Across the water to the 13th, then home past the tree on the 18th.
De Zalze Golf Club lies on the southern edge of Stellenbosch, inside the De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate, about 30 minutes from Cape Town International. Peter Matkovich designed it across three old farms, among vineyards, olive groves and lavender, with the Helderberg range in view from most holes. Buildings on the estate, including the Manor House and Precinct, date back to 1838, and the club’s home page says it is ranked 31st on the 2025 South African Top 100 list. It is the easiest of the well-known Winelands courses to combine with a stay in Stellenbosch itself.
De Zalze Golf Club green fees and tee times.
Visitors book through the Book a Tee Time button on the club’s website or by calling the pro shop on +27 21 880 7300. Payment links last up to 48 hours, and the club’s terms say a booking must be paid within 24 hours or it is cancelled automatically. The online system offers several rate types; if you pick the wrong one, the club can charge the difference at check-in. It may also combine one-, two- and three-ball bookings into four-balls. Cancel more than seven days out for a full refund, or between seven days and 48 hours for 50%. Inside 48 hours there is no refund, unless bad weather closes the course. The club does not publish a visitor rate, so the price appears when you choose a time.
The round, in perspective.
Matkovich was commissioned in the mid-1990s, after he had already built Steenberg and Arabella. In 2000 the Spier Group bought an interest in the property and, with Kleine Zalze, remodelled it as a golf estate; Top 100 Golf Courses gives the opening as 2001. It is a par 72 of just over 7,000 yards from the championship tees, played on parkland beside the oak-lined Blaauwklippen River. The 13th is the hole the club leads with: a boardwalk takes you out to tees on an island in a lake, and you play across the water to a fairway on the right. The 18th is described by the club as one of the most photographed holes on the course, with a large tree standing in the line of play. In October 2006 De Zalze and Stellenbosch Golf Club shared the World Amateur Team Championships, and the leaders played their final round of the Eisenhower Trophy here.
Know before you go.
Payment
Within 24 hours of booking, or it is cancelled
Refunds
100% over 7 days out; 50% from 7 days to 48 hours; none inside 48 hours
Pace
2 hours 15 minutes per nine; 4 hours 45 minutes per round
Cash
Cashless since February 2025
Sandbags
Compulsory for all players
Closed
Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
Make the trip work.
De Zalze has been cashless since February 2025, so bring a card. Everyone registers in the pro shop before teeing off, and visitors may be asked to show proof of payment at the range. The club’s pace targets are 2 hours 15 minutes per nine, a halfway stop of no more than 15 minutes and 4 hours 45 minutes for the round. Sandbags are compulsory. Pull carts may not go between bunkers and greens, and after overnight rain carts can be held back until the greenkeeper decides. On the course, short shorts, tennis attire and jean-style trousers or shorts are not allowed.
Cape Town International (CPT) is about 30 minutes away by road, according to the club. The estate entrance is on the R44 between Stellenbosch and Somerset West, a few minutes south of Stellenbosch town centre. Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront is roughly 50 km away, so many golfers stay in the Winelands rather than driving out from the city each day.
Two places sit on the course itself. De Zalze Lodge, a four-star hotel, lies beside the first fairway, and the Winelands Golf Lodges adjoin the clubhouse and look onto the 10th fairway. Stellenbosch town, a few minutes north, has the widest range of hotels and guesthouses, while neighbouring Spier has its own hotel and wine farm. Somerset West is a practical alternative for groups that also want to play the Helderberg courses.
Make a trip of it.
Pearl Valley’s Nicklaus course near Paarl is about half an hour north, and Stellenbosch Golf Club is in town. Steenberg and Royal Cape are both within an hour if you want a Cape Town round. For a day off, Kleine Zalze’s wine estate is next to the course, and Stellenbosch’s oak-lined streets, galleries and restaurants are a short drive away. Franschhoek, with its wine tram, is about 40 minutes over the Helshoogte Pass.
Find your season.
Stellenbosch is drier and hotter than the Cape Town coast in summer, with January and February afternoons often above 30°C, so morning tee times are worth requesting. Most rain falls between May and August. The course is open every day except Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Range hours run from 06h30–19h00 in summer to 07h30–17h00 in winter.
Use the Book a Tee Time link on dezalzegolf.com or phone the pro shop on +27 21 880 7300. Bookings must be paid within 24 hours or they lapse. The club may join small groups together into four-balls, so say if you need to play alone.
How far is De Zalze from Cape Town airport?
The club puts it at about a 30-minute drive from Cape Town International. The estate entrance is on the R44 just south of Stellenbosch, which makes it one of the quickest Winelands courses to reach after landing.
What is the signature hole at De Zalze?
The 13th. You walk a boardwalk to tees on an island in a lake and play across the water, with the Helderberg mountains behind. The 18th, with a large tree in the line of play, is the other hole the club highlights.
Can I stay on the course at De Zalze?
Yes. De Zalze Lodge, a four-star hotel, sits beside the first fairway, and the Winelands Golf Lodges adjoin the clubhouse on the 10th fairway. The club’s website links to both for bookings.
Last checked 10 November 2026. This is an independent planning guide, not a first-hand review or a booking service. Check live availability, access, fees and travel details with the operator before booking. Airport suggestions are starting points for route planning.
