Cape St Francis Resort

Tailor made conferencing for up to 300 delegates

Our 3 state-of-the-art conference venues are all equipped with the necessary presentation equipment and can accommodate up to 300 delegates. A peaceful environment, flexible agendas, friendly personalized service and professionalism dictate our approach toward each and every event. Each venue can be set up to suit your needs and requirements.

• The Space, our largest conference room, can accommodate up to 300 delegates theatre style.
• The Chapel & Theatre can accommodate up to 160 delegates theatre style.
• The Francolin Room can accommodate a maximum of 35 delegates.

For smaller groups up to a maximum of 15 delegates you can also use our luxury beach villa – Beach Break.

All of our conference rooms come equipped with the following equipment:

• Whiteboard and flip charts.
• Data Projector.
• DVD player.
• Public address sound system.
• Pens and paper for the use of delegates.
• Iced water and mints for the enjoyment of delegates.
• All of the conference venues are air conditioned.

The following facilities are also available to conferences:

• A full range of other specialist AV equipment can be supplied on request.
• Secretarial service, fax, telephone, internet and photocopying facilities.

All of our conference rooms come equipped with with following equipment:

• Overhead projector and screen.
• Whiteboard and flip charts.
• VCR and monitor.
• Data Projector.
• DVD player.
• Public address sound system.
• Pens and paper for the use of delegates.
• Iced water and mints for the enjoyment of delegates.
• All of the conference are air conditioned.

The following facilities are also available to conferences:

• A full range of other specialist AV equipment can be supplied on request.
• Secretarial service, fax, telephone, internet and photocopying facilities.
• Spouse program.
• Breakaway rooms are also available for when a conference needs to break up into separate work groups or syndicates.

Get up close and personal with some feathered friends

Based next door to the light house in Cape St Francis the SANCCOB rehabilitation centre is a leading marine non-profit organization with a vision to conserve seabirds and other sea-life, especially threatened species such as the African penguin.

SANCCOB protects and treats seabirds affected by major and chronic oil pollution, and shares its specialist skills with the international community, such as providing services in Africa, the Indian Ocean region, and the Sub-Antarctic.

SANCCOB’s research focuses on improving knowledge that will improve the conservation of seabirds in the wild, and improve our ability to care for seabirds during their rehabilitation process.

Visitors on ‘Betty’s Tour’s’ are given a unique behind-the-scenes tour from one of the staff and allowed access to meet the penguins and other sea birds, gaining a wonderful perspective on all the hard work SANCCOB employees provide.

Our convenience store has everything you need

Within reception you will also find our convenience shop offering all manner of produce. So if you’ve forgotten your toothbrush, need braai wood, or have just got back from the beach and in need of a refreshing icecream, our shop has everything you need.

Everyday the talented chefs from our award winning Joe Fish Restaurant produce freshly home made pies and sandwiches but get there early before they sell out! Many of the ingredients are organically grown at our Bat and Boerboom farm on the Geelhout River.

There’s even a frozen section offering stunning free range chicken, local boerewors, and family size savoury pies.

Aside from the basics, the shop also stocks a beautiful range of clothing including, beach sarongs, dresses, childrenswear, men’s and women’s t-shirts and caps.

Interact with local kids at a children’s school

From SANCCOB guests are then taken into the heart of the local township known as ’Sea Vista’ to meet some very special kids at the Talhado Children’s Haven.

Talhado Children’s Haven was started to address the needs of disadvantaged children in the area of St Francis Bay. Pre-primary education and a safe place to play, under adult care, were needed. The school now provides both for over 400 children. All the fundraising for the Haven is done on a voluntary basis.

Through ’Betty’s Tour’ you will meet these wonderful children and the teachers who care for them. The children always have a smile and song and love meeting new people and in return visitors are left with some wonderful memories and some new friends!

Meet some talented locals and maybe buy a garment or two

Just down the road from Talhado’s is Nomvula’s which is the final destination on the tour.

Nomvula (nom Voo la) meaning “she who brings the rain” in Xhosa is considered a lucky name because any sign of rain in Southern Africa is gratefully received.

Starting as a knitting group by Frances Becker in 2008, Nomvulas has quickly turned into a fully fledged business with approx 15 full time knitters.
Although Nomvulas is still a small business it has developed a strong client base which keeps the pace of work consistent and provides a sustainable income for the staff.

The concept of the company is to train the knitters in the art of manufacturing, marketing, and running a business with the goal to eventually own the business. Nomvula’s is not a charity and its goal is profit driven. What makes the company extra special is the knitters run it as their own business with the guidance and direction of Frances. They understand that what they put in, they get out both financially and emotionally.

As part of ’Betty’s Tours’ you will be given a personal tour by one of the knitters who will provide insight into what they do and how they do it. The products produced are simply stunning and you will be spoilt for choice with the wide range of clothing and accessories.

A golf course built around natural beauty

In the early 14th century, either in Scotland’s eastern Lothians or in the Netherlands, where the game was called Kalvin, golf began.

The links land was the marginal land lying between the beaches and the arable fields and only good for grazing sheep and rabbits and bleaching cloth.

Open to the elements, the game was played on the links grasses between the dunes and the bush.

’St Francis Links’ , the second course in St Francis Bay, may not have been grazing land for sheep and rabbits, but a natural course between the beach and arable land it is. Jack Nicklaus has had the pleasure of taking Mother Nature’s best piece of links land and signed his name to something unique. ’St Francis Links’ challenges all who play it and rewards those who respect it.

The layout combines every element of shot making with its undulating terrain, greens and surrounds as well as its variation in length and direction.

The bunkers look as though they have been ploughed out of the land. The bunkering truly defines the quality and character of ’St Francis Links’. Others courses have a links “look”. Here you will see what separates ’St Francis Links’ from the rest – a consistent look throughout. One will agree that, almost from the opening shot, ’St Francis Links’ carries a look and feel that breathes history from bygone times.

The shape greens’ shape comes from the natural movement of the land. The greens have simply been placed on top of the sand, changing shape as the wind changed its mind. Some are more undulating than others. All putting surfaces and green surrounds present a mental and physical test.

’St Francis Links’ is South Africa’s Pure Links!

Booking through Cape St Francis Resort as a guest will equate to a more favourable green fee.

A little bit of golfing history

The origins of the St Francis Bay Golf Club date back to 1975 when Leighton Hulett, the developer of the area then known as Sea Vista, opened a 9-hole private golf course. He employed Robert Grimsdell, who also designed courses such as Mowbray, Durban Country Club and Hans Merensky CC, to design the nine-hole private course which was opened in 1975.

In December 1976 the first Committee was elected and the club was named “The Cape St. Francis Golf Club”. The first Chairman was the late Buller Pagden. In the early 1980’s the village changed its name to St Francis Bay, and the club likewise became “St. Francis Bay Golf Club”. During this period the course was also developed from sandy to lush fairways and greens (exclusively Poa Annua) to achieve its acknowledged status as the best nine hole course in the Eastern Cape and South Africa’s best kept secret.

The course has undergone many changes since the original Grimsdell design was developed by Maxwell Hulett, the most significant which was the construction of an additional nine holes. As a result of the decision taken in 1997, the Club now has a full eighteen-hole course which was finally opened in December 1999.

The popularity of ’The St Francis Bay Golf Course’ and the “Calamari Classic” (a three-day tournament run in September each year) in particular has been evident when one looks at the list of players frequenting the Club. This list is made up of resident members as well as up-country members and visitors who travel from all over the country and abroad to come and play at ’The St Francis Bay GC’.

Booking through Cape St Francis Resort as a guest will ensure more favourable green fees.