And now on the way to the Garden Route I called in on Willowbrook Lodge, Albourne, Erinvale Hotel & Spa and the Erinale Golf Estate all in the Somerset West area. A brief stop for coffee with my long time friend John Bumpsteed the Director of Golf at Arabella (My Home club) gave me energy to visit Hermanus Golf Club, Selkirk House and The Marine Hotel, the two accommodation gems I feature for this area.
On to Pinnacle Point and on a windless day I was tempted to take out my golf clubs, however this is a marathon so on to Oubaai, Fancourt, Kingswood and George, though this course does not feature in the guide, the proshop there has always been supportive of the guide.
My final destination for this day was Knysna, where I delivered guides to Simola, Knysna Golf course (still reeling from their clubhouse having been burnt down) and Pezula. I also found time to drop off guides to Protea Hotel Knysna Quays, Bamboo The Guest House and Knysna Log Inn.
My stop for the night was at the Lagoona Inn, where my very good friends Alison and Gunter Pichler have garnered a deserved reputation for their hospitality and Gunter is a genius with food! I was to have an unprepared bonus this evening, as Alison insisted I accompany her to her daughter’s school for a musical show called In the Blue of the Evening. Though tired (and polite) I agreed and a real surprise was in store.
The Oakhill School in Knysna can best be described as a mini Julliard School for the arts. AND I was to be enchanted by the talent on show. Beautiful voices, complimented by excellent (and innovative) musicians made for an evening of great entertainment and I left feeling proud of our South African talent. I was mightily impressed with the spirit of this school, vibrant teachers under the guidance of the very impressive headmaster, Shane Kidwell, and though all the talent was exceptional I cannot help but mention a star in the making Maya-Rose Torrao, whose voice was captivating.
