ninth and 17th, while the fourth was the most challenging par
4/ Pinnacle Point hosted the first-ever South African Par 3 Finals in 2017. Setting up the course with temporary tees at short distances from each green was first made popular by St Francis Links CEO Jeff Clause, and it caught on at Pinnacle Point and other Garden Route courses.
Herman du Plessis & Ilze Nel
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