Harare’s Golf Revival Could Reshape Lifestyle Living
Harare’s property market is getting ready for a notable lifestyle development. The redesigned 18-hole championship golf course at The Hills Luxury Golf Estate is scheduled to open in March 2027. The course sits on the site of the former Warren Hills golf course. Its reopening should bring back a well-known golf venue. It should also add to the appeal of an estate that mixes homes with leisure facilities. For homebuyers, investors and developers, the project raises an important question. Can better leisure facilities lead to stronger demand for the property around them?
The answer will depend on more than the golf course. Access, the estate’s roads and services, security and prices will all shape how the development affects the market. On 16 October 2026, Nehanda Radio reported that WestProp Holdings chief executive Ken Sharpe said preparations were nearly complete. “We are expecting a good crowd to witness the first tee-off in March next year,” he said. The first tee-off had earlier been expected in 2026. The course is part of The Hills Luxury Golf Estate, a wider residential and lifestyle project that aims to combine housing with green space and recreation.
What The Development Brings
The course has been redesigned by Peter Matkovich, a well-known golf course architect. According to the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities, he has worked on seven of Africa’s top golf courses. WestProp says the new layout blends sustainability, playability and modern design while keeping the original character of The Hills. The redesign matters because the course is part of a wider estate, not a stand-alone sports facility.
In March 2025, the ministry reported on a visit by Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities Zhemu Soda. At the time, the first phase of roads was 80% complete and stormwater facilities were 60% complete. Work was underway on seven fairways. Sharpe said 82% of the estate would be green space. The ministry also said the estate would have more than 800 residential units, including apartments, townhouses, garden homes, flats and retirement homes.
These details matter to buyers because a lifestyle estate’s long-term appeal depends on the whole living environment. Leisure facilities can attract interest. But good roads, drainage, utilities, security and well-kept shared spaces matter just as much to residents.
Why Golf-Course Living Can Attract Buyers
Golf-course developments often appeal to buyers who want more than a house or a stand. They can offer green surroundings, organised leisure activities and a neighbourhood built around shared facilities. For some buyers, living near a golf course is a lifestyle choice. For others, the draw may be the chance of stronger resale demand or access to a certain kind of community.
The Hills could appeal to professionals, established families, returning Zimbabweans and buyers who want a home with leisure facilities close by. How strong that demand will be depends on purchase prices, membership costs, how many homes are available and which facilities are running when residents move in.
There is a difference between an attractive development and a sound investment. A property does not gain value just because it is near a golf course. Buyers still need to look at comparable sales, running costs, location and how many buyers exist for similar homes.
Lessons From Established Golf Estates In Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe already has a useful example of golf and housing working together. Borrowdale Brooke is an established residential golf estate in Harare, with homes set around an 18-hole golf course. Its long history shows that golf-estate living is not new to the local market.
The Hills offers something different: a redesigned course built into a larger estate with several types of homes planned. Its success will depend on whether it can attract and keep residents, maintain its facilities and deliver the wider amenities buyers expect.
Further afield, Johannesburg’s Steyn City shows how golf, housing, leisure and commercial services can be combined in one lifestyle destination. The comparison is useful as a model. But buying power, infrastructure and market conditions are different in Harare. Do not expect property there to perform the same way.
Could The Hills Influence Property Values?
The reopening could boost the appeal of homes inside the estate and may affect demand in nearby neighbourhoods. But the effect is unlikely to be the same everywhere. Homes inside the estate may gain directly from its facilities. That depends on ownership terms and membership rules. Nearby homes could attract buyers who like the location but want a different price point or do not want estate living. Three factors will matter most:
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Access: Easy access to workplaces, schools, shops and main roads can boost demand for homes.
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Infrastructure quality: Reliable water, power, drainage, well-kept roads and security help buyers feel confident and keep an area in demand.
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Supply and affordability: More housing options can draw more buyers. But a large supply of competing properties may hold back price growth if demand does not keep up.
Investors should be wary of forecasts that promise a fixed percentage premium for homes near the course. Without checked local sales data for similar homes, any exact estimate of future price growth would be guesswork. Buyers are better served by looking at real demand and market conditions than by relying on a single amenity to predict returns.
Opportunities For Homebuyers And Investors
The development may create openings for different types of buyers, but each should approach it with their own goals in mind.
For homebuyers, The Hills may appeal to those who value leisure facilities and a planned neighbourhood. Before you commit, find out which facilities will be available, what access rights come with your property and whether separate membership fees apply.
For investors, visiting golfers, business travellers and people looking for furnished homes could create demand for rentals. However, short-term rental income will depend on how often units are booked, competition, management costs and whether the estate draws enough visitors. Work out your likely net returns. Do not assume that tournament crowds will guarantee full bookings.
For developers and other businesses, more residents could mean more demand for small shops, restaurants, gyms and other everyday services. These openings will depend on the estate’s commercial plans, access arrangements, planning rules and the buying power of residents.
For buyers looking at stands or homes in the wider area, due diligence is still essential. Before you buy, check the title documents, approved plans, access rights, any unpaid service costs and estate levies.
What Buyers Should Watch Before March 2027
The months before the planned opening give buyers time to track the development’s progress. They should not be treated as a guaranteed window for price growth. Watch how building work moves forward. Check when roads, water and other services are finished, which homes are on sale, and what the membership and operating rules will be. It is also worth comparing asking prices with the prices actually paid for similar homes.
Asking prices show what sellers hope to get. They do not always reflect what buyers are willing to pay. The course’s own performance will matter too. Its ability to draw regular players, host events and keep up its facilities will decide whether golf remains a real long-term attraction.
The Bigger Picture For Harare’s Property Market
The Hills redevelopment reflects a wider question in Harare’s property sector. How much value can be created by combining homes with leisure, green space and other lifestyle features? For developers, combined projects offer a way to stand out. For residents, they offer easy access to recreation and community facilities. For investors, they may open doors to specific groups of buyers and tenants.
However, these benefits only come if the estate is finished and well run. Attractive designs and big plans cannot replace reliable services, sound infrastructure and homes priced in line with demand. As March 2027 approaches, The Hills will be worth watching. It is not just a golf course reopening. It is a test of how lifestyle developments compete in Zimbabwe’s housing market. For Propertybook readers, the best test will be simple. Does the finished estate draw steady demand? Does it deliver the facilities it promised? And does it create lasting value for residents and owners?
Sources
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Nehanda Radio. “Harare’s revamped Hills championship golf course to open in March 2027.” 16 October 2026. https://nehandaradio.com/2026/10/16/harares-revamped-hills-championship-golf-course-to-open-in-march-2027/
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Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities. “Minister applauds progress at The Hills Luxury Estate.” 18 March 2025. https://www.nationalhousing.gov.zw/?p=2229
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Golf Course Architecture. “New golf course takes shape as part of US$280m project in Zimbabwe’s capital.” 2 July 2025. https://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/new-golf-course-takes-shape-as-part-of-us280m-project-in-zimbabwes-capital
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Nehanda Radio. “The Hills Luxury Golf Estate in Harare: Teeing off in style in 2026.” 18 February 2025. https://nehandaradio.com/2025/02/18/the-hills-luxury-golf-estate-in-harare-teeing-off-in-style-in-2026/
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WestProp Holdings. The Hills Lifestyle Estate. https://westprop.com/developments/the-hills-lifestyle-estate/
