Cape Town - Fancourt covers 613 hectares which, to put it into perspective, is three times the size of the Principality of Monaco.
Situated on the Garden Route against the backdrop of the Outeniqua mountains, this premier leisure and business resort is a Shangrila of indigenous vegetation, impeccably landscaped golf courses, beautifully manicured greens and premier accommodation. Wallowing in this kind of luxury could naturally make you not sweat the small stuff, but the 5-star service ensures there is no small stuff to sweat.
You may be forgiven for thinking that Fancourt is the sole dominion of golfphiliacs. After all the trio of Gary Player designed golf courses are all award winners in their own rights. The Links takes an impressive 34th spot in the world and 1st in South Africa, while Montagu comes in at 6 and Outeniqua at 17. ‘However, if it IS golf that blows your hair back you can indulge in round after round of golf or in the words of Words-worth in this, ‘strenuous idleness’. But there is so much more.
Our base was a spacious two bed roomed suite. Even though it was a short distance from the hotel, the option of kart taxi was often welcome. Dial 114 and within minutes your chariot awaits. Fancourt has 115 suites in the hotel for guests, while the Manor House has 18.
The recently refurbished Manor House was built in 1859 and later bought by Ernest Montagu White and named Fancourt after his father, Henry Fancourt White. It was during this time that the Montagu Pass was built (with the help of 250 convicts) – the first road built between George and Oudtshoorn. The Manor’s rejuvenation into a boutique hotel ups the level of luxury at the estate another notch and for those wanting to cocoon into this sumptuousness and serenity, will be gratified to know that no children under 16 are allowed to stay here.
All the suites offer personalised, butler-style service. Away from the comfort of your accommodation there is such a plethora of activities and leisure options, one must cherry pick the best, or as we did, just say ‘dammit I’ll do them all!’ First off was a lesson with one of the resident golf pros, Andy Hillman
The Golf Academy also has a Flitescope (yes, we do take our golf seriously). Sadly I didn’t leave the academy with the new sobriquet of ‘Tigress’, but a beatific expression as the small adjustments identified and corrected by a professional made temporary magic. A pit-stop after the lesson at the Roman baths with heated jacuzzi, steam, sauna and tepidarium (steam and sauna) was just a precursor to a workout at the gym in the leisure centre. Watsu, an aquatic rehabilitation programme is also offered in a balmy Roman pool.
The relatively new sports and leisure centre spans two levels that house a high tech gym, heated indoor pool, outdoor pool with poolside café, its own cinema and a Chillout zone.
Family holidays are wonderful, but there are times when some ‘time out’ is a blessing. For this reason Fancourt has introduced the Kidz Club so that parents can drop off their kids while they either have a pamper party in the spa or take in a round of golf.
In the Chillout zone teens can hone their skills at the pool table, or challenge their parents to a high-speed game of table tennis, Wii or Playstation, or relax on the comfortable couches or beanbags to watch a game on the big screen. For some more fun-filled family time, the cinema will not only screen the latest movie releases, but is a great venue to enjoy a private screening of an important soccer or rugby match.
On the lower floor, an indoor swimming pool offers water aerobics classes for a low impact workout. The new gymnasium has tripled in size and now accommodates a wider spectrum of cardio and weight-bearing equipment.
All this activity is a great appetite stimulant and La Cantina was the destination. Called a family restaurant, it was a wonderful surprise to enjoy cuisine we certainly weren’t offered as kids!
The next morning it was ‘go, go, go, again and we were delighted to be the ‘pioneers’ of the launch of the mountain hike on offer to Fancourt guests– just 10 minutes by hotel shuttle to the Outeniqua trail. Our guide first took us on a circuitous route charmingly called the Forest Buzzard trail, but we begged for ‘extended play’ and continued up the mountain on the route to Cradock’s Peak which is a fair height of 1578metres. The climb to the top will also be offered to guests, but is a 6 hour walk and there is ‘so much to do and so little time’ that we turned back at the river and hurtled back to Fancourt to play golf.
Not without another pitstop at the Roman baths for a jacuzzi, to ease the muscles after the hike and re-fuel at Morning Glory – the informal coffee shop that overlooks the first tee of the Outeniqua course, offering an alternative of light, healthy Asian and Western fare steaks or an irresistible table of patisseries. The Outeniqua course is considered the ‘easiest’ of the three and our choice. The wide fairways are forgiving and the ladies tee is a suitably respectable distance from the men’s, which is what I call ‘a good thing’. The service at Fancourt doesn’t stop when you have teed off. After the 5th a 'fairway barman' in a golf cart arrived.
If activity is your thing as opposed to relaxing and being pampered, the magnificent surroundings can be enjoyed on mountain bikes at the Leisure Centre, on a guided leisure trail or a jogging trail or from the 19th hole – the Club Lounge. For real foodies, Henry White’s is dedicated to culinary arts and classic dining. The hardest part of the stay at Fancourt is the leaving. The good news is that apart from the accommodation, there are still properties available to purchase, so if you have been thinking of running from the rat race...
Fancourt is gearing up for the popular Festive Family Package - a programme of fun activities for kids and teens - making it the perfect family holiday destination on the Garden Route and outdoor activities to suit every generation.
l Festive Family Package: 044 804 0010, e-mail [email protected], quote the code 14FAMD, www.fancourt.co.za
Cape Times