FANCOURT HOTEL

Manor House:
At the Manor House, you will find a restful haven in a building with a history dating back to the beginning of the 19th century: in 1847 Henry Fancourt White established a workers' base at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains for the construction of the Montagu Pass. Now a National Monument, the Manor House with its 34 bedrooms is situated in a wooded parkland and is the perfect base for your leisure or conference activities.

- Standard Rooms
- Executive Room
- Deluxe Hotel Suites

Garden Rooms:
Fancourt's Garden Suites and Studios offer guests the chance to rest in the most peaceful setting of all - the magnificent gardens. Depending on your specific requirements, choose from the Garden Studios or the One or Two-Bedroomed Garden Suites .All are just a few steps away from the Fancourt's renowned tree- and flower-lined garden avenues; and some offer stunning views of the golf course.

Garden Rooms:
- One-bedroomed Garden Suites
- Two-bedroomed Garden Suites
- Two-bedroomed Garden Studios

500 Series Garden Rooms:
- Executive Rooms
- One-bedroomed Garden Suites
- Special Needs Rooms

HISTORY:
Now a golf estate on a par with the best in the world, Fancourt's history is that of a family home that grew and grew ...

Henry Fancourt White built a country house in Blanco, at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains, in the early days of South Africa's expansion, in the days of ox-wagons, pioneers and impassable mountain ranges.

The building of Blanco House, in the style of a Cotswold Mansion, proceeded slowly from 1859. Henry, a wealthy man at the time, suffered a major financial setback in 1860 and died soon after. Blanco House was put up for auction in 1857 "a thatched-roof double-storey building with ten airy rooms, kitchen, pantry, outbuildings and servants'rooms."

The property was subsequently owned by Henri de Maraliac, Robert Drummond and M J Adams, the latter re-naming it Homewood in 1879. At a public auction in 1903 Homewood was sold to Ernest Montagu White, who re-named the house Fancourt in memory of his father - Henry Fancourt White.

Ernest, or Montagu as he was known, spent the English winters at Fancourt. He made extensive improvements to the house, using indigenous timber from forests in the area. Always immaculately dressed - a Panama hat and a flower in his buttonhole being his trademark - Montagu supervised his estate from a white-canopied cart drawn by a red ox, he painted watercolours, knotted rugs and lived the life of a country gentleman.

Sadly, in 1916 Montagu, his sister and a friend succumbed to mushroom poisoning after enjoying a dinner of wild mushrooms picked by Montagu earlier in the day. The house stood empty for two years after the tragedy, although, it was said, the deceased Montagu and Elizabeth continued to visit the much-loved home!

Rumours of ghosts did not deter Rubin Greer from purchasing Fancourt in 1918. He and his family, which included four daughters, brought music and laughter back to Fancourt. Legend has it that performance of the band members at their dances depended on the liquid refreshment they consumed. Too little and they refused to play, too much and they were unable to play!

A number of owners followed, and a century after Henry Fancourt White built his home it was in disrepair due to neglect. Dr Krynauw bought Fancourt in 1960 and through his skill and excellent taste, the property became a symbol of high-class living once again.

In 1969 Fancourt was sold to a property developer, who went into liquidation soon after. Andre and Helene Pieterse became the new owners and in 1987 they decided to transform their country house into an hotel and golf estate and the Fancourt Hotel opened in grand style on 23 March 1989.

By July 1993, however, Fancourt was on the market once again and in 1994 a German couple, Hasso and Sabine Plattner, bought the estate out of liquidation. Expansion and development proceeded at a fast pace, and when the present becomes history it will be said that Fancourt never stopped growing.

The heart of Fancourt is now the modern clubhouse, but the old Manor House will always hold its soul. When you visit the estate spend time in the stillness of the reading room, walk along the quiet passages. Imagine life as it was then, with Panama hats and buttonholes, with grand pianos, campher-wood kists, old silver and wild mushroom dinners. Imagine you're not alone...

A comfortable lounge in which to plan the day's activities, or just relax with a book or newspaper.

