Steenberg Golf Club
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Steenberg Golf Club
Mountains form the backdrop of Steenberg Golf Club near Cape Town, South Africa. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Steenberg Golf Club - hole 1
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Steenberg Golf Club - hole 1
The long par-4 first hole is no picnic at Steenberg Golf Club in South Africa. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Steenberg Golf Club - hole 4
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Steenberg Golf Club - hole 4
Twelve bunkers wait for misses on the short par-4 fourth hole at Steenberg Golf Club near Cape Town, South Africa. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Steenberg Golf Club - hole 6
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Steenberg Golf Club - hole 6
The sixth hole at Steenberg Golf Club bends gently to the right. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Steenberg Golf Club - hole 7
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Steenberg Golf Club - hole 7
Sand and water surround the par-3 seventh hole at Steenberg Golf Club in South Africa. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Steenberg Golf Club - hole 8
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Steenberg Golf Club - hole 8
Steenberg Golf Club's eighth hole, a par 5, bends left after a creek. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Steenberg Golf Club - hole 9
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Steenberg Golf Club - hole 9
Players must avoid the front bunker to hit the ninth green at Steenberg Golf Club near Cape Town, South Africa. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Steenberg Golf Club - hole 11
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Steenberg Golf Club - hole 11
Six bunkers lurk up the right side of the short par-4 11th hole at Steenberg Golf Club in South Africa. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Steenberg Golf Club - hole 13
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Steenberg Golf Club - hole 13
A trio of bunkers guard the corner of the dogleg right on the 13th hole at Steenberg Golf Club near Cape Town, South Africa. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Steenberg Golf Club - hole 14
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Steenberg Golf Club - hole 14
Six bunkers ring the par-3 14th green at Steenberg Golf Club in South Africa. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Steenberg golf course - 16th hole
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Steenberg golf course - 16th hole
The 16th hole at Steenberg Golf Club is short enough that a good drive will leave a short iron into the green. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
11 Images

Steenberg Golf Club: A golf-and-wine wonderland just minutes from Cape Town, South Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Steenberg Golf Club is ready to put a season of struggling course conditions in the past.

Justin Roux, the club's golf director, said bad water killed a number of the greens last year, forcing a lengthy battle trying to get them healthy again. All the greens were reseeded with bentgrass in January 2015. Roux said that's when the club decided on an all-encompassing improvement project where a new irrigation system was installed, bunkers were reshaped and filled with new sand and the tees were all re-grassed and laser-leveled. Roux said better conditions will greet golfers in 2016.

Steenberg has all the pieces to be memorable, whether it's for a round, a meal or a weekend. The Steenberg Golf Estate sits on the site of the Cape's first farm, dating to 1682. Steenberg, just 15 minutes from the famous Cape Town waterfront, has transformed into a flourishing golf-and-wine getaway within a built-out neighborhood.

The Steenberg Hotel, a five-star relaxation zone of 24 rooms, and the Bistro Sixteen82, a hot spot for wine tastings and lunch, and Catharina's Restaurant are all tucked into the vineyard on the hillsides.

The 6,345-meter Steenberg G.C. -- ranked 31st among the country's best courses by Golf Digest South Africa in 2014 -- offers nice views of the vineyard, as well as the surrounding Silvermine mountain range. Water comes into play on seven holes, most memorably at the par-3 seventh and the par-5 finisher. South African architect Peter Matkovich added waste bunkering on a tough stretch of holes (12-14).

If you don't play well, don't fret. A good glass of wine and fine meal is never far away at Steenberg.

Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed and photographed more than 1,100 courses and written about golf destinations in 25 countries for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Follow him on Instagram at @jasondeegangolfpass and Twitter at @WorldGolfer.
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Steenberg Golf Club: A golf-and-wine wonderland just minutes from Cape Town, South Africa