Nigel Burch’s two greatest passions

Over the past 30 years our resident PGA pro Nigel Burch has spent a great deal of time in South Africa playing golf, watching it develop into the great  golf destination it is today. 

” Golf and South Africa are my two great passions and for nearly 30 years I’ve been lucky enough to combine the two.

Having started my golf on the pleasant parkland courses of Essex, to arrive in South Africa to join the Sunshine Tour blew my senses.

Here was a nation teeming with possibilities, tourism was opening up with people keen to visit this amazing nation with incredible wildlife, flora and fauna and, of course, people. The opportunities for me, as a young Professional golfer, appeared endless.

After playing on both European and Sunshine Tours, I spent 15 years there not only playing but teaching including some fantastic memorable times in the Townships.  From the impressive historic courses in Cape Town and Durban to the relative newbies along the Garden Route, I can’t emphasise enough the improvement in the conditioning of each golf course. Each time I return, which is at least once a year, something exciting has emerged and it’s a great thrill to explore and recommend my discovery.

When I returned full time to the UK I began sharing my golf knowledge with a company in York, Southern Africa Travel, who were at the time the largest tour operator to South Africa. When I look back at the itineraries we had in place then, golf travel in South Africa has moved forward in leaps and bounds.

Now you can create your own bespoke itinerary playing a fine collection of golf courses as you journey from Cape Town up the Garden Route or head to Durban and immerse yourself in the history of the area, including of course a ‘must do’ stay in the Drakensburg Mountains, interspersed with golf at fantastic venues like The Wild Coast, Durban Country Club, Zimbali.  Of course superb safaris complete your South African tour.

Through my membership of the PGA and years on the circuit I have built up great contacts in South Africa.  This proves invaluable when I am putting together my own escorted golf tours for Golf Planet Holidays.  I keep my ear to the ground, scooping up knowledge on course conditions, accommodation updates and of course the ‘in’ restaurants and bars!

My mission on our hosted golf tours in the Western Cape is to make everyone comfortable and to ensure they enjoy themselves.  If it’s your first visit to South Africa, there is no wasted time acclimatising yourself as with only a one hour time change you are straight into action following your overnight flight,  you are in my hands from landing to departure, in between I take to you to the best courses, hotels, guest houses and restaurants, not to mention the odd Winery for a sample of their excellent produce in Stellenbosch & Franschhoek.

This extends to our guests on bespoke tours.  Whether you are staying in Cape Town, heading to Umhlanga Rocks, near Durban or winding your way along the Cape, it is an absolute pleasure to create your perfect itinerary and hopefully catch up with you while I am there.

Since Covid, the tourism industry in South Africa has gone from strength to strength. It’s almost if the break gave everyone time to reflect on what improvements were needed to maintain and improve South Africa’s reputation for great winter golf holidays.

With all this in place our clients leave South African shores after a successful winter golf holiday, with a positive mindset knowing they will be back soon. And hopefully, after a few tips from me, their golf is ready for the British summer ahead!

Call me anytime,  I am always free to talk about South Africa and I will be delighted to discuss any thoughts you may have. ”

Nigel Burch

PGA Member.

00441277284284