Carries and Choices on the Coast
Seven and Eight: Two Very Different Shots
From the elevated tee at the seventh, the drop makes the target play shorter than the measured distance, while sea winds can push a ball towards the cliff. Southern right whales can sometimes be seen in the bay below in winter and spring. The eighth then gives players a choice on a short par four. The safe route follows the fairway to the left. A direct attempt at the green must carry about 220 meters over the ravine and hold a putting surface ringed by pot bunkers. A strong headwind should settle the question for most golfers. The two holes sit side by side but ask for quite different decisions.
The Final Canyon
At the eighteenth, a drive crosses a deep ravine to a sloping fairway. The next shot descends towards a green with bunkers and waste areas, and the cliffs are behind the target. There are no ponds or lakes on the course; the Indian Ocean is the conspicuous water hazard along its coastal holes. The estate lists around eighty bunkers across the eighteen holes and a substantial area of practice facilities.
Pinnacle Point is a cart-only course, with no caddies, due to its steep terrain. The clubhouse stands on a headland and has open sea views. Allow time for the drive through the estate and for the weather to be assessed before play; coastal winds can be severe at times. The club has several tee sets, with the longest listed at about 6,460 meters.
Adding Mossel Bay to the Route
Mossel Bay sits on the N2 between Cape Town and George, so most golfers pass it anyway. Any Garden Route golf vacation we arrange can include the course. An extra night in town, for example at the Protea Hotel Mossel Bay, turns Pinnacle Point into an unhurried morning instead of a squeeze on a long road day.
Mossel Bay after the Round
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Early Maritime History
The Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex in Mossel Bay covers the area's maritime history and includes a replica of a Portuguese caravel. Museum hours are worth checking before leaving the course.
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Along the Clifftop Paths
Mossel Bay, the western gateway to the Garden Route, has coastal walks over rocky ground with views of the ocean. A shorter section near town can be explored before dinner. Take care in strong wind and avoid approaching the edge of unprotected cliffs.
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Golf across the Garden Route
Near George, Oubaai Golf Club is Ernie Els's coastal design above Herolds Bay. Book each club separately, and allow for the drive, the weather and a full round.
