Although no individual can lay claim to the overall design of Pearl Valley, the masterplan was shaped by the vision of Jack Nicklaus. This golf legend sees the Pearl Valley course as the sum of his knowledge and his experience.
To meet the Golden Bear’s uncompromising standards of golf course design and aesthetic beauty, a combination of the intense colours of the greens and fairways, together with the brilliant white river sand lining the bunkers was carefully planned, to make Pearl Valley the most visually spectacular golf course in the country.
Every hole is played against the spectacular backdrop of the mountains surrounding the estate and all are challenging due to the bunkers and fast greens. The course has been designed with the area’s prevailing winds in mind; the winter northwesterly and the summer southeasterly. All par 3s and par 5s play in different directions, ensuring that the same conditions are not experienced too many times in one round.
Pearl Valley hosted the 2007, 2008 and 2009 SA Open.