Course Review: Leopard Creek Golf Club - Malelane, South Africa

Leopard Creek Golf Club – Malelane, South Africa

On Sunday South Africa's Charl Schwartzel won the Alfred Dunhill Championship, hosted by Leopard Creek Golf Club. This week's course review takes a look at this spectacular luxury golf facility in the heart of the African bush.

Leopard Creek lies on the border of South Africa's Kruger National Park, and enjoys a unique and beautiful bush setting with excellent year-round weather that makes this course a must-play.

Designed by golfing icon Gary Player in collaboration with the course's financier – the South African billionaire and business magnate Johann Rupert – the course received its finishing touches in a redesign by the legendary Jack Nicklaus.

Leopard Creek continues to attract big names today, almost 18 years after it opened in 1996, with a list of CEOs and well-known local personalities populating its members list.

Leopard Creek is a pristine golf course, surrounded by an exclusive residential development, in the middle of the African bush. No detail is overlooked by the green keepers and estate management, who maintain a high standard to rival some of the best European and North American courses.

Players who are new to Leopard Creek will be pleased to know that the course isn't as punishing as television broadcasts suggest. Playing off the regular tees in a friendly game, most leisure golfers stand a good chance of scoring well, but the course is by no means easy – long drives and an accurate short game are essential to succeed at Leopard Creek.

Fortunately, the course design is reasonably straightforward and very few hidden surprises await golfers on the course – the challenges are easy to spot and can be overcome by most mid-to-low handicap players.

As one of South Africa's most exclusive clubs, Leopard Creek does not operate on a full visitor's policy. However, guests of nearby luxury lodges may arrange a tee-time subject to availability. For more information, golfers may visit the club's website.

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