Wild Coast Sun Country Club
Par: 70
Length: 5 329 metres
Course designer: Robert Trent Jones II
Date course opened: 1983
Course type: 18-hole coastal layout
Grass type:
- Fairways – Cynodin and Kikuyu
- Tees – Cynodin
- Greens – Country Club
Hole 1
Par 4
Stroke 1
Length 361m
A Tee shot just to the right of the fairway bunker will leave you a medium iron shot to a large green guarded by water on the right and bunkers on the left. Correct placement off the tee is key as the target becomes narrower the further right you stray
Hole 2
Par 4
Stroke 2
Length 315m
A Tee shot favouring the left half of the fairway will leave you a short pitch to the green. Avoid the fairway bunker as best you can as the green is long and narrow, and slopes back towards two steep bunkers.
Hole 3
Par 5
Stroke 3
Length 497m
A lengthy coastal par-five which requires two well-hit shots to reach the putting surface. A small stream flanks the right-side of the fairway and can come into play off the tee for the longer hitters. The green is two-tiered making your approach shot all the more important.
Hole 4
Par 3
Stroke 4
Length 110m
Only a short iron required to a green very susceptible to spin. A large bunker guards the right edge and drops away even more towards the bushes so be careful of the crosswinds.
Hole 5
Par 4
Stroke 5
Length 385m
The second most difficult hole on the course. An accurate tee shot is required to a fairway over a blind rise. Favouring the left half of the fairway with your tee shot will leave you a medium iron to an L-shaped green flanked on both sides by bunkers.
Hole 6
Par 3
Stroke 6
Length 176m
A medium iron down to a well-guarded green, bunkers left and right with a water hazard also on the left. Finding the green is pivotal as it is on a plateau and anything left, right, or long will find its way towards bush.
Hole 7
Par 5
Stroke 7
Length 505m
A long coastal par-five which won’t easily be found in two, even for the longer hitters. Bunkers guard the left edge of the fairway and are in range off the tee. The green is also surrounded by bunkers making it a difficult prospect for par if your approach shot doesn’t find the surface.
Hole 8
Par 3
Stroke 8
Length 169m
The large dam to the right of the green provides a daunting challenge especially when the winds pick up. Commit to your target, and a birdie is more than likely your reward.
Hole 9
Par 4
Stroke 9
Length 361m
The fairway doglegs to the left and runs uphill all the way to the green. There are two fairway bunkers on the left-hand side at the dogleg. The best way to tackle this hole is to play well right of the bunkers leaving a straightforward approach to the green, which is fairly large with bunkers on the left, right and at the back. This is one of the easier greens on the course.
Hole 10
Par 4
Stroke 10
Length 353m
A relatively easy hole where a good tee shot to a wide fairway will leave you a short iron to an elevated green. The only hazards on the hole are a couple of fairway bunkers which will feature for the shorter hitters while two bunkers guard the front and right-side of the green.
Hole 11
Par 3
Stroke 11
Length 188m
The wind is very influential on this hole and changes the dynamic completely depending on its direction. A medium iron is normally required to a clover leaf shaped green guarded by bunkers left and right.
Hole 12
Par 5
Stroke 12
Length 441m
This hole provides stunning views of the course from the tee box. A good drive is required to a fairway well below which is flanked by water up the left and bunkers right. The green is elevated and difficult to find in two unless you are in the middle of the fairway.
Hole 13
Par 3
Stroke 13
Length 168m
One of the most picturesque holes in South Africa. Four different tee boxes each provide challenges of their own as you hit your shot over a gorge with a waterfall to a wide green with a bunker guarding the back. Choice of club ranges from fairway wood to short iron depending on the direction of the wind.
Hole 14
Par 4
Stroke 14
Length 401m
Placement off the tee is crucial on this stroke one as anything to long will find water while anything right leads to thick bush where the odd snake can be found. A long-iron second shot is then required to a green guarded by a bunker on the left and thick rough on the right.
Hole 15
Par 4
Stroke 15
Length 375m
The fairway is wide on this hole so you can open your shoulders a bit off the tee. A really big drive which finds the down slope on the fairway could in fact come quite close to the green. Otherwise, a short iron to an open green will set you up with an easy birdie chance.
Hole 16
Par 5
Stroke 16
Length 492m
This hole requires good course management as water comes into play both left and right leading the whole way up to the green. Attempting this green in two is extremely risky but those who succeed will most certainly walk off with a four.
Hole 17
Par 3
Stroke 17
Length 162m
Crosswinds play a big part in this par-three. Once again an accurate tee shot over a gorge is needed to a green well-guarded by thick bush and bunkers. Anything long is a safer bet but will leave you with a tricky up-and-down.
Hole 18
Par 4
Stroke 18
Length 348m
The longest of hitters can have a dip at this green, but will need to hit a high draw over the clubhouse on the hill. Otherwise, a straight tee shot to the guarded fairway will leave a short approach to a heavily-guarded green.
The magical Wild Coast Sun Country Club offers a seemingly gentle golf course that was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. This course is as beautiful as it is carefully constructed, designed with the prevalent winds of the coast in mind. Even the slightest change in wind direction can completely transform a game, making the challenge of this golf course something quite exciting.
The backdrop of the Indian Ocean creates a tranquil and refreshing setting, although some of the holes look as though they could be perfectly placed within Scotland or Ireland. With plenty of interesting shots; one that needs to be played over a massive chasm next to a cascading waterfall, the Wild Coast Sun Country Club leaves little to be desired from a professional golfers’ point of view.
Wild Coast Sun Country Club
The Wild Coast Sun Country Club caters to the most competitive and rugged of tastes to match its golf course. From bird watching to a lazy walk on the beach, there is something to suit everyone at the Wild Coast Sun Resort and Casino.
Facilities
Wild Coast Sun facilities include:
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The Wild Coast Sun Championship Golf Course is laid out over a rugged terrain running along the Indian Ocean which creates a dramatic golfing experience. This exciting course is played over hills, ravines, rivers, dams and waterfalls, and has breath-taking views. The 18-hole golf course has wide fairways and huge greens providing a daunting challenge to both professionals and amateurs alike and attracts golfers at all levels.
Although quite short in length, it is one of South Africa’s most testing layouts, especially with the strong prevailing winds that the Wild Coast region is famous for. This adds an entirely different dimension to the course. The signature hole, 13th par 3 is played across a waterfall to a green which is partly hidden by rocks and bush. This dramatic hole is regarded as one of the best short holes in South Africa.
Important notes:
- Cart hire: Compulsory
- Club hire: Available
- Driving range: Practice range available (must have own golf balls)
- Dress code: Standard dress codes applies and soft spikes only.
