
Simola Course
Simola Golf and Country Estate

About this course
Simola Golf and Country Estate sits on elevated terrain above the coastal town of Knysna along South Africa's Garden Route. Designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2004, the course occupies a hillside site that offers views over the Knysna Lagoon and the Outeniqua Mountains. The property's natural topography creates significant elevation changes throughout the routing, with several holes playing sharply uphill or downhill and others traversing sloped fairways that demand careful club selection and course management. The layout measures over 6,700 yards from the championship tees and incorporates the region's indigenous fynbos vegetation and stands of indigenous forest. Water features prominently on several holes, and the design includes substantial bunkering characteristic of Nicklaus's work. The course's most distinctive stretch comes on the back nine, where holes play along ridgelines and through valleys with pronounced elevation shifts. The par-three 7th hole, known as "Signature," plays downhill across a ravine and has become one of the most photographed holes in South Africa. Simola has hosted professional events on the Sunshine Tour, including the annual Simola Open, which brings competitive golf to the Garden Route region. The estate operates as a residential golf community with a clubhouse that serves members and visiting golfers. The course attracts both local players and international visitors traveling the Garden Route, offering a championship-length test in a setting that combines mountain and coastal landscapes.
Quick facts
- Location
- Knysna, Western Cape, ZA
- Access
- Public
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Year built
- 2005
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
Getting there
The journey to Simola Golf and Country Estate begins at George Airport, a compact regional hub less than an hour's drive east along the Garden Route, though many international travelers connect through Cape Town International before the onward hop. For those arriving by private aircraft, George serves both commercial and executive traffic with quiet efficiency. The final stretch follows the N2 highway west through indigenous forest and fynbos-covered hills before climbing into the Knysna Heights, where the estate reveals itself on elevated ground above the famous lagoon - a transition from coastal lowland to commanding ridgeline that mirrors the drama of the golf course itself.
FAQ
Common questions about Simola
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Simola was designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Yes. Simola is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Simola is 72.
Simola is a 18-hole course.

