Gary Player Country Club
Gary Player built his championship course into the bushveld of the North West, and once a year it becomes the stage for the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the season ending event players still call Africa's Major. It is long, it is hot, and it asks for every club in the bag.
Photo: The Gary Player Golf Course and Country Club via Google.
The verdict
The Gary Player Country Club opened in 1979 as the centrepiece of the Sun City resort, a par 72 the Black Knight stretched out to roughly 7,830 yards so it could test the best in the world. Bermuda fairways run between dense bushveld, the kikuyu rough grabs at anything offline, and the greens are quick and full of subtle movement. From the back tees it is one of the longer and more demanding tests on the continent.
It earns its fame every November, when the Nedbank Golf Challenge brings a small elite field to Sun City for one of the richest weeks in golf. For the travelling golfer the appeal is simple: you play the same closing holes the world's best wrestle with on television, in a resort built for the trip, with the Pilanesberg game reserve a short drive away. Pair it with a safari and you have a holiday that golf alone cannot match.
Gary Player Country Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1979
- Designer
- Gary Player
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,830 yds
- Green fee
- About R980
Design history, par and yardage verified June 2026 from course and tour sources. The Gary Player Country Club plays to par 72 over roughly 7,830 yards from the championship tees. The green fee is indicative, around R980 a round with resort guest and package rates available. Fees change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The closing four are where the tournament is usually decided. The par 4 17th demands a long carry and a precise approach, and the par 4 18th sweeps back to the clubhouse with water and bunkers waiting for the timid second shot. Reach the turn in good shape and the back nine will still find you out.
The par 3s carry real teeth, several playing long over trouble to firm greens, and at altitude the ball flies in a way that fools first time visitors. Take a yardage book and trust local knowledge on club selection, because the bushveld air changes everything.
Conditioning is tournament grade in season and the caddies know every break. This is a course to play from the right tees: move forward, enjoy the scale of the place, and leave the championship markers to the professionals unless your game is genuinely sharp.
Visiting and green fees
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course at Sun City, open to resort guests and visitors by tee time booking through the resort |
| Green fee | Around R980 for a round, with resort guest and package rates available (indicative) |
| Booking | Book through Sun City golf reservations or as part of a stay; tee times tighten around the Nedbank Golf Challenge in November |
| On the day | Caddies and carts available, a full clubhouse, and the second resort course, the Lost City, alongside |
| Getting there | About two hours by road from Johannesburg and OR Tambo airport |
| Best months | The South African autumn to spring, roughly March to October, for cooler, drier days; summer afternoons bring heat and storms |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Sun City is a self contained resort, so the easy answer is to stay on site. The Palace of the Lost City, the Cascades and the Sun City Hotel all put you minutes from the first tee, with the Lost City course as a second eighteen.
Most golfers build the trip around a safari. The Pilanesberg reserve is on the doorstep, and the greater Madikwe and even Kruger lodges pair naturally with a few nights at Sun City, turning a golf trip into a proper African holiday.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Gary Player Country Club.
Build a South Africa golf and safari trip
We line up the Gary Player Country Club with the right Sun City hotel, add the Lost City course and a Pilanesberg or Madikwe safari, and handle every booking. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Gary Player Country Club questions
What is the par and length of the Gary Player Country Club?
It plays to par 72 over roughly 7,830 yards from the championship tees, a long parkland course laid through the bushveld at Sun City with shorter tee options for visitors.
Who designed the Gary Player Country Club?
It was designed by Gary Player, the South African nine time major champion, and opened in 1979 as the centrepiece of the Sun City resort.
Can visitors play the Gary Player Country Club?
Yes. It is a resort course at Sun City, open to resort guests and visitors by tee time booking, though availability tightens around the Nedbank Golf Challenge each November.
How much does it cost to play the Gary Player Country Club?
The indicative green fee is around R980 a round, with resort guest and package rates available. Fees change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Design history, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.