Durban - Sitting with sundowners with our feet in a bunker at the turnaround tee of the 9-hole, 18-tee golf course, watching the changing colours over the mountains, all was more than well at the four-star Monks Cowl Golf Resort.
If you visited in the past, a lot has changed since the Gooderson Leisure folk took over from the Longmore’s a couple of years ago. Accommodation is more plentiful and varied – ranging from standard and superior rooms to a honeymoon suite and eight self-catering cottages. There are 33 hotel rooms with two double beds, air conditioning, a more extensive DStv offering than most hotels, mini bar fridge and private patio. The executive/honeymoon suite has a king size bed, double shower and Jacuzzi bath.
We were in a self-catering unit, with an en suite master bedroom leading via sliding glass doors onto a covered patio with braai facilities, second bedroom with twin beds and adjacent bathroom and two sleeper couches in the lounge, which has a fireplace for those Berg winters. I was glad of the covered parking (we had just missed a hailstorm).
There is a private patch of lawn and the units overlook a dam, with views across the rolling grounds and the foothills.
Next to the units are a covered bar/braai/entertainment area, a kiddies play area with adventure jungle gym, swings and trampolines and a series of large man-made rock pools with a slide, the pool varying from toddler-friendly to deep. Across the way are hotel rooms, reception and tennis courts, Friar Tuck Restaurant and bar, another swimming pool, as well as a small conference centre and spa. Jessica offers a range of therapies, or you could bubble away in the outdoor Jacuzzi.
The aptly-named Monks Cowl peak, sandwiched between the towering Champagne Castle and Cathkin mountains, is on view from all tees on the upgraded golf course which has a couple of dams and a river with a waterfall and swing bridge for those more adventurous.
Where to start? Well, we popped the cork of something delicious and chilled until supper, which we enjoyed in the cosy restaurant. Friendly duty manager Eston Patel was spot on with his recommendations – if you like oxtail, you’ll love theirs. A hearty meal, washed down with inexpensive Gooderson’s red wine from the extensive wine list, was followed by a solid slumber. Next day, to work off dinner and a buffet breakfast we headed out.
The Monks Cowl reserve is a scenic 10 minutes away, with hiking trails ranging from an hour or two to several days. We opted for the former on a scorching day (get going early is the rule of thumb). A walk to Sterkspruit Falls, then upriver for a dip in a deep pool before entering indigenous forest was lovely and not terribly exacting but – maybe it was all the fresh air – we were peckish. Back along the Central Drakensberg road we went to the Valley Bakery. Much more than just a bakery, my companions were after the jam they had been oohing and aahing about over brekkie, but we ended up with a lot more in the basket, plus tea and a selection of must-have eats.
There is a seemingly endless array of things to do: Within a 15km radius of the resort, there’s horse riding, paintball, trout fishing, river rafting, canopy tours, quad biking and bowling greens as well as the Falcon Ridge Bird of Prey Centre and world-renowned Drakensburg Boys Choir.
The thrill of kloofing is hard to top, as is the bespoke chocolate from one of the interesting shops where you can find everything from trinkets, arts and crafts supplies to sculpture, furniture and plenty of local produce, plus roadside vendors offering high-quality basketware and much more.
Christmas shopping done.
Between forays we spent plenty of time in the pool, playing adventure golf, or enjoying the shade of the trees outside Friar Tuck which has indoor and outdoor seating and an enclosed veranda and eating options to suit every season.
Similarly, Monks Cowl Golf Resort has enough options to suit everyone.
Call Gooderson Leisure at 031 368 5353 or visit www.goodersonleisure.co.za
Adrian Rorvik, Sunday Tribune