Located in the heart of South Africa’s Garden Route, the Pezula Golf Club is situated atop a massive bluff overlooking both the stunning African coastline and the entrance to the Kynsna lagoon. Despite enjoying one of the most spectacular sites in the country and being covered in an indigenous coastal fynbos, the golf course is distinctly American in style with heavily contoured greens, eye catching bunker shapes and an integrated housing component, which regrettably occupies several key scenic and golfing locales.

After an unusual opening par five that forces you to lay-up off the tee, the front nine loops away from the sea and features several holes that hug the edge of a cliff-top that looks down upon the quaint town of Kynsna. Better holes include the almost-Cape style 2nd and the par three 3rd although most of the highlights are reserved for the back nine which plays along the coastal side of the property, heading out toward and then briefly along the spectacular Indian Ocean. The steeply sinking 12th and 13th both enjoy stunning views, although those on the 13th are spoilt by housing built along the fairway and between the green and sea. The next hole is a short four that drops toward the rocky coastline and features the most glamorous backdrop of all, unfortunately its green is ringed by sand which eliminates aggressive options from the tee.

Hamstrung by housing Ronald Fream’s design is mostly sound, the odd extreme green and the occasional misplaced risk-reward fairway bunker aside. His work at Pezula, however, was always going to be upstaged by the views, especially the extraordinary outlook beyond the 14th green.