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Pearl Valley scoops top award

Cape Town - Leading golf and lifestyle destination, Pearl Valley Golf Estates, has been awarded the prestigious Compleat Golfer 5-star Experience Award for the fifth consecutive year at the magazine’s annual Awards Dinner held at Country Club Johannesburg.

Recognising performance excellence in the golfing world and seen as the ‘Oscars’ of the golfing industry, the Compleat Golfer 5-Star Experience Awards, sponsored by Volvo, celebrates the top 25 South African clubs that represent the country’s finest golfing experiences.

“We are honoured to receive this acknowledgement from the respected Compleat Golfer judges for the fifth consecutive year. We pride ourselves in providing an extraordinary and unrivalled experience to both members and visitors. I need to thank the Pearl Valley Management Team for their significant contribution to this great achievement,” says Pearl Valley Golf Estates General Manager, Gawie Marx.

The Compleat Golfer 5-Star Golf Experience Award is the ultimate accolade for golf clubs. Pearl Valley was rated as an outstanding golfing experience by the Compleat Golfer judging panel, which base their assessment on various categories, including clubhouse facilities, golf course, halfway house, practice facilities, customer service quality, price/value relationship, services offered and ambience.

Following on numerous other awards, including the Best Conditioned Golf Course in Western Cape by Golf Digest 2012, Pearl Valley Golf Estates continues to be one of the most outstanding golf clubs in South Africa. Its championship course and excellent practice facilities consistently attract local, international, amateur and professional golfers to its magnificent setting in the Cape Winelands.

The clubhouse overlooks holes 9 and 18 of the prestigious Jack Nicklaus-designed course where players and guests can enjoy a drink or indulge in one of the chef's signature dishes at the Valley Restaurant while luxurious self-catering accommodation is available on the estate for long term rental, holiday letting or for stay-over conference accommodation.

A round of golf at Pearl Valley Golf Estates is more enhanced with the installation of the ProLink GPS & information system to its fleet of 70 golf carts, the biggest in the Western Cape. The revolutionary system allows golfers to improve their skills on the go but act as an unobtrusive yet informative professional caddie, providing course information and tips from the course pro.

“All of this, along with the superb amenities is what sets Pearl Valley Golf Estates apart as a destination of choice for golfers and leisure groups,” adds Gawie Marx.

About the Compleat Golfer 5-Star Experience Award:

Clubhouse Facilities
This includes the general layout and all public areas, with attention to the quality of the reception, pro shop, lounges, bar, restaurant/dining areas and locker-rooms.

The Golf Course
This is divided into two main sections: service and facilities and quality of experience. The first deals with the available information on tees, distance markers etc, the starting procedure, course signage, speed of play and the effectiveness and availability of marshals. The second takes into consideration the 'fun' factor, challenges, memorability, aesthetics, general conditioning and routing.

Halfway House
The physical facility is given a mark out of five, as are locations, ablution facilities, menu variety, quality and presentation of food.

Practice Facilities
Although it could be argued that not many golfers actually use them, the practice facilities are assessed for proximity to clubhouse and general quality, including the condition of trees, bunkers and greens, as well as the quality of balls.

Quality of Customer Service
This section is self-explanatory, but every aspect is taken into account - from the telephone communication (an area where golf clubs are notoriously bad) to the welcome and goodbye at the security gate (another poor area). Every contact that a visitor has with a staff member is assessed, as is the availability and service from management.

Price/Value Relationship
Seven different departments are looked at in calculating a total value for money mark. These are: the golf shop, green fees, caddies or cart fees, practice range, halfway house and other food, and bar prices.

Services Offered
This covers everything that is expected of a truly five-star experience, from toiletries in the change rooms to refresher towels in the halfway house.

Ambience
This covers the 'wow' factor, how special the course is, atmosphere in the clubhouse and in the bar, the sense of tradition and the overall sense of feeling welcome.


Craig Wilson, Publisher - Compleat Golfer and Carl Krog, Pearl Valley Golf Estates Golf Manager (File)

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