Gary Player Country Club Golf Course

— About

About Gary Player Country Club Golf Course

Gary Player Country Club at Sun City is Africa's most storied and prestigious golf course, designed by legendary South African champion Gary Player and home to the Nedbank Golf Challenge — known as 'Africa's Major'. The course winds through the bush of North West Province, where native wildlife frequently appears at the course boundary and the surrounding landscape is a reminder that Sun City sits on the edge of true wilderness. Player designed a layout that combines dramatic elevation changes with classic strategic bunkering and water features that reward accuracy while punishing wayward shots. The par-4 9th, with its island green, is one of Africa's most dramatic and photographed golf holes. The resort facilities at Sun City are extraordinary — hotel, casino, water park, and game drives all available — making Gary Player Country Club the centrepiece of Africa's most ambitious resort destination. The annual Nedbank Golf Challenge has drawn Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, and virtually every major champion of the modern era to compete on this course.

— History

History of Gary Player Country Club

Sun City was developed by Sol Kerzner in the late 1970s in the nominally independent homeland of Bophuthatswana — a location chosen partly to circumvent apartheid-era restrictions on integrated entertainment. Gary Player designed the Country Club course and opened it in 1981, immediately establishing it as Africa's most prestigious professional venue when the first Nedbank Golf Challenge attracted the world's top players with a then-record prize fund. Player's vision was of an African Augusta — meticulous conditioning, spectacular individual holes, and a sense of occasion that would attract the game's greatest champions annually.

— Signature Holes

Signature Holes at Gary Player Country Club

The par-4 9th with its island green surrounded by a lake is Africa's most photographed hole — a demanding approach where the water on three sides removes all margin for error and creates visible tension in every professional field that visits. The par-3 4th plays across a water feature to a well-bunkered green, demanding precision in a landscape where wildlife from the adjacent bush sometimes provides an unusual distraction. The par-5 18th finishes dramatically with the lake running the left side, rewarding the bold second shot and punishing the overly aggressive player who fades it into the water.

— Best Time to Visit

Best Time to Visit Gary Player Country Club

May through September is the dry, cool winter season in South Africa's North West Province — ideal golfing weather with temperatures of 15–25°C and minimal rain. October through April is the summer rainy season with afternoon thunderstorms common. The Nedbank Golf Challenge is played in November. Sun City's resort infrastructure operates year-round and the combination of golf, casino, game drive, and water park makes it a complete destination in any season.

— Practical Tips

Tips for Playing Gary Player Country Club

Gary Player Country Club is a resort course accessible to guests of the Sun City resort. Green fees range from USD 150 to 250. Book tee times through the Sun City resort reservation system. Caddies are available. Sun City is approximately 2 hours northwest of Johannesburg by car via the N4 motorway. Game drives at the adjacent Pilanesberg National Park (malaria-free) provide a Big Five safari experience within 20 minutes of the golf course.

— Highlights

Why Play Gary Player Country Club

• ▸ Host of the Nedbank Golf Challenge — 'Africa's Major' — since 1981, drawing every top global star
• ▸ Par-4 9th features an iconic island green in a lake — Africa's most dramatic single hole
• ▸ Designed by Gary Player, South Africa's greatest champion and five-time World Player of the Year
• ▸ Wildlife visible from course boundaries — giraffes and zebras are not uncommon sightings
• ▸ Centrepiece of Sun City resort — Africa's most famous leisure and entertainment destination

— FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Gary Player Country Club

How much does it cost to play Gary Player Country Club?

Green fees range from USD 150 to 250 depending on season and package. Sun City resort packages combining accommodation and golf offer the best value.

Is Gary Player Country Club open to visitors?

Yes — the course is open to guests of the Sun City resort. Day visitor tee times are available through the resort's booking system.

What is the Nedbank Golf Challenge?

Known as 'Africa's Major,' the Nedbank Golf Challenge is an annual invitational event that has attracted the world's top players to Gary Player Country Club since 1981.

How far is Sun City from Johannesburg?

Sun City is approximately 2 hours northwest of Johannesburg via the N4 motorway through Rustenburg, in South Africa's North West Province.

Is there wildlife near the golf course at Sun City?

Yes — the adjacent Pilanesberg National Park (within 20 minutes of the resort) offers Big Five game drives, and wildlife occasionally appears along the resort perimeter.