COURSE REVIEW
Arabella Hotel and Spa AND a magnificent 18 Hole Golf Course! By Shelley Galliver
When I was invited to the Arabella Hotel and Spa to do a course review and spend some time in the luxurious hotel, with a visit to the Spa, I couldn’t book my air ticket fast enough!
I
was lucky to have stayed in the hotel once before, but it was just over four years ago, and since then I had played the course once during our annual golf tour last year, which took us down to the Western Cape. But I had never had the opportunity to review the course before which believe it or not, makes you consider so much more during your round than you would ordinarily. In fact, do yourself a favour and next time you play a course try and imagine having to relay your experience to numerous people afterwards – and not about how you played but about the course. Consider the layout, the scenery and sur-
rounds, the course condition, the flow and the location of tee-boxes to assess whether it is a lady friendly design. If it is a great course, you leave with a new found respect for the designer and the green keeper and no matter the score, it will be a firm favourite forever more. Arabella is just such a course, and as I take you through some highlights of the 18 holes you will understand why. Arrive the right way When arriving at Arabella, even if you are only there to play golf, send your clubs round the side of the hotel – but walk through the hotel and
Par 5, 8th Hole
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sa woman golfer
Jun/Jul/Aug 2011
catch the lift down to the ground floor. Outside the lift reception area, the architectural design of the hotel gives you the most amazing views with glass frontage on both sides of the building. One side gives you a stunning outlook over the 18th, 10th and the 1st hole, bordered by the Bot River Lagoon, while the other side has you longing for a dip in the enticing hotel pool that has water cascading down the rock waterfall feature. Beginning your round The word “experience” is often mentioned when it comes to visiting