Ryder Cup star headed for SA to host mega golf event Lawrie hits out at US crowd Cape Town – Fancourt, the Garden Route’s top leisure and lifestyle destination added another glowing international accolade to its prestigious list, when it was singled out among the world’s 10 Best Golf Resorts on CNNGO, the online travel hub of Cable Network News (CNN), the world’s highest rated and most widely available cable news channel.
As the only African golf resort to feature on this coveted list, Fancourt sets a precedent for its peers, both in South Africa and across the continent.
Placed ninth among the world’s top 10 golf resorts, by respected golf, business and travel journalist Tony Smart, this sets Fancourt squarely in the league of the world’s finest golfing destinations.
The Top 10 were listed as follows:
1.Pinehurst,USA
2.Kiawah,USA
3.Pebble Beach,USA
4. The AmericanClub,USA
5. The Old Course Hotel –St Andrews,Scotland
6. The K-Club,Ireland
7.Sotogrande,Spain
8.Mission Hills,China
9.Fancourt,South Africa
10. Quinta doLago,Portugal
Smart, who regularly contributes to top golf publications including Golf World and Golf Monthly (UK), Golf International, The Robb Report, Golf Vacations andDubai- On Course (Dubai’s Golf & Lifestyle magazine), is himself an avid golfer who has played and stayed at the finest golf courses and resorts on the planet.
He rated each golf resort according to five distinctive criteria, uppermost being the quality, condition and history of their golf courses, followed by the quality and luxury of the accommodation, the quality and range of the cuisine and beverages, and finally, the calibre and variety of other facilities available at each resort.
With 10 being the top score, Fancourt scored an impressive 9 for its Golf Courses, Accommodation, and Food and Drink and a perfect score of 10 for Other Facilities.
Smart cites Fancourt as ‘Africa’s leading golf resort’, with ‘three great courses – the Links, Montagu and Outeniqua – the best of which is the Links’.
His glowing review states that ‘Accommodation is luxurious, either in the Fancourt Hotel or the boutique Manor House. Dining is in three modern restaurants or the fine dining experience of Henry White’s. Non-golf activities include a top-class spa, gym and tennis, and also the chance to go on safari and see the ‘Big Five’- lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.’
Says Fancourt Director of Sales and Marketing, Carl Reinders: ‘We are delighted with this international recognition of our golf and hospitality offering. It’s especially rewarding to be handpicked among all the golf resorts globally, and this kind of acknowledgement spurs us on to continually refine our services and facilities. This is a very proud occasion.’
Fancourt is a sought-after golfing playground, with Gary Player having originally designed all three of Fancourt’s lauded courses and having described Fancourt as ‘home of perhaps my greatest achievement as a golf course designer, The Links’. The Links was also singled out among the world’s top 30 golf courses outside theUSAby Golf Digest, on the coveted Top 100 Golf Courses outside theUSAlist for 2012.
In addition to its three magnificent Golf courses, Fancourt has an exceptional golf academy that houses a TaylorMade Fitment Centre and state-of-the-art teaching facilities, backed up by the expertise of PGA professionals.
Fancourt is renowned as much for its internationally acclaimed golf courses, as for its two luxury hotels, extensive leisure facilities for the whole family and choice of three superb restaurants, as well as its spa and wellness offering. In recognition of its world-class services and facilities it was voted Best Luxury Golf Resort inSouth Africain the 2011 World Luxury Hotel Awards.
