Thought Free Golf®

One of the many wonderful aspects of playing golf is enjoying your beautiful surroundings; in fact, some of the world’s most stunning landscapes can be found near the links and a golf vacation is an amazing to relax and indulge yourself (as long as you are playing well, that is).  Here are the first five courses in our round-up - and they are all located in Africa.  If you’ve never thought of places like South Africa, Egypt, or Tunisia as golf destinations, think again - and don’t forget to pack your Thought Free Golf CD so you are at the top of your game.

In no particular order:

Mena House Oberoi in Cairo, Egypt - Imagine playing golf amidst lavish gardens in the shadows of the pyramids - what setting could be more inspiring than that?  At the Mena House Oberoi’s course located on forty acres at the foot of the pyramids in Cairo, you can play a round of golf near the final resting places of the pharoahs.

Durban Country Club in Durban, South Africa - One of the most unique and remote golf courses in the world that features stunning views of the Indian Ocean, this South African paradise is a long way from home for most golfers - but it is worth the trip.  It is also one of the world’s most difficult courses; it may only be 6,644 yards long but the wind seems to blow continuously, wreaking havoc with all but the most mentally tough and experienced golfers.

Leopard Creek in Malelane, South Africa - Located near Kruger National Park, this exclusive club offers not a championship golf course, but a chance to see African wildlife including the Big Five - lions, elephants, African buffalo, rhinos, and leopards; as well as hippos, antelope, crocodile, and a number of other creatures large and small (it is perfectly safe - you golf with a trained caddy/guide).  Where else can you combine the experience of a safari with an amazing round of golf?

Golf De Carthage in Tunis, Tunisia - This is oldest golf course in Africa, and it is located on the edge of the Mediterranean amongst eucalyptus groves in Tunis near the historic city of Carthage.  Do not let the age of the course fool you, however, it has recently been completely renovated and still provides quite a challenge to even advanced golfers.

La Palmeraie in Marrakesh, Morocco - Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., this course will be completely open in October 2008 and already offers some of the most rewarding golf in Africa.  Set against the combined backdrop of the Atlas Mountains, the hot sands of the Sahara desert, and the whitewashed medina of Marrakesh, this course features seven lakes and thousands of palm trees spread out over seventy seven hectares of greens.

Check back Thursday or subscribe to the Thought Free Golf blog for the top five Asian golf courses - we’ll be taking you from the graceful vistas of Japan to the opulence of Dubai and back again.