Trying to produce a definitive list of golf courses is an impossible job that nobody can ever truly hope to get right. Unlike golf equipment that can be tested under exacting conditions to quantify performance, or tour players themselves whose results confirm an ultimate hierarchy of status, golf courses involve a fair amount of subjectivity to determine what can be considered the best.

Each year this hot topic comes to the fore when the SA Top 100 courses list is released.

Instead of discussing the actual rankings, let's take a step back from who cracks the list. For our discussion, we won't worry about the order – the most important thing is that South African golfers are talking about courses that are not just their home venues.

And with that, they will hopefully travel more around this great golfing country to play more from this list.

For an opening reference, I have played 82 of the latest list of 100 courses. With what golf and travel means to me, I'm a little ashamed of this number. But by having this number I have inspiration and reason to get out there more.

Of the current 18 I'm 'missing' on the published list, obvious personal progress can be made by just visiting the Eastern Cape more. In this province alone there are seven listed courses I haven't played yet.

As golfers we all talk about making that golfing pilgrimage to Scotland or Ireland, or perhaps enjoying some of the newer international hubs like Portugal, Turkey or Thailand … but looking at our own provinces as golf tour destinations has real value.

Gauteng doesn't just have 35 of the 100 listed courses, it has them in close proximity too. Add to that the all-year favourable golf weather, and genuine value for money, and it really does become a must do for your own future 'Top-100' golf trips.

KwaZulu-Natal's golfing prowess is another thing the list reminds us of. From big estate courses to low key coastal and inland gems, it's another territory that offers so much to any level of golfer looking to enjoy some new experiences.

Along with the Western Cape, these are naturally the obvious hubs to attract golfers to course experiences. The rankings though do provide a constant reminder that trips to places up country like Mpumalanga and Limpopo should always be on the radar.

Though the list creates a focus on courses to visit, they also give us reason to look a little broader in areas where the course discoveries may be even more unique and memorable.

An example of this is the East London region. The major drawcard is naturally East London Golf Club, along with the newer stay-and-play offering of Olivewood Private Estate and Golf Club. But then, from there, literally on the way back to the airport, is the charming West Bank Golf Club (above) founded back in 1907 with brilliant ocean views.

Similarly, heading to the Drakensberg area to play the top-ranked Champagne Sports Resort gives you a chance to visit the breathtakingly scenic Cathedral Peak Golf Club (main image).

Arabella may be an absolute highlight for a trip in the Western Cape, but a little drive along the coast to Kleinmond Golf Club (below) gives you another memorable experience to savour.

For every listed course across South Africa, there are many, many more in surrounding areas to enjoy. We all naturally want to play the top ranked courses that pride themselves on the highest levels of conditioning and facilities, but the more you travel, the more you really appreciate the other golf courses within various regions – along with the people you meet who call them home.

So much has happened in South African golf in the last ten years. Though some established courses have dropped out of the Top 100, others have returned, or significantly improved. A course you played in years gone by may be an entirely new experience today.

Durban Country Club (above) is a fine example of this. It is a course that has had a much celebrated renovation and returned to the upper ranking echelons. On the other side of the ranking spectrum, Somerset West GC (below) underwent a massive change for the better in 2018 and will be a very different experience. In years gone by it was always a bit disjointed, with segments routed around a main road and a railway line. It now has two distinctive parts, with half being a parkland 9 and the other nine somewhat links-like in feel and design.

Golf clubs in general across South Africa have had to raise their games in recent times as the popularity in the game has surged since Covid-19. Many have not only improved their on-course playing experience, but also their off-course facilities too.

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