57 - Mossel Bay Golf Club

Location: Mossel Bay, South Africa

Rating: 7.6

The home course of Open Champion, Louis Oosthuizen. The course is set, like many others in this part of the world, in a housing estate, and unfortunately for them some houses are definitely in play for any tee shots that go astray. It’s quite a hilly course, most of the holes end at different levels, either working uphill or playing down.

Had a really nice pie from the halfway house, a good little refresher. Make sure you pack your sunscreen because that sun will get you even when it’s not warm.

The bunkers were quite poor, fairly muddy and a thin layer of sand on top. Played with 2 club members and they said this is one of the downsides of the course. Other than that the greens were in good conditions and the fairways a bit dry but still not too bad. I really had to learn how to read grains on the spot. I think you can score quite well here as a higher handicapper. 

There is a driving range and they provided free balls which is always a nice touch, however I felt the chipping/putting green was a bit small, I found myself chipping across other guys’ lines.

The pro shop is well stocked and there’s a really nice modern clubhouse with views overlooking the Indian Ocean. If I had more time I definitely would’ve stayed to sample the food and watch the groups come up the hill to the 18th green which is a blind shot off the tee.

The course does have lovely views over the indian ocean and is great value for money, especially for me travelling on a European budget. I played on a Sunday for R255 but usually I think it’s around R400 which I’d definitely still pay to play here.

Round didn’t take too long, one group slowing things down but sort of bottlenecked onto one hole and after that sped up again.