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Golf Journey Info

Dear golfer,

Thank you for your joining us on our Golf Safari/African Golf Collage. Please see below some very useful information for your trip.

Competitions:

We run a friendly a competition for every game and you will be informed about the format before tee-off. There will also be longest drives and nearest to the pins at every course for both men and ladies. The scoring basis of every competition is stable-ford and we’ll do individual as well as team competitions. There will be a leader-board for the over-all complete score of every golfer, so after the five games we will have a ladies’ and a men’s champion. For team games, please remember to complete your individual scores as well in order to capture your total of the five games.

Time sheet:

We encourage golfers to mix with other groups. Our on-board golf professional will make up the flights/grouping for each game and let you know the day before the game. If you have special requests, you are welcome to ask and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

Schedule:

Your on-board golf professional will communicate with all the golfers regarding the departure times to the courses. These may vary as we have morning or afternoon tee off times.

Handicap:

We do not use the slope rating system in South Africa. We use full handicaps and your handicap will be rounded off. For example: if you have a handicap of 11.3 – your handicap is adjusted to 11 and if you handicap is 13.7 – it becomes 14. You then work out your stable-ford score according to the handicap rating on every individual hole (stroke index indicated on the card).

Tees:

Some of the courses offer forward tee between the ladies and the club tees. For men ages 65 and over, you are welcome to play from these tees your handicap.

Speed of play:

Please be so kind to play ready-golf. We want to encourage you to keep up with the group in front of you. Please do the following to speed up your round:

  • Play ready-golf: When you get to your ball and you can play without obstructing your fellow golfers, please go ahead and play to save time.
  • Putt-out: After your first putt, please try to continue by putting out without marking and lifting the ball. No need to rush, but it will save time.

The Rovos Rail Local Rules:

We apply the following two local rules for every game:

  • We treat bushes and thick vegetation like a hazard. When you hit the ball into an area where you have LOST your ball, you can drop close to the area of where the ball was lost (with one shot penalty). This prevents you from having to go back to the tee or where your last hit from. This does not apply for out of bounds. In this case, please hit a provisional, if necessary.
  • Preferred lies: You are welcome to mark – lift – clean – place your ball on ALL the fairways on every course as well as closely mown areas.

Caddies:

Caddies are available at the following courses: Lost City, Durban Country Club and Royal Swazi Golf Club, Humewood and Fancourt. Rovos Rail always takes care of the caddie fees as well as their meals and drinks. We do however strongly encourage every golfer to tip the caddies. The minimum tip is R100 per player. So, if you have one caddie for two players on a cart, the caddie will then get minimum R200 (R100 from each player). If you prefer to walk and not take a golf cart, you will have your own caddie and the tip will then be minimum R100. It is always minimum R100 per player, but you are welcome to be more generous.

Golf Carts:

Golf carts are available for every game. It is compulsory to take a golf cart at the following courses: Lost City, Champaign Sports Resort and Leopard Creek. In the event of a limited number of carts, our on-board golf professional will advise and allocate carts to golfers.

Golf Clubs Rentals:

You are welcome to hire clubs at all the golf courses if you wish to not travel with your own. The clubs are different brands at the various destinations and are standard length, lie-angle and loft. Both ladies’ and men’s clubs are available. You are welcome to send your golf clubs to your departing station, either Cape Town or Pretoria.

Golf clubs and guest transport:

With our large groups we have a luxury coach that follows the train all along the journey of the train. We keep your golf clubs on the vehicle for the duration of the journey. Our on-board golf professional takes the clubs to the courses to be set up in the flights before the game. Please be aware that you will not have access to your golf travel cover in the room as they are staying on the coach from day one. We can provide you with a small carry bag on arrival to take some of your extras into the room if you have used your travel cover for these accessories. In the event that we have a small number of guests, we use luxury transfers to get us to the courses and the clubs are stored in a storage location on the train and not in your room. The clubs are safe and secure on both the train’s storage or the luxury coach.

Dress Code:

The following two dress codes (men only):

  • Durban Country Club: White socks (ankle socks are welcome).
  • Leopard Creek: White socks (ankle socks are welcome). NO cargo pants (pants with pockets on the side). Golf shirts have to be tucked in and you must wear a belt.

Ladies are welcome to wear golf related shorts, skorts or sleeveless golf shirts.

Shoes: You are welcome to wear normal golf shoes with soft spikes in the clubhouses and on the course. Sneakers are not allowed on the course, and flip flops are not allowed in the club houses.

Locker rooms:

Every golf club has a locker room and is equipped with a shower and storage facility. Items that are stored are safe but is at is at own risk and not all clubs offer a lockable storage unit.

Halfway-house:

Just to make sure you do not go hungry, we serve a light snack after the front nine. In some cases it is just a grab and go without sitting down. We will communicate the eating arrangements to you before the game. There are also drinks available on the course. A meal will also be served after every game before returning to the train.

For additional information, you are most welcome to contact our head golf professional, Al Vorster