South Africa's First Golf Estate
Selborne Golf Estate
Selborne at a glance....
Situated in the scenic town of Pennington on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, Selborne Golf Estate is a pristine, seaside utopia with world-class facilities. The jewel of Selborne is its golf course, rated by Golf Digest magazine as one of the top 100 courses in Southern Africa. The 18-hole, Par 72 course has manicured fairways designed around one of only two privately-owned coastal forests in South Africa. A round of golf at Selborne promises a challenging but rewarding game while golfers enjoy stunning sea views and sightings of indigenous wildlife.
A Four Star Hotel and Stunning Villas surround the golf course on the 80-hectare Eco-estate form an important part of Selborne, South Africa’s first residential golfing estate. Anyone looking for a spectacular beach holiday has the opportunity to rent one of the stunning villas and enjoy full use of the private beach club and swimming pool.
Selborne Golf Estate History
In the mid-1900s, the area where the estate is situated today was some eighty (80) hectares large and was held by Lord Selborne, the Secretary for the Colonies.
The Selborne homestead, or main hotel Manor house as we know it today, was built and completed in 1954 by sugar magnate Vernon Crookes . After Mr. Crookes retired in 1964 he acquired the manor house together with 80 hectares of gracious estate for his personal use and named it Selborne Park. The whippet that forms the current estate logo is derived from the Lord Selborne family crest.
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During 1979, Denis Baker bought the estate for his family home. While visiting friends in Waterloo, Iowa in the USA he played golf at a golf housing estate for the first time which inspired his vision to create Selborne.
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Upon his return to South Africa, he began to transform his farm into a golfing residential estate. In 1985 Denis’ dream of a luxury golfing complex at Selborne started to become a reality. In May 1987 the course was opened for play, and the very first residential golf estate in South Africa was born. The homestead turned into a Lodge with seven bedrooms and in due course a new clubhouse was built.
During 1992, nine luxury garden suites were added to the seven-roomed Lodge, creating a 16 roomed Guest House. During the same year the Conference Centre, seating 100 delegates was completed.
Exact location
The map below shows the location of
Selborne Golf Estate
Contact Information​
Selborne Golf Estate Switchboard: 087 135 0559​
Golf Director johnr@selborneparkgolfestate.com​
Pro Shop: proshop@selborneparkgolfestate.com
​Villa Reservations: SelborneReservations@firstgroup-sa.co.za
​Hotel Reservations: SelborneReservations2@firstgroup-sa.co.za
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A dogleg par 5 needing some thought! A 5 wood off the tee should make your second easier and put you in a safe position for a simple approach. Watch out for the bunker protecting the front right half of the green.
A short par 4 with water on the left and to the right to catch wayward shots. Play towards the right taking note of the bunkers in front of the green.
A great par 5! The 2nd shot requires laying up short of the water, making the 3rd a short approach to the green.
A lovely par 3 to an elevated two-tier green. Pin placement here requires a very accurate shot to get the ball close to the flag.
A superb par 4 played from an elevated tee down to a valley fairway. Wind conditions will determine your club selection off the tee.
Play this lovely par 3 from alternate tees. Beware the water that protects the front of the green. Club selection from the tee is essential.
An interesting par 4, which doglegs to the right. The tee shot is played to a plateau fairway with most of the trouble on the right side. Keep left to enable a clear shot to an elevated green.
A short par 4 with a tee shot played over a lake to a fairly wide fairway. Keep right to avoid the tree on the front left of the green. Accuracy is essential, consider an iron off the tee.
The longest par 4 on the course requiring two very good shots to reach the green in two. Large trees and an uphill climb to the green justifies its stroke index.
Played from an elevated tee to an uphill fairway. The green is well guarded by two bunkers on the left and one deep-faced bunker front right.
A short par 3 requiring a short iron but be careful not to go off the line left or right! Club selections is a big factor.
A pleasing par 5 that needs some good course management. Play a safe second shot with an iron into a fairly wide part of the fairway. The green is well guarded - no bunkers needed around the green here!
This par 4 requires a very accurate tee shot. The green is well guarded by bunkers left and right leaving a narrow entrance to negotiate.
A short par 4 but dangerous if you get greedy. Watch out for the water as well as the avenue of trees all the way to the green. A bunker protects the left of the green.
A fine par 3. One has to negotiate water all the way from tee to green. With bunkers on the left and right of the green, club selection is of utmost importance.
A par 4, which doglegs to the right after the tee shot. A fairway bunker guards the left side and a menacing tree protects the right. Watch out for the water and bunkers covering the left and right of the green.
A par 4 played over water in front of the tee, would be no problem as the carry is +/- 50m. Favour the right side of the fairway.
The shortest par 4 on the course, tricky because of the lake, which cuts into the right side of the fairway. Play short of the water or over the lake. The green is surrounded by bunkers!