Bushman Sands at Bushman Sands Golf Club

Bushman Sands sits in the Eastern Cape interior near Alicedale, a small town roughly midway between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown. Designed by Gary Player, the course occupies terrain characteristic of this semi-arid region—open grassland with scattered acacia and indigenous scrub, where the Karoo transitions toward the coastal belt. The landscape offers wide horizons and exposure to the area's variable winds, which influence play throughout the year.

Player's design work in South Africa spans resort courses, championship venues, and more remote layouts that reflect regional character rather than tournament ambition. Bushman Sands falls into this latter category, serving a local membership and visitors exploring the Eastern Cape's less-traveled golf offerings. The routing likely makes use of natural elevation changes and the property's native vegetation, with strategic bunkering and green complexes that reward accurate approach play in the wind.

The Eastern Cape has produced a modest collection of courses, many serving small agricultural communities or game reserve lodges. Bushman Sands functions within this context—a course shaped by its environment and the practical needs of its location rather than rankings or major events. The club provides a golf experience tied to the region's open spaces and the particular challenges of maintaining turf in an area where rainfall is inconsistent and summer temperatures climb. For golfers traveling through the Eastern Cape, it represents a chance to play in a landscape distinct from the country's coastal or highveld courses.