Pearl Valley, a Jack Nicklaus Signature course in the valley between Paarl and Franschhoek, is about 66 km and 50 minutes from Cape Town outside peak traffic. Arabella, beside the Bot River Lagoon at Kleinmond, is about 100 km and 1 hour 20 minutes away, on the way to Hermanus. A Pearl Valley golf transfer pairs naturally with lunch or a tasting in Franschhoek or Paarl, and an Arabella day with Hermanus and the Whale Coast. They are in opposite directions from the city, so each deserves a day of its own.
Pearl Valley and Arabella at a glance
| Pearl Valley | Arabella | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Paarl and Franschhoek valley | Kleinmond, beside the Bot River Lagoon |
| Course | Jack Nicklaus Signature, opened 2003 | On the Arabella Country Estate, between Cape Town and Hermanus |
| From the city centre | About 66 km, 50 min | About 100 km, 1 h 20 min |
| From Cape Town International | About 62 km, 50 min | About 83 km, 1 h 10 min |
| Close by | Paarl about 15 min, Franschhoek about 20 min | Hermanus about 20 min |
| Pairs with | A Winelands lunch or tasting | Hermanus, whales in season, the Hemel-en-Aarde valley |
The times come from routing data and exclude traffic. On a weekday, the N1 and N2 are busiest in the morning and late afternoon, which affects early tee times and the drive home.
A Pearl Valley golf day
The route from the city is the N1 towards Paarl, then into the valley. From Stellenbosch it is about 38 km and 35 minutes. For an early tee time on a weekday, the collection in the city is set with the morning traffic in mind.
After the round, the Winelands are on the doorstep. Franschhoek, which markets itself as the Franschhoek Wine Valley, is about 20 minutes away, and Paarl, one of South Africa's oldest wine regions with Shiraz as a speciality, about 15. Babylonstoren, one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms, known for its garden, is at the foot of the Simonsberg in the Franschhoek valley. Boschendal, with more than 330 years of winemaking, is in the Dwars River Valley near Franschhoek. The concierge can book a lunch table or a late tasting so the afternoon is settled before you tee off.
A typical Pearl Valley day:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 07:15 | Collection in the city |
| 08:15 | Arrive at the club, range and putting green |
| 09:00 | Tee off |
| 13:30 | Leave the club |
| 14:00 | Lunch in Franschhoek |
| 16:00 | Leave for Cape Town |
| 17:15 | Back in the city, traffic permitting |
That is ten hours, a full day. The guide to a Franschhoek day with a private driver covers the valley in more detail if anyone in the party is not playing.
An Arabella golf day
Arabella is on the coast east of Cape Town, reached on the N2 over Sir Lowry's Pass or, in good weather and when the road is open, along Clarence Drive from Gordon's Bay. The coastal road is slower and better to look at, and sections have closed after storm damage in recent years, so check the current road status first. For an early tee time, take the N2.
After the round, Hermanus is about 24 km and 20 minutes away. In whale season, roughly July to November, southern right whales are often seen from the cliff path in Hermanus. The Hemel-en-Aarde valley, just inland from Hermanus, has more than 20 producers known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, so a late tasting fits before the drive home. The guide to a Hermanus day trip from Cape Town covers the town.
On distance, the city to Arabella, on to Hermanus and back to the city comes to about 245 km, against the 250 km a full day includes. Taking the coastal road one way pushes it over, and extra kilometres are billed at the rate on your quote. The driver tells you before either limit is reached.
Can you play Pearl Valley and Arabella on the same day?
Not comfortably. They are in opposite directions from the city. The city to Pearl Valley and on to Arabella is about 160 km and over two hours of driving before the return to Cape Town, and two rounds of golf on top of that is not a day anyone enjoys. Play them on separate days, and give each its natural pairing.
For a golf week covering more courses, a multi-day booking runs at a discounted daily rate with one dedicated driver per vehicle for the whole booking. The wider picture of courses, drive times and bags is in golf transfers in Cape Town.
Bags, groups and who the driver suits
Golf bags take more room than suitcases. A full Staria takes around four large suitcases plus hand luggage and a full Palisade three to four, so tell the concierge the number of players and bags, and a second vehicle is quoted if they will not fit with every seat in use. Parties of nine or more travel in two vehicles, one driver each, on one booking.
A pair of golfers who are comfortable on the roads and will not drink after the round can drive themselves to either course. A driver earns the day when there is a long lunch or a tasting after the golf, when the group is larger than one hired car, when you are hosting clients or guests, or when nobody wants to drive Sir Lowry's Pass in the late afternoon after eighteen holes. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.05 g per 100 ml of blood, which a clubhouse drink and a Winelands lunch pass quickly.
The rate is per vehicle, never per person, with driver, fuel and tolls included. The Winelands day tours page explains what a full day includes.
Common questions
How far is Pearl Valley from Cape Town?
About 66 km from the city centre and about 62 km from Cape Town International, about 50 minutes from either outside peak traffic.
How far is Arabella from Cape Town?
About 100 km from the city centre, about 1 hour 20 minutes outside peak traffic, and about 83 km from the airport. Hermanus is about 20 minutes further on.
Can the concierge book the tee time and lunch?
Yes. The concierge can book tee times, tables and tastings. Green fees are settled with the club unless they appear on your quote.
Can non-golfers in the party do something else?
Yes, with planning. A second vehicle can take non-golfers into Franschhoek or Hermanus for the morning and bring everyone together for lunch. Ask the concierge to quote both vehicles as one booking.
To plan a golf day, send the concierge the course, the date and tee time, the number of players and bags, and where you are staying. The concierge replies with a written quote and a booking reference.