The Links at Fancourt
South Africa's top-ranked course — Gary Player's dramatic inland links at Fancourt, home of the tied 2003 Presidents Cup and playable only as a resort guest.
The Links at Fancourt in photos
Can I play The Links at Fancourt?
The Links at Fancourt is reserved for guests staying at the Fancourt hotel or Manor House. If you book a stay at the resort, you can request one of the limited tee times on this Gary Player-designed course; it is not open to general public walk-up play. Access is the reward for being a resort resident, and rounds sell out, so arrange golf when you book your room.
How to book: Book accommodation at Fancourt, then reserve your Links tee time through the resort's golf desk — well in advance, as availability is capped. The all-in green fee includes a golf cart, caddie and halfway house. Fancourt's other two courses, Montagu and Outeniqua, are open to members and their guests and complement a stay.
About The Links at Fancourt
The Links at Fancourt opened in 2000 when Gary Player transformed flat Garden Route farmland into a rugged, seaside-style links, complete with reshaped dunes, pot bunkers and firm, fast turf. It is consistently rated the number-one course in South Africa and famously staged the 2003 Presidents Cup, which ended in a dramatic 17-17 tie between Player's International side and Jack Nicklaus's Americans. The course is exclusive to guests of the Fancourt resort, which pairs it with two more Player-designed layouts, luxury lodging and a spa on a self-contained estate near George. Rounds come with a cart, caddie and halfway house, and tee times are limited, so golf is best arranged at the time of booking. For a resort golfer, it is one of the great championship experiences in the Southern Hemisphere.
Signature hole
The Links is an inland 'manufactured' links — millions of cubic metres of earth were reshaped into rolling dunes, pot bunkers and firm, running fairways on former farmland. The demanding closing holes decided the tied 2003 Presidents Cup.
What makes it special
South Africa's number one
Consistently ranked the top course in the country, a manufactured inland links carved from Garden Route farmland.
2003 Presidents Cup
Host of the famous tied Presidents Cup, ultimately shared after a sudden-death play-off in near darkness.
Resort-guest exclusive
Play is reserved for Fancourt residents, with cart, caddie and halfway house included in the round.
Tournament pedigree
- Presidents Cup (2003)
- South African Open (2005)
- Women's World Cup of Golf (2005, 2006)
- Volvo Golf Champions (2012)
Need to know
Best time to play
The Garden Route is playable year-round, but spring and autumn (September-November, March-May) offer mild, settled weather; the coastal climate is temperate and can be wet in winter.
Dress code
Collared golf shirts and tailored trousers or shorts; soft spikes. Standard resort-club standards apply.
Good to know
Rounds include a cart and caddie, and the halfway house is part of the package. The Links plays firm and fast with heavy bunkering and wind exposure, making it far tougher than its parkland siblings — bring your best ball-striking and course management for a four-plus-hour test.
Upcoming golf tournaments
Prefer to watch the world’s best? Book tickets to an upcoming tournament, then add a hotel and flights.
Getting there
Nearest airports
George (GRJ) ~15 min; Cape Town (CPT) is around 4.5 hours by car.
On arrival
Fancourt sits in Blanco, just outside George on South Africa's Garden Route, about 15 minutes from George Airport. Most visitors fly into George and drive or take a resort transfer; the estate is a self-contained golf destination.
Stay near the course
Stay on the estate — the five-star Manor House or the Fancourt Hotel — which is also the only way to secure Links tee times. The resort has multiple restaurants, a spa and a golf academy, so many guests never need to leave.
★★★★★ 5-starTap for live prices Fancourt
George
★★★★ 4-starTap for live prices Protea Hotel by Marriott George King George
George
A taste of the luxury stays near The Links at Fancourt — tap any hotel to see live availability and prices for your dates, or search them all.
Plan your golf trip
Hotels near the course
Live-priced stays a short drive from the 1st tee.
Search hotelsFlights
Get to George — search fares to the nearest airport.
Find flightsTournament tickets
Rather watch the pros? Book golf tournament tickets.
See golf ticketsThings to do
Tours and experiences around George.
Explore GeorgeFrequently asked questions
Can I play The Links at Fancourt without staying there?
No. The Links is reserved for guests of the Fancourt hotel or Manor House. You must book accommodation at the resort to request a tee time; it is not open to general public play.
How much does it cost to play?
Around R6,325 all-in for resort guests, including golf cart, caddie and halfway house. Rates are seasonal, so confirm when booking your stay.
What are the other Fancourt courses?
The estate also has the Montagu and Outeniqua courses, both Gary Player parkland designs, available to members and their guests and ideal for rounding out a golf stay.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring and autumn bring the mildest, most settled Garden Route weather. The temperate coastal climate keeps the resort playable year-round, though winter can be wet.
More golf courses to play
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Durban Country Club
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Pebble Beach Golf Links
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St Andrews — Old Course
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Carnoustie Golf Links — Championship Course
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Trump Turnberry — Ailsa Course
Turnberry, Scotland · Links
Golf guideSources & pricing note
Green fees, access rules and tee-time policies change frequently and vary by season. The figures here are indicative for trip planning — always confirm on the official site before booking.
Guide updated 2026-07-27.