Gary Player Golf Course, Sun City, North West Province: Continually ranked the best golf course in South Africa, the Gary Player Golf course sets the standard. It is arguably the most famous course in South Africa. The Gary Player Country Club is acknowledged as a difficult and demanding course. Since 1981 it has been home to the Nedbank Million Dollar Golf Challenge. The course requires stamina and accuracy from players. The comparatively flat nature of the golf course is misleading - water hazards, cunningly sited bunkers and pins hidden away on kidney shaped greens makes up for the lack of gradient.

The course is immaculate with generally wide kikuyu fairways and bent greens. Although this parkland course is fairly flat, the many water hazards, cunning sited bunkers (the fairway bunkers have just been deepened) and hidden pin placement make up for the lack of gradient. This course also cuts through the African bush leaving the fairways with only the bushveld as a border.

Multiple tees make this course both enjoyable and playable for the keen novice and the skilled professional. First timers will quickly learn that the course can be unforgiving of wayward shots - the 13th, steering away from the bunkers, could land the ball in some thick rough on the right

Off the back markers the course measures over 7 000 metres which makes it one of the longest in the world. But a variety of tees make it possible to shorten the course and render playable for all levels of golfers. A distinguishing feature of the course is its green's complexes, with strategically placed bunkers, swales and mounds that protect the super slick clover shaped greens. With pristine perfect kikuyu fairways and excellent bent grass greens the course is kept in perfect condition all year round.

Signature Hole: They're all good at the Gary Player Country Club, but for risk and reward the stand-out is the 9th. Play this par 5 from the forward tees and then have a go for the island green with your second and thrill to the challenge of this superb test of golf.

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