Going for Golf

Legend Golf & Safari Resort

When the video of Padraig Harrington playing the extreme 19th golf hole at Legend Golf & Safari Resort was uploaded to YouTube it was viewed more than one million times in just a few days. The planet’s golfing public, it would appear, can still be captivated by something unique.

But it’s not just the much-talked-about par-three hole which captures the imagination here, for, at the heart of the resort, at the 22,000 hectare malaria-free Entabeni Safari Conservancy in South Africa, is the world’s first championship Signature Course.

A relationship with IMG resulted in a stunning course designed by 18 of the world’s top golfers including Trevor Immelman, Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia. And, with the world’s media destined to set up camp in South Africa next summer for football’s World Cup, you can be sure much more will be heard of Legend Golf & Safari Resort.

Rumours abound at the resort that one of the ‘top nations’ has already booked to use the resort as a base, but the management are tight-lipped – at least with this correspondent.

So why would it be chosen as a likely ‘home’ for pampered footballers?

The resort is a spectacular example of a 21st century leisure complex set in the heart of the African bush – a truly modern amenity in an ancient and awe-inspiring landscape.

At the heart of the resort is the golf course – KJ Choi, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Justin Rose, Robert Allenby and Mike Weir are among the other star names involved. It is a 6,534m-long beauty with an extra sting in a very long tail – providing you also have very deep pockets.

After 18 quite glorious holes you could, if your holiday money stretched to it, take a chopper up to the aforementioned Extreme 19th, set high on Hanglip mountain. High? It’s all relative of course. It’s not Neil Armstrong high, but the tee is still around 400m above the Africa-shaped green.

Garcia, who designed hole 16, said of the 19th: “This is truly unique. I have never seen a hole like this and it’s a great challenge. What a hole… what a view… what a resort.”

But fear not. If the budget won’t stretch to a visit to the 19th – you should try, after all, you’ll probably only play here once – you won’t be disappointed by the 18 holes preceding it.

Among the stand-out holes is the par-four fifth, designed by former US Open champion Michael Campbell and measuring 448m from the club tees. The brave golfer is presented with the challenge of trying to clear the fairway bunkers on the left or face a long approach shot to an elevated green, protected by bunkers both front and back. A sloping green rounds off a fairly significant challenge and is the feature of a difficult opening few holes, which play predominantly into the prevailing wind.

There’s also great synergy on hole eight, with the flamboyant Colombian Camilo Villegas lending his design skills to a short-ish par-four that offers significant risk and reward. Again, fly the fairway bunkers and you’ve got a short iron in to this 350m hole.

Both nines are rounded off by par-fives which are reachable in two. The Justin Rose-designed ninth defends itself with a picturesque water feature short and right of the green, making the ambitious golfer think twice before attempting to hit the putting surface in two.

A slightly more forgiving back nine is completed by a Retief Goosen design, which plays away from the Hanglip mountain, towards the clubhouse. Accuracy off the tee is key, with water protecting the front of the green, which is also protected on both sides by bunkers. The golfer who backs himself will take this on in two, but anything less than precision, will result in a watery grave.

The resort’s latest addition is a ‘Tribute Course’ which pays homage to nine of the world’s most famous par-threes, recreated here and joined by one of the resort’s own design to form a distracting 10-hole journey around the best short golf holes in the world.

By the end of January, the resort will have 160 rooms available in en-suite double suites, with more becoming available throughout the year.

The name of the resort also gives more than a tacit clue to what else lurks here at Waterberg, in the Limpopo province.  The Wildlife and Cultural Centre is home to rare white lions and, at the Entabeni Safari Conservancy, game drives are hosted by highly trained game rangers, whose tracking skills lead guests to see lions, rhino, buffalo, leopard, elephants, cheetah, hippo, giraffes, zebra, and all manner of Africa’s bountiful wildlife. And, for any national football association contemplating a visit, football pitches are also present alongside swimming pools, tennis courts, and basketball plus many other activities.

But it’s the golf course that is really going to set one’s juices flowing. If you can’t enjoy your golf on these 19 holes, you might have to face up to the reality that the sport is not for you.