15

Pinnacle Point

Mossel Bay - Garden Route

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Golf director: Quintin Byleveldt
Club captains: Hannes Geldenhuys & Christe-Mari Meyer
Greenkeeper: Konrad Suhr
Estate GM: Carl van der Linde
CRITERIA SUMMARY: Total points 77.3 out of 100
Conditioning14.8 / 20
Playability14.7 / 20
Aesthetics12.8 / 15
Design Variety11.2 / 15
Shot Values12.3 / 15
Memorability11.5 / 15

Course Summary

Five tees / Par 72

Black 6460 metres, CR75.9/144
Yellow 6090 metres, CR73.6/142
White 5646 metres, CR70.7/136
Blue 5262 metres, CR68.4/129
Red 4699 metres, CR66.0/114
Women’s blue, CR75.7/133
Women’s red, CR71.8/127

Visitor green fee

High season R1395
Winter rate R999

Course designer

Peter Matkovich 2006

Contact

044 606 5300
www.pinnaclepointestate.co.za

Previous ranking

16 (2022) & 20 (2021)

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.

Pinnacle Point has twice been named Africa’s Best Golf Course and South Africa’s Best Golf Course, in 2022 and 2020, at the World Golf Awards.

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.”

Risk-reward holes are a feature of Pinnacle Point, none more so than the 350-metre eighth, where brave golfers can take a tiger line route over a ravine directly at the green. The carry is some 275 metres. In the 2022 Vodacom Origins of Golf Final there were six eagles at No 8. Local pro Martin Vorster had scores of 2-7-4-3 here in the four rounds. Level par. In the same tournament, Christiaan Burke made 20 birdies and finished with a one-over-par total of 289. Casey Jarvis played the par-3 seventh in 1-2-3-4 over the four rounds.

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 alongside the driving range and reception area. The estate itself has grown enormously, and luxury homes have been built on the peninsula behind the ninth tee.

Read: WORLD GOLF AWARDS HAT-TRICK FOR PINNACLE POINT
Read: THE BEST 19th EXPERIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Additional Course Facts

Course Record

64 by Jordan Duminy in 2019 Pinnacle Point Open

Feature Holes

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.

Practice Facility

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.

Accommodation

Leisure Rentals offer luxury lodges, villas and penthouses on the estate.

Club Champions

2024 Riaan Kotze & Shani van Rooyen
2023 Aldrich Potgieter & Shani van Rooyen
2022 Jordan Duminy & Ilze Nel
2021 Jordan Duminy & Ilze Nel
2020 Herman du Plessis & Ilze Nel
2019 Martin Vorster & Ilze Nel

Did You Know

1/ Pinnacle Point welcomes new members.  In a special deal for 2022 a new member pays R8639 for an annual subscription which includes 20 free rounds. Phone 044 606 5322.

2/ The World Golf Awards voted Pinnacle Point as South Africa’s and Africa’s Best Golf Course for 2022, having previously triumphed in 2020, 2017 and 2016.

3/ Pinnacle Point members Aldrich Potgieter and Christo Lamprecht won back-to-back British Amateur titles in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Lamprecht was youngest SA Amateur champion in 2017 at Humewood at 16 years & 25 days. Another member Martin Vorster won the 2021 SA Strokeplay title at Randpark plus the 2018 Junior British Open. Vorster and Lamprecht were in the SA team which won the 2019 Junior World Cup in Japan.

4/ The estate has hosted two Vodacom Origins of Golf Finals on the Sunshine Tour. Combrinck Smit won in 2022 with 8-under 280, and Englishman Steve Surry in 2018 on six-under 210. Smit had the lowest round of 65 with 9 birdies and eagle 3 on 18. In both events the two most difficult holes were par 3s, the ninth and 17th.

5/ 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.

