Leopard Creek Country Club is a private, invitation-only golf course in Malalane, Mpumalanga, sitting right on the border of Kruger National Park. It’s a Gary Player design, it hosts the Alfred Dunhill Championship every year, and non-members can only play if they book a stay at one of a handful of approved safari lodges nearby.
That’s the quick version. But if you want the full picture, including the course layout, the wildlife you’ll spot mid-swing, how David Lipsky made history here, and exactly how outsiders manage to tee off at a club this private, keep reading. This guide covers everything in one place, updated for 2026.
Quick FactsÂ
| Category | Details |
| Course Name | Leopard Creek Country Club |
| Location | Malalane, Mpumalanga, South Africa |
| Bordering Park | Kruger National Park |
| Designer | Gary Player |
| Year Opened | 1996 |
| Course Type | 18-hole, par-72 championship course |
| Yardage | Just over 7,000 yards (back tees) |
| Greens | Bent grass |
| Fairways | Kikuyu grass |
| Signature Hole | Par-5 13th, overlooking the Crocodile River |
| Ownership | Johann Rupert |
| Membership Type | Private, invitation-only |
| Public Access | Only via approved lodge stays |
| Estimated Visitor Green Fee | Around ZAR 8,500 (approx. $475 USD) |
| Major Tournament | Alfred Dunhill Championship (DP World Tour) |
| Notable Winner | David Lipsky (2018) |
| Google Rating | 4.8 out of 5 (569 reviews) |
Where Is Leopard Creek Country Club Located
Leopard Creek Country Club sits in Malalane, in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province. What makes the location genuinely rare is its neighbor. The course runs directly along the southern edge of Kruger National Park, one of the largest and most famous game reserves on the planet.
This isn’t a marketing gimmick either. The boundary between the fairways and the reserve is essentially open, which means the course delivers a golf and safari experience unlike almost anywhere else on earth.
Key location highlights:
- Province: Mpumalanga
- Nearest town: Malalane
- Bordering reserve: Kruger National Park
- Terrain: Bushveld, riverfront, and open grassland
The Course Design and Layout
Built by a Legend
Leopard Creek Country Club was designed by Gary Player, one of South African golf’s most celebrated names, and it officially opened its gates in 1996. Player’s design philosophy shows throughout the layout, blending a demanding championship test with the natural bushveld terrain around it.
Course Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
| Holes | 18 |
| Par | 72 |
| Yardage (back tees) | Just over 7,000 yards |
| Green surface | Bent grass |
| Fairway surface | Kikuyu grass |
| Course type | Championship |
The Famous Par-5 13th Hole
Ask any golfer who has played Leopard Creek Country Club about their favorite hole, and most will mention the 13th. This par-5 green sits 32 meters above the Crocodile River, and from that elevated position, players get an open, panoramic view straight into Kruger National Park. It’s widely considered one of the most photographed holes in South African golf.
Wildlife on the Course
This is where Leopard Creek Country Club separates itself from almost every other golf course in the world. Golfers here don’t just deal with sand traps and water hazards in the traditional sense. They deal with actual wildlife sightings mid-round.
Wildlife you may encounter during a round:
- Hippos, in the Crocodile River and on-course lakes
- Crocodiles, in the same water hazards
- Giraffes, along the boundary fences
- Elephants, occasionally visible near the perimeter
- Various antelope species, roaming the edges of the course
This mix is exactly why so many international travelers put Leopard Creek Country Club on their golf bucket list.
The Dylan Lewis Leopard Sculptures
Scattered across the property is a series of bronze leopard sculptures created by South African artist Dylan Lewis. These aren’t random decorations. They follow a symbolic narrative that unfolds as you move from the 1st tee all the way through to the 18th green, adding an artistic layer to the round that most championship courses simply don’t offer.
Tournament History at Leopard Creek Country Club
Leopard Creek Country Club has long served as the host venue for the Alfred Dunhill Championship, a fixture on the DP World Tour, formerly known as the European Tour.
Notable past champions include:
- Ernie Els
- Justin Rose
- Adam Scott
- Charl Schwartzel
- David Lipsky
David Lipsky’s 2018 Alfred Dunhill Championship Win
One of the most memorable moments in the tournament’s history belongs to American golfer David Lipsky. In 2018, Lipsky made his debut appearance at the event and walked away with the trophy, marking his second career DP World Tour victory.
His final round was dominant. David Lipsky shot a 4-under-par 68 to close out the tournament at 14-under-par overall, finishing two shots clear of Scotland’s David Drysdale.
