The Fancourt Links
First tee
It’s our third day on the tour and we had such a great day at the Links. It is number one in South Africa and number 34 in the world, and for very good reason! After a welcome sip of single malt on the first tee, we play the relatively ‘easy’ first hole. A par 4, stroke 16. The green can be very tricky. You can hit that nice explosive tee shot and a good approach, but still walk off with a six and you suddenly realize that you are playing a true links – you must think a bit more than you are used to. You need to leave the ball in the correct spots, aim and align differently with the odd lies and figure out a way to strike the ball well off a perfect fairway that leaves a perfect square divot.
The 10th
Pro Tip: On a links you’ll find yourself on a lot of odd lies where the ball might be above/below your feet – more so than on your typical parkland course. If you’re a right-handed golfer and the ball is above your feet, aim right as the ball will have a slight hook spin on it. This is purely because the clubface is actually aiming a bit left of the alignment due to the toe that is in air caused by the upslope. If the ball is below the feet, the opposite applies. Aim left of the target. Visa versa for lefties.
The 18th green
The views are spectacular on the Links. We were also lucky with the weather. It can change in a heartbeat to the typical soft rain accompanied by a two-club breeze – the way a links should be played.
Pro Tip: You’ll find yourself having a lot more tight lies around the green. It’s not easy to hit lofted clubs and make it spin and stop. Rather look at the bump and run option. Check out the break-80 tip this month and learn about the big part of the green. It will allow you to prevent short siding yourself and making big numbers. Hitting a soft 9-iron from the edge of the green and running it up to the hole is a lot easier on links courses. One of the best assets for a reasonable golfer on a links is creativity. Have a solid pre-shot routine and see the shot happen before you hit it… Good chance you’ll pull it off.
The 17th
After our golf we headed off to the main hotel at the amazing Fancourt Estate for dinner. Lovely.
Tomorrow it’s Pezula Golf Club. Breathtaking views and a great layout, good parkland/links combination and a real test!
This Golf Collage is a real treat!