Course and Facilities Rating
Conditioning Ratings
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Course Etiquette
Course Reviews
Two major maintenance projects are taking place to improve the playing experience. All tees are being laser-levelled in two phases. Pinnacle Point mow their tees at a low cutting height, and these require a smooth, level surface to avoid scalping. The tees were first fumigated to rid them of any kikuyu grass, then seeded with paspalum and cool season grass mix. The second project is the fairway on the par-4 sixth hole. This had become infested with foreign grasses, and a herbicide was applied to kill them. At the end of April, the fairway will be rotavated, levelled and reseeded with a cool season grass mix. The grow-in will take 4 to 6 weeks. This mix may be inter-seeded on other fairways if it flourishes.
Thomas Souness
08 April 2024
Playing Pinnacle Point was a world-class experience. Such an amazing course! Phenomenal views on each hole.
Luc Strydom
01 April 2024
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Played on a calm day with two young boys who were good golfers. Unfortunately, their manners were not as polished as their golf. Pinnacle Point is amazing. As Australians, we have played golf worldwide and this destination is very good. One critical point. Mowing the second cut down would make the experience better for golfers (partner) who are less strong. We enjoyed the day and the clubhouse lunch afterwards.
Carole Godbolt
08 January 2024
Caught Pinnacle on the most perfect day, and how beautiful does it look in such conditions. An uplifting experience to play here with those incredible ocean views. The general conditioning and greens and surrounds are as good as I've seen them on my visits. Like several of the modern Garden Route estate courses there's a superb variety of tees (five) to pick from and I like nothing better during a social round than trying out tees I haven't played from before. Going back to the yellow or black tees at holes 5 and 6 on the front nine, and 11 and 12 on the back adds a new dimension and challenge to these holes from a driving point of view. If the weather's kind, try playing the elevated black tee (226) at No 17 for a different perspective of this fabulous par 3.
Stuart McLean
18 November 2023
We played here on our Garden Route tour because it's a bucket list course with the stunning views. Playability depends on the weather and we were blessed with a spectacular day. From start to finish it was a blast.
Theunis Spangenberg
25 May 2023
What a course! So well presented. Spectacular setting for golf and the conditioning always a drawcard.
Sandor Kovacs
26 December 2022
Like most coastal courses Pinnacle Point is a challenge if the wind gets up. While the fairways are mostly wide, the greens are another challenge on their own. Slopes and breaks will test your putting. Fairways are nice and tight which encourages good iron play. At this time of the year the presence of whales and dolphins can distract your concentration on holes closest to the ocean. A round at Pinnacle Point in calm or testing conditions certainly soothes the soul. And few clubhouses in the world can offer such a magnificent 360-degree view of the course and the ocean!
Hedley Austin
22 November 2022
Pinnacle Point hosted a Sunshine Tour event in late October, so the greens were in terrific shape and running reasonably fast. The wind was blowing and there are some greens to which you have to pay the utmost respect due to their subtle slopes, notably Nos 11 and 12 where you putt downhill from back to front. No 11, a shortish par 4, has a tiny ledge in the upper back left portion of the green where the pin had been placed: quite a challenge! One of the most difficult holes for anyone is the long par-5 16th. The second shot has to avoid a deep gully on the left, which again comes into play for the approach shot. On top of that the large green has plenty of movement. The finish at Pinnacle is exacting in the wind, and I felt for pro Michael Kok in the Vodacom Origins event. He finished 5-12 on the last two holes in tough second round conditions to miss the cut when he looked comfortably in, having shot 67 the first round.
Stuart McLean
22 November 2022
Playability is often a question of conversation when Pinnacle Point is discussed. It does have a reputation of gobbling up golf balls, many of which lie undisturbed in the fynbos around the course, as golfers are threatened with a R5 000 fine if caught venturing into these environmentally protected areas. But Playability isn't measured by the number of balls lost. It's about how a course allows weaker golfers to enjoy a layout that is challenging for better players, and Pinnacle Point does that well. The Slope of 129 for the blue tees (5262m) is not high. Pinnacle has a distinctive variety of tees on every hole to suit all levels. I like the way a number of them create different angles to the hole. Some black tees (6460) are in scarily thrilling positions, requiring nerve as much as power. That at the par-3 17th is up near the 11th green (you take a different cart path to reach it) and it tackles the green from a greater height and straighter angle than the other lower ones. At 226m the green looks tiny. If you're up to an adventurous round at Pinnacle, try a few of these out.
Stuart McLean
30 June 2022
Pinnacle Point is great fun, especially for a golf tour group and if the wind isn't blowing. Some mesmerising holes and incredible views. But also some equally awkward holes, a lot of slopes either up or down or sideways, make it tough, despite the course being fairly short in windless conditions.
Jamie Thom
27 May 2022

