Welcome to the Pearl Valley Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course
The total length of the course, off the championship tees is 6 749 metres, the member length ranges from 5 878 metres from the blue club tees, to the senior and ladies championship tees at 5 586 metres. The ladies course spans 4 935 metres. Designed with the winter north-westerly and summer south-easterly winds in mind, all par 3’s and par 5’s play in different directions, providing the golfer with varying conditions throughout the round.
HOLE 1
WIDE OPEN
This is a wonderful starting hole that gives you a big fairway to hit and is a soft opening hole. Avoid the large waste bunker on the right-hand side and take enough club on your approach shot to ensure you fly the greenside bunker on the left-hand side.
Par 4
- 356m
- 340m
- 295m
- 281m
- 244m
HOLE 2
LEFT POCKET
This hole gets your attention as water runs down the entire right side of the hole. A well struck tee shot to the left-hand side of this fairway will see a mid to long iron in for the approach. Play for the heart of the green to avoid the slope on the right.
Par 4
- 385m
- 370m
- 340m
- 326m
- 287m
HOLE 3
ACE
A guarded green complex demands accuracy and a well struck shot to find the putting surface. The hole often plays downwind and it can be a challenge to keep the ball on the green. With water to carry and a well-positioned bunker short, hit it high and let it fly. The safe play is to the left side of the green. As tricky as this hole is, it is the par 3 with the most recorded hole in ones. Take aim and who knows, today could be your lucky day!
Par 3
- 180m
- 160m
- 145m
- 135m
- 107m
HOLE 4
MIND THE CREEK
This is a three-shot par 5 all day with only the longer hitter (and the brave) taking this green on in two. The play here is to navigate your way off the tee to miss the large fairway bunker on the right. Then to lay up either left or right of the creek to your desired distance to ensure a safe landing on the green in three shots. A par here is a great score, but this hole if played strategically, gives plenty of opportunities for birdies.
Par 5
- 513m
- 462m
- 450m
- 429m
- 360m
HOLE 5
UP OR DOWN
A very interesting par 4 with two distinct options given to the player from the teeing area. The longer hitter can hit up to the left top tier fairway leaving a preferred angle in for the approach shot. If the carry in this line is too daunting, the safe play is to leave it just short of the right-hand side fairway bunker. A safer line, it does leave a blind shot for the approach. An excellent par 4 that demands a committed decision off the tee.
Par 4
- 351m
- 334m
- 300m
- 287m
- 250m
HOLE 6
BLUE GUM
Don’t be fooled into thinking this is an easy par 3. The left green side bunker is so well placed that any shot into this green that isn’t well hit will fall victim to the sand. The play here is to find centre green. From the tee box the tall blue gum trees hide the wind. Try to keep your approach shot below the tree line to avoid the ball being hit down by the wind.
Par 3
- 185m
- 161m
- 152m
- 142m
- 120m
HOLE 7
BEAR TRAP
Arguably the toughest driving hole on the course, with carefully positioned bunkers down the left-hand side and with water all the way down the right. Don’t be intimidated by the danger that lurks and be sure to hit a committed tee shot either just short or between the fairway bunkers on the left. Aim for the heart of the green for your second and be very happy if you walk off this green with a par.
Par 4
- 402m
- 372m
- 352m
- 299m
- 293m
HOLE 8
PICTURE PERFECT
The 8th hole is one of the most photographed on the course. The breathtaking views of the Simonsberg mountain range demand your attention. This picturesque hole is stroke 1 for obvious reasons. There is water all the way down the right-hand side of the hole with large deep fairway bunkers to the left, which need to be avoided at all costs. The play here is to find the fairway to set up any second shot. Be sure to strike your approach pure as a miss hit will not carry the water. Be aware of the crosswinds on this hole and almost always take one extra club.
Par 4
- 388m
- 373m
- 349m
- 337m
- 273m
HOLE 9
CLUBHOUSE BOUND
After the bear trap, a clubhouse retreat and halfway break is often needed. Be sure to find the wide fairway as trouble lurks to the left and right of this hole. It appears to be innocent enough, but don’t underestimate it. On your approach shot avoid the fairway bunker on the right. The longer hitters will comfortably be able to reach here in two but will often find the deep greenside bunker to the left. A great par 5 that feels like a birdie hole, but often results in more.