Le Pêcheur - which welcomes you to a fine fish experience in a truly Mediterranean atmosphere.

The Billiard Room which has two full-size tables and is open to all Fancourt members and hotel guests.

Penny Lane - Fancourt's "tuck shop" where guests can pick up a newspaper, magazine, or nibbles to sustain them out on the fairways.

GARDENS:
By Mike Viviers, Fancourt horticulturist.

Long ago I realised that one of the functions of plants was to make life more bearable. It was when a client said "Fancourt's gardens have turned it into a holiday place instead of a hotel" that I realised that the plants were fulfilling their function.

It started with a request by the owner, Sabine Plattner, to turn the then exceedingly formal Fancourt into "a garden with something wild to it". Millions have been spent on plants and a mature tree transplanting programme, excluding labour and other garden costs.

The existence of a nursery was cemented when the Plattners decided to build The Links, the fourth golf course at Fancourt, and to introduce a mature tree transplanting programme.

About 700 mature trees, obtained from as far afield as 300km from George, were transplanted onto the Montagu and Outeniqua championship golf courses.

At the same time, more than 160 000 grasses and plants were grown inhouse over a seven month period, thereby significantly reducing plant requirement costs for Fancourt.

Not only does the nursery provide plants, but it is also used to "chip and turn" all vegetable matter at Fancourt into compost.

Over time the gardens at Fancourt gained a momentum of their own, and we came to realise that we actually have an extensive collection of plants.

The next step was a logical one: to shift our focus to variety - to collect as many species of plants that would grow in the Garden Route area.

Today we have an extraordinary variety of species.

The Fancourt horticulture division embraces the following:

Providing plants for Fancourt;
Garden maintenance;
Tree care;
A nursery.

Courses:

Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate has four golf courses to offer the golfing visitor. All the courses are renowned for their amazing year round condition and the attention to detail that is shown.

The Montagu:
With two 18-hole parkland courses there is nothing to beat a Fancourt round. Since Golf at these two courses at Fancourt is limited to members, their guests and resort guests, you will have ample time and space to savour the Fancourt golfing experience.

"With golfing critics becoming more discerning and the increase in new modern courses, we believed it was time to rejuvenate the Montagu layout and improve the course immeasurably," says Resort General Manager, Ingrid Diesel. "The course which originally set the standards for golf course conditioning in South Africa was voted No 1 in 2000. We believe the new-look course has restored it to its former glory.

The Outeniqua:
With two 18-hole parkland courses The Outeniqua , that took shape under master golfer Gary Player, worldclass conditioning and a setting that takes in mountains, water and wildlife, there is nothing to beat a Fancourt round. Since Golf at these two courses at Fancourt is limited to members, their guests and resort guests, you will have ample time and space to savour the Fancourt golfing experience.

If you're feeling a little rusty or just want to ease into your game, our Warm-up Area is available to resort guests and members. Here you will be able to make use of a putting and chipping green, green-side and fairway bunkers as well as a full-length driving range.

The Links:
Unique to South Africa, The Links golf course was officially opened in November 2000, by owner Dr Hasso Plattner and course designer, Mr Gary Player.

Created from a previously flat piece of land, over 700 000 cubic metres of earth was moved in transforming it into a typical Links style. The course presents undulating windswept terrain, and dune-style landscape and is the only such course in South Africa.

Every hole has received detailed attention to ensure that the overall balance in terms of length, position of hazards and shot values are in harmony. As a result, The Links presents a stern test in all weather conditions.

"The Links has satisfied and far exceeded my design philosophy, which was to capture the essence of what makes great traditional links golf courses so special," Fancourt owner Hasso Plattner said. "I believe that The Links will provide golfers with the most natural golf experience, which to me, is what golf is all about."

Set to test the best golfer in every way, The Links has some extraordinary holes, like the par-3 second, with its bunker in the heart of the enormous green. Gary Player said, "We included the bunker to break it up, but the front left of the green is severely sloped, so the golfer can use the contours to get the ball near the flag. You will never be stymied by the trap" Player added.

