The stage is set for a thrilling exhibition of world-class golf when the 101st South African Open Championship tees off at the Jack Nicklaus signature course at Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate this November. This is the first time that the country’s flagship event will be played in Gauteng since Mathias Grönberg from Sweden won the 2000 edition at Randpark Golf Club.
With its origins dating back to 1893, the South African Open Championship embodies the spirit of competitive golf in South Africa. The country’s national Open is widely acknowledged as one of the oldest Open Championships in golf. From its beginnings as a match play event, the country’s flagship event evolved into a stroke play tournament in 1903, with a sizeable number of golfers competing for the honour of being crowned champion.
These days the SA Open Championship occupies an important place on the international golf calendar and is a prominent fixture on both the Sunshine Tour and European Tour.
TOURNAMENT DATES
Tournament - Thursday, 24 to Sunday, 27 November 2011.
Pro-Am - Wednesday, 23 November 2011.
DEFENDING CHAMPION
Ernie Els of South Africa.
PRIZE FUND
€1 million
FIELD SIZE
156 professionals and amateurs.
TEE TIMES:
The first tee-off times in rounds one and two will be at 6:30am.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The competition will be decided over 72 holes of stroke play. All contestants participate in the first two rounds. On conclusion of the second round there will be a cut to the 65th-placed professional and those tying. In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a sudden-death playoff on holes to be determined by the Tournament Director.
SANCTIONING BODIES
The South African Golf Association, the Sunshine Tour and The European PGA Tour.
VENUE INFORMATION
TEL: 011 552 7200 - EMAIL: clubreception@serengeti.co.za.
GPS Coordinates: S 26° 02’ 08” and E 28° 16’ 53”.
For directions, please view http://www.serengeti.co.za/contact-us/
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Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate will host the South African Open Championship in 2011 and 2012. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at Serengeti is the first 27-hole golf course in Gauteng and was recently named “Best New Golf Course” by Golf Digest.
The 18-hole course called Masai Mara, which means “wide open plains” in the language of the Masai, has a rugged grassland and dune-scape look. One of the unique features on the course is the par-five eighth hole with its island green. The nine-hole course called Whistling Thorn has a more classic feel.
The courses were constructed in accordance with USGA specifications, with cool season grass that provides green vistas all year round. Designed as a strategic and technical masterpiece that will test today’s best players, the sunken design of the course with its wide corridors is ideal for tournament purposes and provides optimal spectator value on almost every hole.
