Welcome to the 99th edition of the South Africa Open Championship, which returns to Pearl Valley for the third consecutive year.
The decision to again host this prestigious tournament at Pearl Valley confirms Pearl Valley‘s status as the top golf estate in South Africa, and builds upon its 5 Star Golf Experience rating and its ranking as one of the best conditioned golf courses in South Africa.
Situated in the heart of South Africa‘s legendary wine and culinary capital, Franschhoek, and with Paarl Rock as a backdrop, Pearl Valley promises an idyllic and carefree family lifestyle, offering stylish living and unparalleled leisure options.
As the second oldest national Open in golf, having been contested since 1893, the South African Open remains one of the most sought-after titles in the game. And this year‘s Championship has attracted one of the strongest young fields in the tournament‘s history.
As the flagship event on the Sunshine Tour, the tournament enjoys special status on the Official World Golf Rankings, including being the second event of the prestigious 2010 Race to Dubai rankings on the European Tour.
The €1-million South African Open is contested on a Pearl Valley course that owes its excellence to the vision of Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus sees Pearl Valley as the sum of his knowledge and experience. With such an illustrious event on one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in the world, players will relish the opportunity to add to their trophy cabinets.
Everyone at Pearl Valley Golf Estates warmly welcomes the world‘s top golfers and fans to another superb edition of South Africa‘s national Open.
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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.
