COVER STORY: FANCOURT

The Kingfisher Suite.

Rediscover the business playground of South Africa

Although it needs no introduction as a premier golfing and family holiday destination, Fancourt’s wide open spaces on its 613-hectare estate make it an excellent business travel prospect.

As an award-winning leading resort and golf hotel, the estate is fully equipped with modern conference facilities (banquet hall, boardrooms, meeting rooms and other outdoor options) and offers understated luxury accommodation.

The extensive grounds and conferencing facilities are particularly suited to open-air functions – more in demand than ever before.

Easy access and green space

Located just outside George, Fancourt is an easy 10-minute shuttle drive away from the closest airport.

The lush Garden Route countryside makes for stunning views and plenty of opportunity for outdoor pursuits. A little-known fact is that the area is home to the largest forest systems in Southern Africa. Known as Afro Montane Forest or the Southern Cape Temperate Forest, it spans from Mossel Bay to Gqeberha.

Nature lovers will appreciate Fancourt’s efforts to clear all alien vegetation and improve biodiversity by replanting trees endemic to this specific location — on the golf courses and in areas being developed within the estate.

Thanks to this commitment to the environment, there is a wide array of venues, from marquees to spacious outdoor areas, which make Fancourt safe for socially distanced events, as well as outdoor meetings and functions.

Modern home comforts

The Fancourt Hotel has 115 spacious rooms and suites, all effortlessly blending contemporary luxury with classic elegance to create a calm sense of relaxation. All rooms and suites have a balcony to admire the iconic Fancourt views of manicured gardens and greens.

Conference facilities are equipped with modern audio-visual and computer equipment, full business services and video conferencing.

Activities galore

Once you arrive at Fancourt, you really don’t have to leave the estate. Fancourt’s three championship golf courses remain a big drawcard. Each rank in the Top 20 of SA top 100 courses in the country, and it is the perfect opportunity for golfers to tick off their ultimate bucket list by playing The Links (1), Montagu (8) and Outeniqua (184).

And as a team building exercise for the non-golfers in the group, why not create a memorable experience by booking a group into The Academy at Fancourt for the ultimate golf lesson?

Apart from a round of golf, activities include mountain biking, horse riding, fishing (big-mouth black bass) or trail running. Two swimming pools, including one heated, invite business travellers to clear their heads with an early morning swim.

Fancourt offers guests the perfect base from which to explore the spectacular 200km Garden Route, and the Fancourt team are able to arrange outside team-building activities such as wine tastings at nearby vineyards, Big Five game drives and Knysna Lagoon boat cruises. For more adrenalin-packed action, forest or ocean zip lining, kloofing/canyoning in river gorges and sandboarding are popular options.

Treat your team

If pure relaxation is the order of the day, The Spa at Fancourt revives and pampers tired delegates. Choose from a range of blissful treatments, or simply relax in The Spa’s roman bath and jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. The award-winning spa is a sanctuary for guests to unwind at the end of a long day.

Food at Fancourt is a definite highlight, with a team of sixty chefs working in twelve kitchens to showcase the best that the Southern Cape has to offer. The suppliers around the Garden Route, Klein Karoo and surrounding farming areas offer a smorgasbord of locally sourced ingredients (from fresh oysters to venison and farm cheeses). The Fancourt chefs pride themselves on delivering an unforgettable dining experience.

The recently revamped La Cantina is unpretentious, relaxed and the menu offers Mediterranean favourites, as the name suggests. It is also home to Fancourt’s hearty buffet breakfasts and ever-popular thin-crust pizzas. Monet’s is a French-style bistro serving great coffee, pastries and casual café meals and French-inspired favourites.

The Club House is the place to go for comforting steaks and burgers as well as exotic cocktails, while Henry White’s – at The Manor House – promises an evening of fine fare.

The club lounge.

The tranquility of the Roman baths.

The most scenic tennis courts.

Relaxation, sun and cocktails… at their best.

Safety comes first

For Peter Dros, sales and marketing director of Fancourt, safety is critical now, more than ever: “The days of spending eight hours indoors at a conference or event are over. Organisers are actively looking for venues which offer an indoor/ outdoor flow, flexible configurations which are able to deliver social distancing with ease, and spacious grounds for al fresco events.”

You’ll be greeted with plenty of big smiles at Fancourt — our staff have had to learn to smile with their eyes as they are all wearing masks! As the vaccine rollout continues, all our staff are well trained to manage Covid-19 protocols. From sanitising your hands before entering the premises to filling in a wellness questionnaire to declare any symptoms that you may be experiencing, the team is on hand to keep you safe during your stay and to provide impeccable service.

Flexibility

We are open to customising your experience. Fancourt’s many conferencing facilities, venue options and packages may be tailored to meet your specific needs and preferences.

You may even want to bring the family along… The Kidz Club caters for little ones under 10 years, the Teen Zone for teenagers and The Leisure Centre has gym and swimming pool facilities for the whole family to enjoy.

Known for its warm hospitality, elegant luxury and memorable activities, it’s no wonder Fancourt is rated as a leading lifestyle resort. There’s no better time than now to rediscover ‘the business playground’ of South Africa.

Sustainability is a core value

Sustainability is at the heart of the Fancourt experience and the estate is dedicated to giving back to the local community and supporting the natural environment. Every delegate or guest’s stay, visit or round of golf contributes in some way:

• 300m2 of grass clippings are composted every month. • 2,000+ indigenous trees have been planted over the last three years.

• 50 beehives have been established.

• 60+ psychotherapy sessions for children have been sponsored. • 900 meals per year are served in soup kitchens.

• 300+ boxes of stationery have been provided to school children.

• R1million has been raised by the Caddie Trust Fund to provide loss of income support for 138 Fancourt caddies due to Covid-19.

• R100,000+ has been raised for George Child & Family Welfare.

• Towels are donated to Garden Route SPCA.

• Every year, Fancourt either renovates, sends donations (blankets, rugs and accessories) or provides a hearty lunch for the Rosemoor Old Age Home.

• The annual stationery drive launches on 1 November (and runs until January) and aims to provide 400 children with a year’s worth of stationery.

• The Spekboom cutting project: During Arbour Week (held in the first week of September as a symbolic gesture of sustainable environmental management), the Fancourt team harvests 500-600 spekboom cuttings which are handed over to staff members to plant in their own outdoor spaces.

Contact us:

groupreservations@fancourt.co.za