Pecanwood Golf and Country Club made global headlines in April when 17-year-old Dan Bennett galloped to a 21-shot victory at the 2023 Nomads SA Boys Stroke Play Championship

Over the course of 72 holes, the GolfRSA National Squad member fired 33 birdies and made an eagle, losing just one shot to the championship layout on his way to a remarkable 34-under-par 254 winning total. South African’s top juniors will get another go at making history when the Nomads North & South Championship tees off at Pecanwood at the end of August.

Situated on the banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam and surrounded by the Magaliesberg Mountains, the Jack Nicklaus signature course of the Pecanwood Golf and Country Club forms the centrepiece.

The first of several Nicklaus Signature designs in South Africa, Pecanwood opened for play in 1998 and has become one of the country’s premier golf estates.

Less than an hour from Pretoria, this parkland-style course is easily accessible, and with seven guesthouses and many other accommodation options on the estate there’s no need to rush back home after a round.

Developer Rodney Clare purchased almost 180 hectares of undeveloped farmland in 1993 with the main aim of transforming it into one of South Africa’s top golf estates. Golf Data began constructing the course in 1995 and took the challenge of transforming a flat piece of farmland head on, excavating over one-million cubic metres of earth.

Five lakes, 12 acres of bunkers and 6 000 indigenous trees were added to break up the wide fairways and large greens, with the end result being a challenging and impressive layout.

Golfers are greeted by generous kikuyu fairways, Crenshaw Bentgrass greens (the first to be planted in South Africa) with rounded edges and slopes, and carefully crafted water features. Due to the resilient nature of this grass, the greens can always be cut low and kept fast. The many, strategically placed bunkers are one of the signature features of the course and have been known to cause a headache or two for players.

But if you thought it ended with a five-star experience at the Pecanwood Golf and Country Club, think again.

In addition to all the golf facilities offered by world-class resorts including a driving range, pro shop and three practice greens, the Pecanwood Estate boasts a boat club, gym, sports fields and swimming pools – all housed within the estate’s top-level security environment – plus a shopping centre on its doorstep and direct access to Pecanwood College, which caters for students from grade 000 to matric.