Pinnacle Point
Peter Matkovich and Darren Clarke laid out Pinnacle Point above the Indian Ocean on the Garden Route, a clifftop course where seven holes line the rock and four are played across the ocean itself. A par 72 opened in 2006, it is one of the most dramatic seaside layouts in South Africa.
Photo: Pinnacle Point Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Pinnacle Point sits on a headland above Mossel Bay, two and a half hours east of George along the Garden Route, where Peter Matkovich worked with 2011 Open champion Darren Clarke to route a course along the cliff edge. It opened in 2006 and quickly became one of South Africa's signature clifftop experiences, regularly nominated among the country's best.
Seven holes run hard along the Indian Ocean, four of them carrying across cliff and sea, the kind of holes that make the camera work overtime. The par 72 is exposed to the coastal wind and demands commitment on the tee shots over the void, but the views and the drama more than repay the nerve. It is a course built for the bucket list.
Pinnacle Point at a glance
- Opened
- 2006
- Designer
- Peter Matkovich and Darren Clarke
- Type
- Clifftop
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,460 yds
- Green fee
- ZAR 2,000
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Pinnacle Point and leading course databases. The course was designed by Peter Matkovich with Darren Clarke and opened in 2006, a par 72 of about 6,460 yards. The visitor green fee was around 2,000 rand for eighteen holes (indicative, 2026), and advance booking is essential. Always confirm current rates directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Pinnacle Point is all about the cliff. Matkovich routed the course to bring the Indian Ocean into play again and again, with seven holes running along the rock and four asking for carries over the sea, the surf breaking on the cliffs below.
The signature holes drop toward the water with the swell pounding the base of the cliff, exhilarating and unnerving in the coastal wind. Inland, the course winds through fynbos and milkwood with elevation changes that test the legs and the club selection, a strong test even away from the edge.
Position off the tee and a steady nerve on the exposed shots are everything here. Pinnacle Point is not the longest course in South Africa, but few are more memorable, and the run of clifftop holes alone makes it worth the drive along the Garden Route.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public and estate course; visitors welcome with advance booking, members and estate guests prioritised |
| Green fee | Around 2,000 rand for eighteen holes (indicative, 2026); a buggy is recommended for the terrain |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through Pinnacle Point; an estate stay or a Garden Route specialist helps secure a time |
| On the day | Buggy course over hilly clifftop terrain; bring extra balls for the ocean carries |
| Getting there | Mossel Bay on the Garden Route, about 45 minutes from George Airport |
| Best months | September to April for the warm Western Cape season, though the course plays year round |
Access and fees verified June 2026; rates and availability change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Pinnacle Point Estate offers lodging on the headland with the course on the doorstep, the easiest base for a clifftop golf stay. The Garden Route town of Mossel Bay sits just below, with beaches, seafood and the start of one of the world's great coastal drives.
For a wider trip, George and the Fancourt resort lie 45 minutes west, and the wine country and golf of the Cape are within reach. Pinnacle Point pairs naturally with Fancourt and the Cape Town courses for a full South African tour.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Pinnacle Point.
Build a South Africa golf trip
We secure Pinnacle Point tee times, pair them with the best of the Garden Route and the Cape 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.
Pinnacle Point questions
Who designed Pinnacle Point and when did it open?
Pinnacle Point was designed by Peter Matkovich with 2011 Open champion Darren Clarke and opened in 2006, on a clifftop headland above Mossel Bay on the Garden Route.
What is the par and length of Pinnacle Point?
Pinnacle Point is a par 72 of about 6,460 yards, with seven holes running along the Indian Ocean cliffs and four played across the sea.
How much is a round at Pinnacle Point?
The visitor green fee was around 2,000 rand for eighteen holes (indicative, 2026), with advance booking essential. Always confirm current pricing directly before booking.
Can visitors play Pinnacle Point?
Yes. Pinnacle Point welcomes visitors with advance booking, with priority for members and estate guests. A buggy is recommended for the hilly clifftop terrain.
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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.