Pecanwood Golf Club
Pecanwood is the first Jack Nicklaus Signature course built in the southern hemisphere, laid out on the southern banks of Hartbeespoort Dam beneath the Magaliesberg. A par 72 of about 6,282 meters, it pairs broad, watered fairways with lakeside drama, and sits an easy 45 minutes from both Pretoria and Johannesburg.
Photo: Chris Muller via Google.
The verdict
Pecanwood matters for a simple reason: when it opened in 1998 it was the first Jack Nicklaus Signature design anywhere in the southern hemisphere, and it brought a polished, American resort idiom to the shores of Hartbeespoort Dam. The par 72 runs to about 6,282 meters, with kikuyu fairways and Crenshaw bent greens framed by the Magaliesberg, so the setting does much of the heavy lifting before you have hit a shot.
The ground is largely flat, but Nicklaus has worked it hard. High mounding, sculpted water features and well placed bunkering give the holes shape and a clear line of play, and the vast expanse of the dam lends several holes a sense of scale that the elevation alone could not. It is a comfortable, well conditioned round rather than a brutal one, which makes it a natural fit on a North West golf trip built around Sun City.
Pecanwood Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1998
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Lakeside parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,282 m
- Green fee
- Indicative
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Nicklaus Design, the estate and leading course databases. Pecanwood is a Jack Nicklaus Signature par 72 measuring about 6,282 meters, the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Visitors are welcome and a valid handicap card is generally required; a visitor green fee of around R760 for 18 holes appears in 2021 listings and has likely risen since, so treat it as indicative and always confirm current rates directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The signature is the par 3 13th, which plays alongside the dam to a green pinched between bunkers on both sides. With water on the eye line and the Magaliesberg behind, it is the photograph everyone takes home, and the wind off the water can turn a mid iron into a genuine decision.
Away from the marquee hole, the round rewards position over power. The mounds and bunkers funnel you toward favored lines, and the bent greens run true and quick, so good iron play and a steady putter matter more than raw length. Several holes flirt with the water's edge, which keeps the card honest without ever feeling tricked up.
The result is a balanced, modern layout that suits a wide range of golfers. Off the back markers it has enough teeth for a low handicapper, while the forward tees make for a relaxed, scenic day. As a lakeside counterpoint to the bigger, sterner tests at nearby Sun City, it earns its place on a Gauteng and North West itinerary.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Estate course that welcomes visitors daily; book through the pro shop or a tour operator, with weekday tee times easiest to secure |
| Green fee | A visitor rate of about R760 for 18 holes appears in 2021 listings and has likely increased; confirm current pricing with the club (indicative, 2026) |
| Handicap | A valid handicap card is generally required for visitors; check the current requirement when you book |
| On the day | Carts are available and standard golf attire with a collared shirt is expected; the course is flat and walkable |
| Getting there | Hartbeespoort, North West, on the southern bank of the dam, about 45 minutes from both Pretoria and Johannesburg and roughly two hours from Sun City |
| Best months | The dry Highveld winter from April to September brings clear, mild golfing days, with cold early starts |
Access and fee details verified June 2026 from the estate and recent listings; visitor pricing changes by season and the published figure dates to 2021, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Hartbeespoort is a weekend escape for Gauteng, so there is no shortage of lodging close to the course, from lakeside guesthouses to the homes and apartments within Pecanwood Estate itself. Staying on or beside the dam puts you minutes from the first tee and a short drive from the Magaliesberg's restaurants and viewpoints.
For a fuller itinerary, Pecanwood pairs neatly with the two championship courses at Sun City, the Gary Player Country Club and the Lost City Golf Course, roughly two hours northwest, and with the parkland clubs of Pretoria and Johannesburg on the other side. A Hartbeespoort or Pretoria base makes a comfortable hub for a multi course North West week.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Pecanwood Golf Club.
Build a Sun City and North West golf trip
We line up the tee times at Pecanwood where access allows, pair them with the Gary Player Country Club and Lost City at Sun City, and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Pecanwood Golf Club questions
Who designed Pecanwood Golf Club?
Pecanwood is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design, the first Nicklaus Signature course built in the southern hemisphere. It opened in 1998 on the shores of Hartbeespoort Dam.
What is the par and length of Pecanwood Golf Club?
Pecanwood is a par 72 measuring about 6,282 meters from the back tees, with kikuyu fairways and Crenshaw bent greens set beside Hartbeespoort Dam.
Where is Pecanwood Golf Club?
The course is at Hartbeespoort in North West province, on the southern banks of the dam below the Magaliesberg, about 45 minutes from both Pretoria and Johannesburg.
Can visitors play Pecanwood Golf Club?
Yes. Pecanwood welcomes visitors daily, and a valid handicap card is generally required. Book through the pro shop or a tour operator and confirm the current seasonal green fee when you reserve.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.