2020 started off as any normal year does. A fun and family filled December hit the New Year! And in South Africa, it is Sunny and hot. Perfect if you live by the coast where you can take strolls along the beach and soak up all the vitamin D your heart desires. It's no surprise there are exquisite golf courses and tournaments that take place around the country. With greens that border onto a wildlife area to fairways that meet the coast, South Africa Boasts a stunning variety.
Golf in the Garden Route
Golfers such as Gary Player, Retief Goosen, Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen are celebrity golfers born and bred in South Africa. There are many well designed and famous courses that have been built and used for local an internationally acclaimed tournaments.
But how has this been affected by COVID19? What has happened to Golf and Golf Tourism in light of the current pandemic?
How has the industry been affected?
With the Covid-19 virus hitting the shores of South Africa, the government took the safety of its people as a priority and closed our borders to intra-provincial and international travel. This has forced many travellers to postpone and even cancel their trips and has hit the local tourism industry hard, as they were unable to trade. At lockdown levels 4 and 5, golf courses were unable to remain open for local clients.
What is happening now?
This slow period has given many businesses a chance to pivot, strategize and come out stronger than ever. Many golf courses have done some deep maintenance to their greens and fairways, paving the way for a future of smooth greens. Lockdown level 3 has allowed local golfers to return to their greens. This has opened opportunities for locals to play at some higher-end clubs often reserved for tourists.
The future?
Intra-provincial leisure travel is now permitted under new level 3 regulations. This is good news for avid golfers and the industry holistically, since it means that you can now travel to your favorite golf course around your province. With the right health and safety measures in place, and the practice of social-distancing, golfing should return back to normal, albeit a slow process initially. With beautiful greens being prepared and many birdies and eagles waiting to be scored, the future of our golfing tourism has a potential upside. As golf is a great way to relax, exercise and maintain social distance at the same time.
Milnerton Golf Club
With many clubs and golf resorts offering once in a lifetime specials, now is the time to grab them and run. Taking advantage of the specials now is allowing many golfers to make their dreams of playing at Sun City, Fish Eagle, Gary Player, Arabella and even leopards creek a reality. Time to start dreaming of those birdies!
Getting Around Comfortably
If you’ve just landed in South Africa and you’re in need of getting around, especially to one of your favorite courses, but worried about getting around comfortably, we recommend hiring an Uber service, transfer service or booking a car rental with Drive South Africa. All of these options are fairly safe. Public transport can be inconvenient, unpredictable and a costly exercise.
