Leopard Creek Championship Course

Leopard Creek Championship Course, on the record

Leopard Creek Championship Course: Gary Player (1996). Par 72, 7,110 yards. Brandon Stone won the 2016 Alfred Dunhill Championship here with 267 (−21).

Updated October 24, 2026

Club

Leopard Creek Country Club

Where

Malalane, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Opened

1996

Design

Gary Player (1996)

Par

72

Length

7,110 yards (the championship setup)

Access

Private

Owner

Johann Rupert

Superintendent

Frikkie Potgieter, Course superintendent (confirmed 2026-10-24)

Greens

Bermuda (Champion G-12 ultradwarf)

Fairways

indigenous cynodon (Bermuda)

Course record

62, Keegan Shutt (amateur), in competition

Website

leopardcreek.co.za

The champions here

18 editions on the record, by event, newest first.

Stories

• A leopard sculpture on every tee

  Johann Rupert originally asked sculptor Dylan Lewis for one monumental leopard for the clubhouse; Lewis instead proposed a series, one per hole, following a leopard through a day - from "Leopard Lying on Rock" on the 1st tee to "Leopard Standing on Slope" on the 18th.

  Source: Leopard Creek history page

• The 2000 Crocodile River flood

  In January-February 2000 the Crocodile River, which separates the course from the Kruger National Park, burst its banks; the 13th green complex perched above the river bore the brunt, and reconstruction cost multi-millions of rand.

  Source: Leopard Creek history page

• Crocodiles in the water hazards

  The club says much of the water on the course is home to crocodiles, and sightings of crocodile, hippo, antelope, buffalo and elephant are commonplace on the course or in the Kruger Park beside it; its local rules warn players to stay out of bushveld and water areas.

  Source: Leopard Creek course page · Leopard Creek scorecard 2024

The place

• Feature · hole 18Island-green 18th

  The par-5 18th swoops downhill, curving slightly right to left, to an island green that looks wide but has limited room front to back; many approaches roll over the back into the water.

  Source: SA Top 100 Courses

• LandmarkKruger National Park

  The property borders the broad Crocodile River on the southern boundary of the Kruger National Park, so the park lies directly across the river from the course.

  Source: SA Top 100 Courses

• TraditionWhite socks and tucked shirts

  The club enforces a strict dress code on and off the course: socks must be predominantly white, shirts tucked in, caps worn forward, and no bold commercial advertising is allowed.

  Source: SA Top 100 Courses

• QuirkLodge guests only

  Visitors can only book a tee time if they are staying at one of an approved list of lodges in the area or inside the Kruger National Park; the closest, Buhala Lodge, is about 10 km away.

  Source: SA Top 100 Courses

• FeaturePar-3 course of famous holes

  The nine-hole par-3 course at the National Junior Development Centre has holes inspired by eight famous courses, including Augusta National (two), the Old Course, Muirfield, North Berwick and Sawgrass, plus a version of Leopard Creek's own 18th.

  Source: SA Top 100 Courses

Changes to the course

• 1996Opened

  Gary Player

• 2000Changes

  reconstruction of the 13th hole green complex after the Crocodile River flood (Jan-Feb 2000), during course modifications already underway

  Source: Leopard Creek history page

The tour here

The PGA Tour and DP World Tour weeks at this course since 2017.