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Pearl Valley Golf Estate
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IDYLLIC LIVING IN THE HEART OF THE CAPE WINELANDSBy Duncan Cruickshank
Officially opened in November 2003, Pearl Valley Golf Estates was destined to be a leader, a
residential golf estate that many would follow as an example, having overall standards that
few would reach and fewer still would surpass.
Given its stunning surroundings, positioned as it is
in the shadows of the imposing Drakenstein range
of mountains that make up the Franschhoek valley,
Pearl Valley Golf Estates was always going to be
a winner. Add to that, a Jack Nicklaus signature golf
course and you are already way ahead of the pack.
Pearl Valley is ideally situated – near enough to, yet
far enough from the major metropolitan area of
Cape Town and ideally close enough to the wine-
land centres of Paarl, Stellenbosch and the pictur-
esque town of Franschhoek. Given its ideal loca-
tion and family-friendly facilities, it is no surprise
that it has attracted younger families as residents
and investors, adding to the youthful community
atmosphere. Typically, a large proportion of resi-
dences are second homes used predominantly
during weekends and school holidays, or by in-
ternational investors.
However, Pearl Valley has recently opened the pre-
school section of Bridge House School on the estate,
giving greater options for residents who are on the
estate throughout the year. A popular independent
school, Bridge House School conveniently serves
the Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch area for
boys and girls from Grade 1 to Grade 12.
Apart from the spectacular Jack Nicklaus signature
course, activities abound at Pearl Valley, ranging
from the state-of-the-art gym for the exercise
conscious to the spa for those looking for some
serious pampering to the fully fledged equestrian
centre that caters for novices and expert riders.
There are several beautiful hiking trails and moun-
tain-biking routes throughout the estate and the
boma down at the Berg River offers the perfect
setting for outdoor sundowners or picnics and
barbeques for up to 150 people.
Pearl Valley’s impressive estate infrastructure is
dominated by the state-of-the-art clubhouse, which
is the centre of community life for the residents
and visitors to the estate. The clubhouse, which
covers some 4500 square metres, is central to
the community theme that is part and parcel of
the offering that makes residential estate living
here so sought-after.
One could ask: what makes a golf estate like Pearl
Valley so successful from an investment point of
view, especially when there is a severe downturn
in the property market worldwide? There are several
answers to this question and they make for an
excellent study when it comes to choosing an estate
in which to invest. Firstly, the Western Cape (or,
more accurately, the greater Cape Town area) does
not have an oversupply of residential golf estates.
Pearl Valley is one of only a few ‘marquee-name
signature design’ courses in the area – and there
is no doubt that this has an effect on the desira-
bility of the property around the course.
Pearl Valley is maturing – the estate was officially
opened six years ago, which means that the ma-
jority of large-scale construction is completed.
There is no longer the constant din of cement
mixers, bulldozers and jackhammers pounding
away to disturb the peace! Design and construc-
tion guidelines are strict and processes put in
place have ensured that this necessary phase in
the lifespan of a newish estate is as smooth as
possible. A building contractor’s Code of Con-
duct must be strictly adhered to and large depos-
its are required by approved contractors before
they move onto the estate.
Pearl Valley is owned by Leisurecorp, the Dubai-
based company that also owns the V&A Water-
front in Cape Town, and it is managed by world-
leader Troon Golf. This brings a level of service that
is world-class and a high level of commitment to
members and residents. Troy Hart is Pearl Val-
ley’s general manager and he is understandably
passionate and upbeat about the future.
“While it has been a challenging year for the property
industry, Pearl Valley continues to move forward
in demand with approximately R80 million rand of
property being transferred this year to date, with
stand prices ranging between R3.7 to R4.5 million,”
he explains. “The estate is achieving year-on-year
asset growth and is receiving increased volumes
of enquiries predominately from the local and na-
tional sectors – people who are looking at settling
in the winelands valley because of the lifestyle and
high level of broad-based infrastructure including
schools, universities and various activities within
close proximity.”
While he is pleased with this continued growth, he
is also very serious when it comes to sustainability
and believes it is vital to meet certain objectives
when it comes to responsible environmental prac-
tice and water usage: “We need to educate our
residents regarding best practice when it comes
to recycling bottles, plastics and paper and with
respect to water usage. We need to investigate
energy management systems that will ensure that
we are doing our bit for the environment – this is
a fundamental part of living in a community.”
It is this sort of outlook that is encouraging young
families to settle in this forward thinking community,
with many families ‘trying before they buy’ by renting
homes on the estate. Amazingly, the conversion rate
of renters to owners is more than 50% – a remark-
able statistic.
Pearl Valley’s celebrated golf course has been the
home to the South African Open Championship for
the past couple of years and December 2009 saw
the world’s second oldest Open return for the third
time. “The SA open has been excellent for Pearl Val-
ley,” explains Hart, “as it has helped to reinforce the
Pearl Valley brand, which was already strong. It
has really put us in the international spotlight and
we have seen some 3000 rounds being played by
international tourists as a direct result.”
That is exposure that money just can’t buy. For the
third time, golf fans have arrived in their thousands
to support the event, again exposing the estate
and its lifestyle to scores of potential investors who
might not ordinarily have made the trip.
Director of golf, David Murray, and his team had
their hands full ensuring that every visitor to the
estate in that week had an unbelievable experi-
ence and course superintendent, Mike Westman,
did a superb job of ensuring that the course was in
pristine condition for some of the world’s best
professionals who participated in the champion-
ship, which is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine and
European Tours.
Living on a golf estate is a particularly attractive
option when it comes to wide open spaces with
excellent security. When that golf estate includes
a course designed by one of the world’s most
legendary golfers and it is situated in the heart of
one of the most beautiful winelands areas any-
where in the world, it fast goes from an attractive
option to the only option. Pearl Valley’s residents
do agree.
Photos by Dawid de Greef.
COME HOME TO A LEGEND
T +27 21 867 8000 F +27 21 867 0767
[email protected] pearlvalleygolfestates.co.za
Contact Pearl Valley | T +27 21 867 8000 | E [email protected] | W www.pearlvalleygolfestates.com
For any PEarl VallEy ProPErTy and/or rEnTal EnquiriEs, PlEasE ConTaCT onE oF our in-housE, qualiFiEd ConsulTanTs sEVEn days a WEEk. ThEy haVE ThE adVanTagE oF bEing on-siTE and CurrEnTly dominaTE salEs on ThE EsTaTE.
AN EAsy, sCENiC 50 MiNuTE DrivE frOM CApE TOwN, pEArL vALLEy LiEs NEsTLED iN THE HEArT Of sOuTH AfriCA’s LEGENDAry 300-yEAr OLD wiNE AND CuLiNAry CApiTAL, frANsCHHOEk. BrEATHE THE COuNTry Air, sAvOur THE sCENEry AND rELAx.
Come home to a legend
barry JaCobsEn lEigh robErTson Jordan [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
2008 Compleat Golfer ‘5 star Golf Experience’2009 Golf Digest ‘2nd best conditioned course’2009 Golf Digest ‘Best Golf Estate’Host of the sA Open 2007, 2008, 2009
ACCOLADEs
