The one thing we can be sure of in life is change. Nothing stays the same. Sometimes things get better, sometimes they get worse, and sometimes they just get older. But certain things like good wine, a good marriage or a beautiful tree, mature into something sublime.
St Francis Links is an impressive place to live. It's close to some fabulous beaches, with iconic surf spots, great fishing and a range of other water sports. You can ride a horse on the beach, go hiking, mountain biking or paragliding, paddle on the Kromme River, visit some interesting historical and cultural sites, and really spoil yourself with fabulous restaurants and coffee shops, great shopping and wonderful spas. And really, all this compliments the golf course, which is, without exaggeration, a real winner. It was voted the best new course in South Africa when it opened in December 2006, and has not been out of the top ten since, It has helped put the small seaside town of St Francis Bay firmly on the national and international golfing map. All this is largely due to the skill and vision of designer Jack Nicklaus who is on record as saying that this was some of the best land he had ever seen - so he had some pretty good raw material to work with.
With careful attention to the undulating dunes and leaving broad corridors undeveloped so that the natural vegetation can thrive, the developers have created a perfect balance between the golf course, the natural areas and the residential component. The 450 ha estate is made up of beautiful properties which are 1000 m2 up to 1900 m2 for larger homes and greater living space. It also offers two separate areas, The Chalets and Links Village which offer small erven of 580 m2 and which are perfect for the first-time homeowners, retired couples and those looking for easy maintenance for a lock up and go lifestyle. The master plan and architectural guidelines require the homes to follow the same colour theme as the original St Francis Bay village and canal development - white walls with dark roofs. Height restrictions ensure that each home enjoys spectacular views, and the careful layout and undulating terrain guarantee privacy. Of course this all looked very good on paper, but ten years on, it is now a reality. On a recent visit to the estate, Gary Player said that the way the homes on the estate were built around the golf course offered the best balance he had ever seen anywhere.