Goose Valley Golf Club

Overview: Goose Valley occupies a sand dune in the Garden Route near Plettenberg Bay, with views of the Keurbooms Lagoon, the Indian Ocean, the Tsitsikamma Mountains and Robberg. Gary Player’s 18-hole, par-72 course opened in 2003 and uses the natural dune ground to create a round with reliable drainage and a firm coastal feel. Indigenous fynbos, trees and water features add texture without hiding the broad landscape.

History: The course quickly established itself after opening, moving from number 52 in the Golf Digest top 100 in 2005 into the top 30 by 2007. It has hosted the South African Amateur Championships, the Southern Cape Junior event and the Southern Cape Close. The club’s position in the Garden Route has also made it a natural stop for visitors travelling between Knysna and Storms River.

Did You Know? The course’s dune foundation is a practical advantage as well as a geological feature. Sand drains quickly after heavy rain, helping Goose Valley stay playable while nearby courses with heavier soils may still be recovering from wet weather.