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
High season R1395
Winter rate R999
Peter Matkovich 2006
044 606 5300
www.pinnaclepointestate.co.za
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.
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.
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
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.
Conditioning Ratings
Facility Ratings
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.
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