St. Francis Links — links golf at its best in South Africa
St. Francis Links: Jack Nicklaus' Links-Masterpiece in South Africa! Experience world-class design, dune magic and unbeatable prices in the Eastern Cape.
If you want to experience the term “links golf” in its purest form without flying to Europe, you should visit St. Francis Links in eastern South Africa. The course, designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, features thick rough, vast dune landscapes and an omnipresent wind. The course is located in an exclusive residential complex near St. Francis Bay; guests can stay in the lodge or in villas directly in the resort.
The warm and professional service is immediately noticeable at the reception — a signature of CEO Jeff “Santa” Clause. The complex combines American service standards with South African hospitality at the highest level.
Here you can find many more travel reports from the most beautiful golf courses in the world.
Front Nine: Dunes, Doglegs, and Tactical Greens
The round starts with a par 4 dog leg, which immediately sets the tone: dense rough and strategic fairway bunkers. Lane 2, a straight par 4 with a blind tee, benefits from well-placed alignment piles, which prove their worth throughout the course. The first par-5 at hole 3 snakes its way through the dunes in an S-shape and demands full respect at 523 meters.
The par-3 on lane 4 with two greens at different levels of altitude is remarkable: The high plateau green is wedged between massive bunkers, while the deep green offers an exciting tactical alternative.
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Back Nine: Water hazards and the grand finale
Anyone who thinks that the requirements will ease on the back nine is mistaken. You start with a short uphill dogleg, followed by the second-hardest hole of the round — a 411 meter long par 4. A highlight of the second section is hole 13, a par-5 that heads across water from the tee. Hole 14 requires strong nerves as a par-3 with forced carry across the water.
Hole 16 measures up to 572 meters — this is where the wheat separates from the chaff when the fairway forks and a stream crosses the path to the green. The 17th hole, a heavily undulated par-3, rewards strategic thinking: If you use the slope, you let the ball work towards the flag. The final track offers an elevated tee with a view of a dogleg on the left and an ascent green flanked by bunkers towards the clubhouse.
Conclusion: Unbeatable price-performance ratio
St. Francis Links was our absolute favorite in South Africa. In February 2026, the equivalent green fee was less than 75 euros per round. Maintenance, layout quality and atmosphere are unparalleled worldwide at this price level. If you still have time after the round, you should visit the nearby beach of St. Francis Bay with its distinctive lighthouse — an unforgettable experience, especially at sunrise.
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Release date
28 Mar 2026
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St. Francis Links is located in an exclusive residential complex near St. Francis Bay. (Photo: Michael Althoff)
Maintenance, layout quality and atmosphere stand out in particular in T. Francis Links. (Photos: Michael Althoff)