Jacobs says, "This sort of thing is really only associated with links courses and will break the rules of design. We want to keep the element of quirkiness that is the characteristic of links golf."

Course superintendents Kosie Mentz and Greg Leckie, both widely experienced and respected in the field of golf course maintenence, have done an incredible job to present a course in pristine condition and are a fantastic asset to The Links.

In a first for South Africa, the tees and fairways are a mix of four cool season grasses: Kentucky Blue, Rye, Fescue and Bent, with the greens a dominant Bent. These grasses allow for the traditional Pitch and Run shot to be played and also for the ball to 'chase' along the fairways.

The clubhouse at The Links is located only metres from the 18th green, with terraced areas and picture windows, to take maximum advantage of course and mountain views. All in all there is a very special atmosphere.

Bramble Hill:
Bramble Hill is the fourth course on the estate and is a Parkland course with Links features and offers a nice mix of the estate's other three courses. The course is a public 'Pay for Play' facility and has been designed to offer golfers of every level a Fancourt experience. As the executive golf director at Fancourt, Mike Hargreaves is head of all golf operations.

Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you can relax and be pampered in truly beautiful and superbly appointed surroundings, enjoying an unrivalled range of therapies, treatments and leisure activities.

A mini empire on its own, the Health and Beauty Spa provides all the answers to pampering and promoting well-being and good health. Luxury goes hand-in-hand with world-class treatments, equipment and professionalism.

A comprehensive range of treatments and programmes, in line with the best spas in the world, will transfer you to a world where problems no longer exist.

Enjoy a gentle swim in the heated Roman Bath, with magnificent vistas of the Outeniqua Mountains, or a visit to the saunas, steam rooms, jacuzzi and fully equipped, modern gym staffed by a personal trainer.

RESTAURANTS:
Fancourt has five fabulous restaurants offering a variety of excellent dining experiences in truly delightful settings.

Whether you're enjoying breakfast, lunch or dinner at Fancourt, you can rest assured that each meal has been carefully prepared by our expert chefs, presented by experienced restaurant managers and serving staff and that only the freshest products have been used.

All menus and meals have been approved and carefully planned by Fancourt Executive Chef, Darren Roberts.

The restaurants bear testimony to Fancourt's reputation as purveyors of fine cuisine. From La Cantina's authentic Italian fare and the freshly caught dishes of Le Pêcheur to The Morning Glory's health meals, the modern African cuisine of Sansibar and Bramble Lodge's selected dinner menu of locally-sourced produce, Fancourt's cuisine is a gourmet's delight.

The Members Bar and the Sandwedge (Montagu Halfway House) offer lighter meals for guests on the move. A range of Fancourt Original and Executive Chef's Range products including jams, pasta and sauces are for sale in the Deli. La Cantina is located in the historic Manor House and serves a buffet breakfast and traditional Italian cuisine in a warm Mediterranean atmosphere. Popular Sunday lunches are served from 12:30. Open: Monday to Sunday from 07:00 - 11:00 for breakfast Monday to Sunday from 18:30 - 22:30 for dinner

Le Pêcheur, situated in the main clubhouse, specializes in freshly prepared seafood dishes in a relaxed open-kitchen setting. Open: Wednesday to Sunday from 19:00 - 22:30 Bramble Lodge is located next to The Links Clubhouse and offers relaxed intimate dining. Global fusion cuisine - a combination of flavours from the world over, using a variety of spices, herbs, flowers and locally grown produce - is their speciality. Open: Tuesday to Sunday from 19:00 - 22:00 in season

Sansibar is situated in the Manor House and serves modern African cuisine representative of a host of African countries. Open: Monday to Saturday 19:00 - 22:30 Morning Glory Restaurant, named after Dr Plattner’s winning yacht in the 1999 Cape to Rio yacht race, overlooks the 1st tee of the Outeniqua Golf Course and serves light healthy meals using fresh local ingredients. Open: Monday to Sunday Summer: 07:00 - 17:00 Winter: 08:00 - 17:00 Restaurant opening times will be confirmed at time of booking, as times may change due to season or demand.