2018 tournament snapshot:
| Stat | Result |
| Final round score | 4-under-par 68 |
| Total score | 14-under-par (274) |
| Margin of victory | 2 shots over David Drysdale |
| Birdies for the week | 18 |
| Eagles for the week | 2 |
| Largest lead held | 6 shots |
What made the win especially notable is that it broke a long streak of South African players dominating the tournament. David Lipsky became a rare international champion to lift the trophy at Leopard Creek Country Club, and the victory also locked in his European Tour card exemption for the following season at a critical point in a difficult year.
Who Owns Leopard Creek Country Club
The club is owned by Johann Rupert, one of South Africa’s most prominent businessmen. Under his ownership, Leopard Creek Country Club has developed a reputation for operating with the same level of privacy and security typically associated with clubs like Augusta National in the United States.
Membership at Leopard Creek Country Club
Getting a membership here isn’t a matter of filling out an application form. Leopard Creek Country Club runs on an invitation-only model, and the process works quite differently from a standard country club.
How membership actually works:
- Share Block Ownership: Real membership is tied to purchasing equity shares in the club’s private Share Block corporation, not a simple annual fee.
- Nomination Required: You can’t buy in on your own. Prospective members must be nominated and vetted by existing high-profile members.
- Elite Membership Roll: The membership base reportedly includes golf legends such as Ernie Els and Jack Nicklaus.
- Confidential Pricing: The exact cost of a share or membership is never publicly disclosed, and full figures are only shared with approved nominees during the invitation process itself.
This structure is a big part of why Leopard Creek Country Club is widely regarded as having the steepest and most exclusive membership fees anywhere in South Africa.
How Non-Members Can Play Leopard Creek Country Club
You can’t simply call the club and book a tee time as an outsider. Instead, access runs through a specific workaround built for travelers.
The Lodge Booking System
Non-members are granted playing privileges only if they book a stay at one of a small group of approved luxury safari lodges near the course.
Approved partner lodges:
- Oliver’s Lodge
- Buhala Lodge
- Jock Safari Lodge
- Singita
Booking a night or more at one of these properties is essentially the only reliable path for a visiting golfer to step onto the Leopard Creek Country Club fairways.
Visitor Green Fees in 2026
| Fee Type | Approximate Cost |
| Visitor green fee (per round) | ZAR 8,500 (~$475 USD) |
| Access requirement | Stay at an approved partner lodge |
| Membership cost | Confidential, invitation-only |
That pricing places Leopard Creek Country Club among the most expensive rounds of golf available anywhere in South Africa.
Dress Code and Etiquette
Traditional golf attire is strictly enforced at Leopard Creek Country Club.
Rules to follow before your round:
- Shirts must be tucked in at all times.
- Caps and visors must face forward.
- Soft-spiked golf shoes are required on the course.
Showing up without following this etiquette can affect your access, so it’s worth confirming dress requirements with your lodge before your round.
Why Leopard Creek Country Club Is Worth the Effort
Between the Gary Player design, the wildlife roaming just past the fairways, the Dylan Lewis sculptures, and a tournament history that includes a breakthrough win from David Lipsky, Leopard Creek Country Club offers something that very few golf courses on the planet can match. It’s not an easy course to access, and it was never meant to be. But for golfers who manage to book a round through one of the partner lodges, Leopard Creek Country Club delivers a combination of championship golf and African wilderness that’s genuinely one of a kind.
Conclusion
Leopard Creek Country Club isn’t just another golf course tucked into the South African countryside. It’s a Gary Player masterpiece bordering Kruger National Park, home to hippos and crocodiles in the water hazards, bronze leopard sculptures lining the fairways, and a tournament legacy that includes David Lipsky’s historic 2018 win. Access remains tightly controlled through invitation-only membership and a lodge-based booking system for visitors, and that exclusivity is exactly what keeps Leopard Creek Country Club on every serious golfer’s bucket list heading into 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can the public play at Leopard Creek Country Club?
Not directly. Non-members can only play by booking a stay at an approved partner lodge, such as Oliver’s, Buhala, Jock Safari Lodge, or Singita.
- Who designed Leopard Creek Country Club?
The course was designed by golf legend Gary Player and opened in 1996.
- How much does it cost to play as a visitor?
Visitor green fees are around ZAR 8,500 per person, roughly $475 USD, as of 2026.
- Did David Lipsky win at Leopard Creek Country Club?
Yes. David Lipsky won the 2018 Alfred Dunhill Championship here, finishing at 14-under-par.
- What makes the course unique?
Its location right on the edge of Kruger National Park means hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, and elephants are regularly visible during a round.
- Is membership open to the public?
No. Membership is invitation-only and tied to purchasing shares in the club’s private Share Block corporation.
- What is the signature hole at the course?
The par-5 13th hole, set 32 meters above the Crocodile River with views into Kruger National Park.
- What dress code applies at Leopard Creek Country Club?
Shirts must be tucked in, caps must face forward, and soft-spiked shoes are mandatory.