South Africans are mad about golf. And South Africa has accommodation on reputable golf estates across the country - there is an obvious appeal to living with the greens in your back yard, or front, whichever the case may be. And one is spoilt for choice, with golf estates in virtually every province of the country - one can choose whether its mountains, sea or a river next to which you want to practise your swing.

And then of course it's whether you favour a links course or want a designer course, conceived by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player or Ernie Els? Whether you want your bunkers to be among vineyards, in the mountains or amid fynbos-covered dunes; or whether you're concerned about the estate's environmental impact that will influence your choice of accommodation.

The boom in South African golf estates has meant that the 'top 10' listing has become something of a sticky venture. There is such an overabundance of quality golf estates available, that even a 'top 20' would probably not suffice. But whether you're putting or swinging, hooking or slicing, accommodation on South African golf estates should certainly help your score.