Par 5
- 535m
- 504m
- 460m
- 447m
- 377m
HOLE 10
THE PEARL
Many people don’t know that the name Pearl Valley comes from the way Paarl Mountain rocks look after the rain. When the sun hits them, they look like giant pearls shimmering in the light of the sun. A tough par 4 that demands the player find the fairway off the tee. The green stretches to the right making the carry of the bunker longer, the further right the pin sits. Play for the heart of the green. Be sure to take enough club to carry the well-guarded greenside bunker.
Par 4
- 364m
- 346m
- 310m
- 329m
- 250m
HOLE 11
TWO GOOD SHOTS
This par 4 requires your attention. Some players will try to fly the bunker on the right. If this is your line of choice, be sure to not slice it right. The prudent play is to find the fairway left of the large waste bunker leaving a mid to short iron approach. A small narrow entry to the two-tiered green makes for a daunting approach shot. Once the green has been found, some tricky putts await. A par on this hole is a good score.
Par 4
- 380m
- 370m
- 348m
- 329m
- 275m
HOLE 12
THREAD THE NEEDLE
This is a par 5 that looks narrow but presents the player with lots of space off the tee. There is plenty of room on the left of this hole but it requires a tee shot to fly over the blind rise. Miss the fairway bunker right and you are on your way. The approach shot is either through the tight green entry with a long iron or hybrid, or a layup to your desired yardage. This green is tough to hit and the centre of the green here is always a good result.
Par 5
- 525m
- 498m
- 448m
- 428m
- 385m
HOLE 13
COMMIT
Our signature hole for its beauty and wonderful design, but it is a hole that requires total commitment. Pick your club and focus on solid contact. Find the green off the tee and a par is in reach. The safe play is short right avoiding the left greenside bunker. The trick to this hole is to pay attention to the water. It shows you what the wind is doing as it can often swirl here making club selection tricky. Good luck!
Par 3
- 185m
- 160m
- 140m
- 115m
- 95m
HOLE 14
TAKE AIM
This hole is one that many visiting golfers remember. The tree in the middle of the fairway was never meant to be there, but after much debate, Jack Nicklaus decided to leave it in as he enjoyed the look and feel it gave to the hole. Take aim off the tee shot as the tree is your line. The second shot is a layup left, or for the longer hitter, a high fade into the green to set up a very achievable birdie.
par 5
- 489m
- 450m
- 435m
- 424
- 369m
HOLE 15
RISK REWARD
A short par 4 that really entices you to take it on and go for the green. The smart play is a layup just short of the large fairway bunker that crosses the line of play. This option will leave a short iron approach. If you are feeling brave, take it on as its certainly reachable but be warned, this hole bites.
Par 4
- 320m
- 302m
- 289m
- 275m
- 233m
HOLE 16
PICK A LANE
Off the tee its wide open left or tight down the right, demanding a carry over the two right side fairway bunkers. Pick a lane and commit to your line. Once the fairway has been found a well struck iron to the heart of the green gives you a chance at a birdie. Be sure to fly the centre green side bunker on the approach as it sets itself so well into the green and will catch the slightest of miss hit shots.
Par 4
- 387m
- 369m
- 344m
- 330m
- 285m
HOLE 17
PINPOINT
The toughest par 3 on the course and a green that is incredibly difficult to hit. There is a line that runs down the centre which is the only area you must land your approach shot if you hope to stay on the green. Anything left or right of this will send your ball rolling off to the side of this elevated green. Its long and demands pinpoint accuracy.
Par 3
- 205m
- 193m
- 183m
- 154
- 121m
HOLE 18
THE GAUNTLET
A superb closing hole that plays long into the prevailing Southeast wind. The fairway bunkers on the left and right side of this fairway from the tee, make the golfer feel they are running a gauntlet. Navigate this and you are faced with a long second over water with a greenside bunker for the bail out shot right. This hole demands two of your best shots. Take par and run, the clubhouse awaits for a well-deserved ice cold beer.
Par 4
- 427m
- 398m
- 376m
- 337
- 331m