We started in Cape Town and had fantastic weather for our sightseeing days. We visited Table Mountain on an unusually still and sunny day which was magnificent. We toured Robben Island, walked through colourful Bo-Kaap and the peaceful Company Gardens. We visited clifftop suburbs and impossibly beautiful beaches lapped by the icy Atlantic Ocean. We saw the penguins at Boulders Beach and travelled as far as Cape Point. Our nights were filled with whiskey tasting, drumming, African theatre and dinners at the V&A Waterfront. The Taj truly spoiled us with beautiful accommodation, a lovely welcome function and magnificent Club Rooms.

In the Cape Winelands we stayed at the glorious Lanzerac Hotel and Spa, took the Wine Tram to Boschendal and Babylonstoren, visited the Motor Museum and got a round of golf in at the #3 course in South Africa, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course - Pearl Valley.

From Stellenbosch we headed to the heart of Garden Route for a serious stretch of golf. The three rounds of golf at Fancourt were outstanding as expected. Designed by Gary Player and ranked 23rd in South Africa's Top 100 Courses Fancourt’s Outeniqua provided a more forgiving terrain than its counterpart, Montagu, but still offered its fair share of challenges.

Montagu, ranked at #5 was a visual treat from first tee to the 18th green, with its wide fairways framed by trees and gardens and set against a backdrop of the Outeniqua mountain range. Both courses were exquisitely conditioned and provided a riveting golfing experience with fast-paced firm greens.

The group had the privilege of playing The Links (#2) with its dramatic, unconventional holes, undulating fairways, pot bunkers and links-style greens. We knew that we were bound to have a fantastic day from the moment we arrived. Caddies wearing bibs with each golfer’s name met us on arrival. The wee dram of scotch offered by the starter was a pleasant surprise and a nice touch to settle the nerves teeing off with an audience.

Pinnacle Point ranked #15, is one of a rare group of golf courses built on high cliffs overlooking the ocean. Designed by Peter Matkovich it definitely has the wow factor. It is a challenging course with an exhilarating layout and it was a tough day of golf for some of us! We also toured the Point of Human Origin Caves which revealed evidence of modern humans dating back 160,0000 years.

In Knysna, the heart of the Garden Route we played our last two rounds of golf, ate out every night and cruised the lagoon on the Paddle Boat. Pezula (#20), designed by Ronald Fream and David Dale delivered one exceptional hole after another. The front nine’s views over the Knysna Lagoon were magnificent. The drama reached a crescendo on the back nine with the holes tumbling downhill to the brink of the high cliffs above the Indian Ocean.

Simola ranked #16 is a spellbinding Jack Nicklaus signature design high in the hills above Knysna. Even with all the uphill and downhill holes, Nicklaus has cleverly achieved a course where you seldom have an uneven lie. Simola is situated lower than the ridges that surround it and is therefore less troubled by the wind, although it was wet and chilly on the day we played.