Knysna • Parklands • 6 401m
Keeping your head down at Simola can be a challenge as the views around the course are awe-inspiring. Every hole either looks across the Knysna Lagoon or over the Knysna River as it twists and turns through the valley below. It is clear to see why Simola takes its place as one of South Africa’s premier golfing destinations. It’s also the first Jack Nicklaus signature course on the Garden Route reflecting the maestro’s philosophy of attuning the layout and design to the natural lie of the land. Set below high ridges, the course is free from the wind that so often plagues coastal courses. Fairways flow with the natural undulating contours and the unusual configuration of five par 5s and five par 3s add a dimension to the game. Even with all the uphill and downhill holes, Nicklaus has cleverly achieved a course where you seldom have an uneven lie. The short holes are a feature of the layout testing a wide range of clubs from a fairway metal at the 6th to a wedge at the 17th. The par 5s are excellent beginning with the switchback opening hole that must be one of the most challenging. Three of the par 5s are played to elevated greens and these are tough targets to hit even with a short pitch. Read more >