163 - Leopard Creek

Location: Malelane, South Africa

Rating: 8.3

Pretty bloody cool & unique experience! Once you reach the gate and go through all the security checks you have a wonderful drive towards the clubhouse as the suspense builds. Once you hop out the car you are greeted by two very friendly gentlemen who put your clubs on your cart for you. It’s the small things like wetting the towels without you noticing and filling your cooler box with water bottles that add to the experience. Beware it is still quite an old fashioned, stuffy golf club. Bring a belt!

You check in at the pro shop which is a beautiful room stocked with loads of merchandise but save that for after the round. You then make your way to the practice facilities. A beautiful driving range stocked with as many balls you want and ability to hit off the grass. Alongside this there’s a separate chipping green and putting green beside the first tee which is a dog-legging left par 4 up a slight incline. Nothing too difficult, a gentle start to your round.

The course continues to weave through the estate, crazy to think there’s over 250 houses here because they’re perfectly hidden. The course is in pristine condition, spotless fairways and greens that run at a pace manageable for the average golfer (out of competition season at least).

After you’ve completed your first 9 you are escorted to the halfway house for a choice of a variety of different food and drink. Back onto the course, on the 13th hole you’ll find one of the best vista’s in golf, don’t worry about the golf just get yourself to the green where you’ll see wonderful, panoramic views of the Kruger Park and if you’re lucky some wildlife just across the river. We saw a bunch of hippo on their morning wallow.

Two of my favourite holes would have to be the 9th and 18th both downhill towards the stunning clubhouse with that iconic water feature protecting both greens.

Leopard Creek is a bucket list course but it’s a pretty penny, R6500 for a round of a golf is simply a once off to play here. I would recommend it but I wouldn’t go back, in my opinion very overpriced. For that price you’d expect at least a welcome gift like they do at some of the Scottish courses.