Zebula – Golf Estate and Spa played on 12 and 13 March 2020

We started from Kambaku Golf Club (the western part of Kruger National Park) on Tuesday March 10 early morning, heading for Highland Park golf course, near Dullstroom.

A relatively new course designed by Ernie Els. Praised by many golfers we have met on our South African tour. We  tried to call the club the day before to book a tee time, but didn’t get in contact. Visiting their web page everything looked ok, so we took off for the 4 hour drive, west.

When we reached the gate to the resort, we were told that the course was closed for a week due to maintenance. No visit to the restaurant or playing the course was possible.

Holy Moses; 4 hours’ drive for nothing. From the gate we called the club and got in contact with a lady from their staff. At least she was sorry for the lack of information on their web site, and she would tell the management. Next time . . . . . . . . . . . .

The next stop on our schedule was Zebula Golf Estate and Spa. Again a golf course highly recommended by some of the golfers we have met on our way. So we decided to spend the rest of the day driving another 400km west, south west. Some 160km north of Tswane (Pretoria).

Zebula is a very, very interesting golf course. Laid out in the bush in the middle of a natural park called Zebula. Try to imagine a savannah – or (as a Dane) a grass land prairie and you got the landscape.

18 holes in a totally flat landscape, a few dams (ponds) and just add 4 *18 different tee places, bunkers and 18 greens.

Sounds easy, but sure it hasn’t been. 4 tee places for each of 18 holes covering distances from 6.800m over 6.400m and 6000m to 5.300m.

The longest course I have played so far. I played the 6.400m course. 4 iron, hybrid and 3 wood have never been used so many times during a round before. But it was fun.

The layout looks simple. That is: hit the ball, hit it again and then pitch and putt for a par or bogey. But no Sir, not so easy.

Your drive need to be in the right position – whether you are a long or a short hitter. If too far to the right or left in the fairway whether you are on a doglegged fairway or not, your second shot to the green is blocked by trees, bushes or a huge bunker behind which the hole is cut.

Fairways are in general very broad, but Peter Matkovich the designer, have figured it out and always left a bush, a tree or a bunker in your way.

There are many, many great holes on this golf course. My favorite is with no doubt hole 18.

A par 5, 500m from the white tee, index  8. The last 150m bends to the left, where you have a pond to the left of the fairway and in the left front of the green. If the hole is cut to the left on the green you have to have a very precise approach shot.

Another aspect that I liked a lot is the greens – they are very big, well maintained, true with a good speed and most of them designed to make 3 or 4 different pin positions possible. Positions that can change the difficulty of a hole totally. If approaching from the wrong angle, you have to be very good.

Be aware that Zebula Estate and Spa is more than a golf course. It is also providing activities like hiking and biking, fishing, game drives, horseback safaris etc. etc. But in spite of that, you still have a good golfing atmosphere around the clubhouse and restaurant.

Facts about :

The Zebula Golf Course is located in a basin of the most pristine African bushveld. Open for play in 2003. The more precise address is: Mabula District, Bela Bela, Limpopo. Surrounded by game lodges, nature and wildlife reserves. In SA, the location of a course like Zebula makes it a bushveld course.

Here is how Zebula are presenting themselves on the net: “The Peter Matkovich designed course reveals his usual flair for being both challenging and accommodating. Four tees are on offer for your preference with the longest one measuring 6829m. Peter went of his way to ensure the lands natural contours were followed and the result is a seamlessly integrated bushveld course that is second to none.”

Par is 72, rating from the back tee is 74,9 with a slope of 134.

The course has got great practice facilities like:

A large 18-hole putting green

Chipping area with practice bunker

5 Hole Mashie Course

A distance marked driving range with five target greens to aim for.

Course record

Darren Fichardt

My game

You know folks, sometimes I regret that I made a standard paragraph like “My Game”. It’s Eza’s golf bag on the picture. I’m gone. . . . . . . . . .

Naaa – we enjoyed both rounds.

The first was a practice round just absorbing the nature, the silence, the bird singing, the Zebras, Antilope’s (think it is), Monkeys and a few Giraffes.

Also being at an altitude of about 1.400m gives the ball a little longer flight. Something to get used to.

We didn’t count score the first round. Second round was more competitive. Me, not far from breaking 80 and Eza not far from breaking 85.

I can tell you – boys as well as girls – this golf course is for Red golfers.

Hit it and rip it – and if too wild, hit a new ball and enjoy the ride. Fairways are broad – you might only loose one stroke – think like a Red golfer, like John Daly.

Evaluation of Zebula golf course played March 12 & 13, 2020

Short summary

Zebula is a golf estate with all kinds of leisure facilities, though with golf as the primary attraction. In my “subjective” opinion it is one of the very best we have played on this SA-tour. It is located in a basin of the most pristine African bushveld. It is a very challenging course. The rating from the back tee is 74,9. That is; a scratch player can add 3 strokes to the handicap. If you can’t hit it long and straight I recommend playing it from one of the front tees.

Even if difficult, it is a very fair course to play. What you see is what you get and even if you are out of line, you can still find your ball and get it back on the fairway. On most of the holes you will have to think course management. Both from tee and on second or third shot you will have to make decisions.

Very, very interesting for players of all levels. Great walking course promoting a good flow. Enjoy the practice area, full of opportunities to practice all parts of you game. And enjoy the restaurants and bars, full of enthusiastic golfers.

Comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.