If you and your significant other are looking for an Escape in Port Alfred that has something for both of you, why not give our Golfing Getaway Package a try?
The Royal St Andrews Hotel has long partnered up with The Royal Port Alfred Golf Club to bring you both the best of Golfing and Luxury Accommodation in the Heart of the Sunshine Coast, Port Alfred.
With the Royal Port Alfred Golf Club situated just across the road from the Royal St Andrews Hotel, you can walk over for your tee off time, enjoy the course for the day and stroll back over for a round at the 19th Hole in the Highlander Pub.
And while you’re enjoying the Port Alfred Golf Club, your partner can enjoy a relaxing back, neck and shoulder massage at the Royal St Andrews Hotel’s own our on-site CSpa Wellness by Camelot.
All this, including Gourmet Breakfast at our Paper Nautilus Restaurant and Gracious Hospitality.
About the Royal Port Alfred Golf Course:
· Location: St Andrews Road, Port Alfred, 6170, Eastern Cape
· Website: https://rpagc.co.za/golf-course/
· Contact: 046 624 4796
· Email: info@rpagc.co.za
· Type: 18-hole links course
· Length: 5,739 meters (white tees) | 5,025 meters (ladies)
· Par: 72Design: Retains its traditional rugged, untouched links nature demanding creative shot-making.
Club Amenities:
· Pro Shop: Fully stocked with golfing essentials and apparel.
· Clubhouse: Features a well-appointed bar, lounge, and dining area offering scenic coastal views.
· Facilities: Lockers and a dedicated function/conference room are available.
· Wildlife: It is common to spot buck species (springbuck, duiker, impala) and varied birdlife on the fairways
In 1923 a visitor described the course as a monument to the origins of golf played on a South African links next to a southern sea? Not much has changed since then. The undulating course snakes its way through thickets of pristine coastal forest and over hilly dunes always with the smell and sounds of the Indian Ocean close by whose blue waters offer the most panoramic views from many of the fairways.
In true links tradition every slope, mound and dip remains untouched, demanding creative shot making and deft reading of angles. The course is fairly short at 5739 (ladies 5025) meters and on windless days can be vulnerable.
However days such as these are rare and you are more likely than not to encounter the dominant westerly or less common easterly blowing up and down the coast. On one day you will be able to hit a little wedge to the short 11th, Punch Bowl but the next you will need a one wood. A favourite with members and visitors alike is the par 4 12th, Greenmantle where the views of the ocean from the back markers are superb.
So taken with the view in 1925 the Prince of Wales attempted to drive a ball directly from here into the sea. The ball was recovered and is on display at the Club House. Adding to the allure and charm of the course is its resident wild life. Normally shy bushbuck will continue grazing contently as you walk by while springbok and impala pronk with delight. The blesbok, fallow deer duiker and giant tortoise peer at the golfers with suspicion and there is bird life in abundance.
History of the Royal Port Alfred Golf Club:
Dr W. F. Atherstone laid out the original 9-hole course at Port Alfred Golf Club in 1907, assisted by the Port Elizabeth professional A. E. Gray. A year later, professional Laurie Waters from Royal Johannesburg added a second nine holes.
Prince Arthur of Connaught, grandson of Queen Victoria, was Governor General of the Union of South Africa from 1920 to 1924 and his wife Princess Alexandra of Fife was invited to the club to name the holes in 1921. Thirteen of those names remain in place today.
Prince Arthur then petitioned The King at the start of 1924, asking for the club to be granted use of the royal title. Almost immediately, his uncle King George V bestowed this, with the club becoming known as Royal Port Alfred Golf Club on 6 February 1924.
The course had been the venue for the South African Open and South African Amateur two years earlier, and it would host the national men’s Amateur again in 1932, along with the South African Women’s Amateur in 1927 and 1931.
S. V. Hotchkin suggested some course changes during his trip to South Africa in the winter of 1927 and club minutes from two years later state that the Greens committee were only authorized to “carry out some of the minor alterations he recommended but at the least expense”.
In 1953/4, Bob Grimsdell was invited to give his opinion on whether the layout could be reorganized as two loops of nine holes but “he found that this was close to impossible and ventured that the 13-5 configuration was the best option of the time”. He returned in 1967 to give his approval for a new short hole, currently the 8th.
In the new millennium, some of the sand hazards have been re-shaped as pot bunkers and greens on the 1st, 4th and 9th holes have also been enlarged.
The following edited extract is taken from Golf’s Royal Clubs by Scott Macpherson:
“From the clubhouse, the course stretches out in front of you, with 15 of the 18 holes identifiable. Its strength is its lack of weak holes: all have some intrinsic interest, and this is clear from the fact they are often referred to by their hole names than their numbers. Images rush to mind when we hear of the Hippo’s Bath, Whale’s Back or Shelly Beach.
The seaside course entertains with sloping fairways, blind holes and firm greens. Situated in a lush landscape featuring many shrubs and bushes but few trees, it has many links qualities although the land by definition is not ‘linksland,’ rather more of a raised beach – still excellent ground for golf.
Of the four royal golf clubs in South Africa, Royal Port Alfred is the youngest but was the second to gain the royal title. Those who visit the club will notice it has a traditional feel, and it is easy to imagine the fun early golfers had here with a lively gutta-percha ball and hickory clubs.”
