Fancourt golf course: Early beginnings
There is a wonderful expression used by golf course architects – “It is amazing what can be done with a few bulldozers and a couple of wheelbarrow-loads of money.” This certainly applies to The Links at Fancourt.
It is hard to believe that what is now home The Links at Fancourt was once a flat piece of real estate, the old George Airport. Now it has been magically transformed into the truly magnificentgolf course and home of the famed Fancourt golf club.
It is fair to say that Fancourt golf course is too difficult for the average weekend golfer, and even the more accomplished players are unlikely to score anywhere close to what their handicaps might suggest. But the same could be said of any of the great championship golf course layouts, and Fancourt Links is definitely a championship track.
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Playing Fancourt Links
Fancourt Links: Hole #1
The introduction to Fancourt golf course is reasonably gentle; the opening hole requires little more than a drive to a generous landing area and an approach to a green that is guarded by a single pot bunker.
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Fancourt golf course: 2nd hole
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Fancourt Links: Hole #2
A beautiful par three played steeply downhill. Stretched to more than 200 metres, with even a slight breeze blowing, this hole requires a precision shot to a target surrounded by bunkers.
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Fancourt Links: Hole #3
The next par four is a beast: 429 metres with a stone-walled burn in front of the green. Aptly named ‘Calamity’, this hole demands two good shots, and anything less could result in a double-bogey or worse.
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Fancourt Links: Hole #4
This two-shotter does offer some let-up with its relatively wide fairway, but a well-struck long-iron will be needed to reach the putting surface.
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Fancourt Links: Hole #5
This hole is stroked as the easiest on Fancourt golf course, but do not be fooled. This par five might be reachable in two, but the second must carry a large wetland, and even laying up still leaves a rather intimidating approach.
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Fancourt Links: Hole #6
Fancourt golf course’s 6th hole is a short par four, something every course should have; an opportunity for the power striker to let rip at the green, which in this case is tiny. The more conservative approach is to select a club from the tee that will leave a full wedge to the target, but the hole is still no pushover, as missing the small putting surface is sure to leave a devilishly tricky chip.
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Fancourt Links: Hole #7
A cleverly designed par four – the shortest route to the green, down the right side, will leave a blind approach.
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Fancourt golf course: 2nd hole
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Fancourt Links: Hole #8 & 9
A pretty par three with water on the right follows, and then another par five is faced, which, stretched to 557 metres, is something of a slog. The drive must avoid a pair of bunkers flanking the landing area (although a long-hitter could carry the one on the left), and another stone-walled burn must be carried with the second shot, or for most golfers, the third.
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Fancourt Links: Hole #10
Named ‘Kilimanjaro’ because of its raised green, this is a fine hole where club selection for the approach is never easy.
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Fancourt Links: Hole #11
A relatively short (147m from the tips) par-three, this is still a difficult one due to a severe gully running through the green. If a player’s ball is on the wrong side of this depression, two putts becomes a major achievement.
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Fancourt Links: Hole #12
One of the toughest par fours to be found anywhere – Fancourt golf course’s great test where regulation figures, even for low handicappers, are never easy. Measuring 440 metres, a long, accurate drive must avoid some wicked bunkering, and then the approach must find a narrow opening to the green, where water on the left threatens.
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Fancourt Links: Hole #13 & 14
A reachable par five follows this, and then another tempting par four is faced by the player, a hole that begs to be driven but that is deserving of its name – ‘Wee Wrecker’.
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Fancourt golf course: 15th hole
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Fancourt Links: Hole #15 & 16
A beautiful dogleg is played after this, then another par five of 534 metres – a good three-shotter.
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Fancourt golf course: 17th hole
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Fancourt Links: Hole #17
A brilliant par three that requires pinpoint accuracy and perfect distance control. With a burn running in front and to the left of the green, and with little room to err to the right, it is easy to rack up a double-bogey.
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Fancourt Links: Hole #18
Fancourt golf course’s closing hole is a par five, where the player is greeted with an intimidating tee shot (it looks tighter than it actually is), and, after finding the fairway, a good second required to walk off with a par.
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The Fancourt Links experience
Fancourt golf course is certainly a course that can be compared with the best anywhere – its conditioning cannot be faulted (a mere 4 000 rounds are played here every year), and aesthetically it ranks with the beautiful classics found in Scotland and Ireland.
Fancourt golf club is a very private facility, and only members and their guests as well as hotel residents are permitted to play. Many would maintain that Fancourt golf course is the best test of golf in the country, and if it isn’t, it’s very close.
Lastly, a word for those who are planning to play Fancourt Links for the first time: bring your ‘A’ game.
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Fancourt Links likes
■ This is an excellent example of natural shaping – the hand of man has managed to mimic nature without making the terrain look contrived.
■ Endemic flora has been established and the wetlands are beautifully maintained.
■ Fancourt golf course can humble any player – when the wind really blows, a golfer can hit a dozen shots over their handicap and feel they played well.
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Fancourt Links dislikes
■ The names of the holes, borrowed from the Scots, are a little twee.
■ Membership is $100 000, which at the time of Fancourt Links’ opening amounted to R1 million. (Homeowners pay a discounted rate of $60 000.)
■ A more classic design would fit better with Fancourt golf course than the modern and rather sterile look and feel of the 19th hole.
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FANCOURT LINKS FACTFILE
Fancourt golf course – Classic links, par 73, 6 930 metres (championship tees)
Designers – Dr Hasso Plattner and Gary Player
Opened – 2000
Fancourt golf club member count – 54
Director of golf – Lloyd Martindale
Fancourt golf course superintendent – Spencer Cooper
Fancourt golf club champion – Tony Watson
Greenfees – Member’s guest: R300, Hotel residents: R1 600
Contact Fancourt Links– 044 804 0000, www.fancourt.co.za
Getting to Fancourt Links – Travelling from George Airport, turn left on the R404, cross the R102 and proceed towards Oudtshoorn. Fancourt Links is 7km from the airport, on the right.
– See more at: http://old.compleatgolfer.co.za/south-african-courses/golf-review-hole-by-hole-guide-playing-fancourt-links/#sthash.j3QTkX26.dpuf
