58 - Pinnacle Point Golf Club

Location: Mossel Bay, South Africa

Rating: 8.7

This is an unbelievable course. Definitely a bucket list course! Designed by Peter Matkovich and carved out of a rock face, there are stunning views all along the course of the Indian Ocean. It is set in a housing estate which might irk some but honestly, the views are so spectacular you don’t pay much attention to it. The houses are set way back so you’re going to really have to try hard to hit one.

To play on the course it is mandatory to have a cart, I wouldn’t try walking it’d be a pretty tough test with long walks between tee boxes and the changes in elevation. You start off going straight up hill with a gentle sea breeze to your back and slowly work your way down towards some ocean holes. There’s a similar set up on the back 9. There are 3 par 3’s that are perilous, miss right and long and you’re in the Indian Ocean, might left and you’re in the bush but the views are just breath taking. It’s not an amazingly long course but there are a couple of holes where you need a driver or solidly hit wood and each hole plays independently so no missing onto others.

Overall the course is in great condition, the fairways were a bit dry given the time of year and a lack of water supply but still very good and the greens were really good as well. The wind wasn’t too bad on the day, most of the uphill holes the wind is behind you and downhill vice-versa but if the wind does pick up it’d add a whole new level of difficulty.

The course has a small putting green, again with stunning views but the driving range is some distance from the clubhouse, so you need to stop by when entering the estate because once you reach the clubhouse it’s too far gone. The clubhouse is a beautiful modern building with 3 floors, pro shop on the bottom floor (a very well stocked one at that) and then a restaurant over 2 floors with a top floor overlooking the 18th hole and Indian Ocean. Definitely stop for a post round beer to watch the following groups come in.

By South African standards it is on the more expensive side but if this was a US or European course you’d be paying a lot more so it’s 100% worth it.