The natural beauty and vistas at Pinnacle Point are among the best you will experience. The course conditioning is very good, the greens running true and fairways in fine shape. Signature holes are frequent, and the par 3s are among the most photographed, especially 7 and 9. No 7 requires only a short iron but is intimidating with the cliff drop-off right of the green. The drive on the short par-4 eighth offers you two choices off the tee if downwind, a safe option left or a risky drive across a deep gorge to the green. The par-5 18th is another incredible hole which needs careful navigation before you can relax at the world class 19th hole. We are fortunate to have courses of Pinnacle's quality, at a fraction of the price of a similar overseas experience. The Louis57 Experience package is recommended.

Jon James
20 May 2022
Some absolutely spectacular holes. This may be Africa's equivalent of Cypress Point. You stand on some tees and think "how did they put a golf hole here?" One or two weak holes away from the coastline but a truly remarkable golfing experience.
Graham Jones
30 January 2022
A fun course to play at any time because of the variety of thrilling shots on offer from tee to green. Standing on many of the tees you can't help feeling excited about the challenge ahead. Nothing really routine. I don't think much of the opening three holes played uphill from the clubhouse. They are boring and a chore playing into the wind. But it's like a rollercoaster starting out. A steep climb to the top, and then the thrills begin. And so they also do at Pinnacle Point, starting at No 4, a strong par 4 and the flattest hole on the course. The last 15 holes are brilliant, and make this the bucket list course it has become for many golfers from around the world. The service and clubhouse facilities are excellent. Upstairs in the clubhouse terrace you have heavenly views of the coastline and the closing holes. Is there a better après-golf experience on this planet?
Dieter ten Haag
27 December 2021
Pinnacle Point excels as a golf experience in its wonderful finishing holes on each nine, backed by stunning scenery. On the front nine the last three holes, from 7 to 9, include two superb cliffside par 3s and a sensational short par 4 (No 8) where a brave golfer can risk a direct tee shot to the green over a deep chasm. It's possible to have three consecutive 3s on the card with three solid tee shots. The back nine finish from 16 to 18 is a different proposition. Two very different and challenging par 5s, and one of the toughest par 3s in the country at No 17. This is a fabulous golf hole from an elevated tee to a long green protected on the left by an array of bunkers. The back pin position brings dangerous outcomes into play.
Stuart McLean
27 May 2021
Great course in terms of beauty, degree of difficulty, maintenance and management.
Colin Wright
21 January 2021
A visual treat. A tough course when the wind blows as the landing areas are blind on many holes and tight. A spectacle to play and the greens are more then generous. Always in good nick and you will never be disappointed with the overall experience.
Sandor Kovacs
22 April 2020
Played on a windless day when a sea mist was shrouding the coastline, adding its own mystique to the course. Some holes it was difficult to see the pin, while others higher up the slopes were bathed in sunshine. Pinnacle Point is looking great, and it has such a wide array of both interesting and dramatic holes that on a good day it's impossible not to enjoy your round.
Stuart McLean
08 March 2020
I like to hit balls before a round, so if you're playing at Pinnacle Point you need to remember the range is at the entrance to the estate, nowhere near the golf course. It's part of the Louis Oosthuizen Academy, and is an outstanding facility. The golf course itself is busy at this time of year with visitors. The spectacular setting of Pinnacle Point is a magnet for overseas tourists. A big asset for the Garden Route.
Thomas Souness
04 March 2020
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